Once again, for the fifth year in a
row, TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is forced to
cover the Groundhog Day ceremonies in Punxsutawney,
Pennsylvania, an assignment he truly despises. But this year
something truly bizarre happens after he finishes the
report: When he wakes up the next morning, ready to leave,
he discovers it's February 2 all over again. He tries to
tell his producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell), what's happening,
but neither she nor anyone else understands; only he
remembers that they've already lived through Groundhog Day.
When the same thing happens the next morning, he thinks he's
going insane and wreaks havoc all through the town. More and
more mornings pass, all of them February 2, and all of them
with an ever angrier Phil. Desperate to escape, he even
tries suicide, but still another February 2 dawns. As he
starts realizing that his exploits are not making time march
on any quicker, Phil begins to change his behavior,
performing a series of lifesaving tasks until he becomes a
model citizen, hoping it will be enough to get him out of
Punxsutawney forever. Along the way he learns more about the
people around him--and himself--than he ever thought
possible. The film is extremely well put together by
director Harold Ramis, and the script by Danny Rubin and
Ramis is sharp and clever. The actors--many of whom have to
perform essentially the same scene over and over again, with
only subtle differences--is a riot.
GROUNDHOG DAY is number 34 on the American Film
Institute's list of America's 100 Funniest Movies. Bill
Murray got his start on the NBC television show Saturday
Night Live. He was part of their second season, replacing
fellow comedian Chevy Chase. His first film was MEATBALLS
(1977). The Groundhog was played by Scooter. Murray appears
here with his brother, Brian Doyle-Murray. Murray and
director Harold Ramis have also worked together before, most
notably on GHOSTBUSTERS, CADDYSHACK, and STRIPES. Bill
Murray had a very successful beginning to 1993, with two
popular and critically well received films: GROUNDHOG DAY
and MAD DOG AND GLORY, directed by John McNaughton,
costarring Robert De Niro and Uma Thurman. Murray said about
his role in GROUNDHOG DAY: "You know, it's nice knowing
you're doing your job well. It makes you--well, it makes me,
anyway--goofy." Susie Stevens performed "Take Me
Round Again," Frankie Yankovic performed
"Pennsylvania Polka," and Terry Fryer wrote,
produced and performed "Phil's Piano Solo." The
song "La Bourree du Celibatoire" was also
performed in the film. "Well, what if there is no
tomorrow? There wasn't one today."--Phil Connors (Bill
Murray)
Frank Capra meets Rod Serling in this high-concept comedy
that thoroughly follows through on its premise. As a cynical
weatherman, Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself trapped
by a blizzard he failed to predict and doomed to repeat the
worst day of his life over and over again. At first he is
horrified at the prospect of living forever in the small
town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, home of the groundhog,
but eventually he must discover the key to moving his life
forward.
"...A particularly witty and resonant comedy....A
perfect character for [Murray]..."
"...A wickedly yummy smarm-alade..."
"...[Elliott] steals the laughs whenever he's in the
frame..." -- Rating: A-
"...Murray's weatherman is tailor-made for his smug
screen persona....Stephen Tobolowsky is hilarious..."
"...The movie is lovable and sweet..."
"...This remains one of the most adventurous studio
films of its era..."
