Cinephile No. 868 “Groundhog Day”

Recommendation: 4/5 SHOWTIME

Plot: “A weatherman finds himself inexplicably living the same day over and over again.” -IMDB

Review: Last summer, just when the lockdown was feeling as if it might last forever, I sat down to watch the smart and hilarious “Palm Springs” starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. Naturally, as I watched the two of them try to figure their way out of an infinite time loop, I was reminded of “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray. This is a film I have an interesting relationship with…

When it comes to “Groundhog Day,” I have been trapped in my own time loop. On more than 20 different occasions, I have sat down with the intention of seeing how this film ends and never made it all the way through. Every single time, I was interrupted or found the remote in the hands of a less caring individual. When my local drive-in movie theater decided to show the film in celebration of the actual holiday, I jumped at the opportunity. Alone and in the comfort of my car, I would finally see how this thing ends!

I deeply appreciate the humor and delivery of Bill Murray. His dry and witty sense of comedy is pitch-perfect in this movie. With the start of each new day locked on repeat, his observations give the brilliant concept of this plot weight. As he plays in this sandbox, we find majesty in the repetition. Only trial and error will set him free, but it is the errors that serve as a foundation for any great comedy.

As this film entered its final chapter, I found myself in unchartered territory. Finally, I would see how this thing ends! For our favorite local weatherman, things have changed. We have watched him ride an emotional rollercoaster of disbelief, pain, acceptance, depression, devastation, mastery, and then a complete change in attitude. If he is going to break this cycle, he will need to be the best version of himself.

As dawn broke on February 3rd, the cycle was finally broken, for Bill Murray and me. After 20 different attempts, this is the ending I always wanted. And this is a comedy I will always hold in high regard.

Be good to each other,

Nathan 

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