Not be confused with my groundhog day rant a couple weeks back, this entry concerns itself with the title of the Bill Murray film from 1993.
Caddyshack was funny. Ghostbusters was trendy. The Razor's Edge was dramatic. But Groundhog Day is Bill Murray's finest hour and comes in at #10 on my list of The 15 Best Movies Ever.
Groundhog Day is the story of Phil Connors (Murray), a cynical weatherman who feels he is "above" covering the Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and has no problem letting others know how he feels about it. Against his better wishes, he is sent to cover the proceedings for the fourth year in a row, accompanied by cameraman Larry (Chris Elliot) and new Producer, Rita (Andie McDowell).
The trio end up trapped in Punxsutawney due to a freak blizzard (which Connors did not predict). Phil wakes up the next morning to find that he is living the same day over again. And again. And again. And again. And again.
Murray is a riot in this role and is supported by a great cast. The story is quite original and never lapses into being ridiculous or dull. We are treated to day after day of Phil attempting to make sense out of his situation and it is pure movie-watching pleasure.
The lessons learned from this movie are universal and we get to watch as Phil goes through predictable emotional states. However predictable the story may be, it is delivered in a very fresh manner. We are happy to go along on this ride.
Warning: Spoilers ahead...
Initially, Phil is dumbfounded by his apparant twilight zone experience, thinking that perhaps he is one brick shy of a load. He soon discovers that he has not gone crazy, but instead has the power to do whatever he wants without experiencing the consequences. Isn't that what we all dream of from time to time? So Phil uses his situation to his own advantage, seeking personal gain in relationships and material goods.
However, when he begins to fall for Rita, he realizes that she is not something to be acquired and that she will not fall prey to his schemes. His selfishness combined with lack of consequences to his actions strip Connors of all meaning and purpose. He sinks into a deep depression, losing all reason for living. In fact, he attempts suicide many times. Jumping from a high building, stepping in front of a speeding vehicle, electrifying himself in the bathtub and a high speed pursuit due to theft of a certain groundhog ending in a car plummeting from a high cliff are all met with Phil awakening the next morning to a deja vous that never goes away.
It is only when Phil realizes that his purpose for living is to help others and to love Rita that he has a potential way out of his predicament. He embraces life by giving to the needy, tending to the sick, doing good deeds wherever he sees a need, learning how to play piano, ice sculpt and speak foreign languages. He finds happiness in the simple things of life and in learning to embrace the good in other human beings. And, it is in finding true love that the "curse" is finally broken.
For Phil Connors, it seemed like years of repeating the same day. For everyone else, he was changed in one day.
While real life does not always end up "happy ever after", we can certainly derive lessons from this film. Phil learns that while pursuing selfish gain may be enticing and even fun for a season, it ultimately leaves us feeling empty and purposeless. It is my belief this is the reason we have so many people despairing in our post-modern culture. The world and Madison Avenue attempt to provide meaning and purpose by announcing how we can "have it all". They preach money, power, beauty and material goods to be virtues that we should strive for. The problem is, none of these things lasts, and at the end of the day, we all die alone.
It is only through Phil's awakening, born out of purpose for living, that his life takes on true significance, both for himself and for those around him. Groundhog Day is a story of transformation. If we wanted to couch the summary in spiritual terminology, we can say that the "old" Phil died to himself and was reborn to live a new life. His soul was purged of his old ineffective ways and he was giving meaning and purpose that would carry him the rest of his life (as long as didn't forget what he had learned!)
Aside from the abundance of true comedic moments (driving towards his death with the groundhog at the steering wheel comes to mind), Groundhog Day touches us on a deeper level. We identify with the stages that Phil walks through, knowing that we would be tempted to do the same things. But it is only in the real experiences of life that we learn the hard lessons. We understand that Phil had to be purged of the very qualities that were causing him to be miserable. Are we willing to let go of that which holds us back? Or are we willing to be transformed?
My story continues. So does yours. Let's not wake up to the same old song tomorrow morning. Carpe diem!
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
July 9, 2004 02:24 PM
I love your commentary on the movie "Groundhog Day"! It is definately one of my top 10 favorite films as well.
January 18, 2005 06:44 PM
Thanks for the analysis.
I have atched Grounhog many many times; your description is right on, and the moral works for me.
Carpe Diem, indeed
April 14, 2005 03:55 AM
Excellent choice! This is one of my all time favorites too.