Review of Groundhog Day (1993) by Joe D — 26 Aug 2018

"Groundhog Day", a comedy released in 1993 follows the story of Phil Connors - a weatherman who finds himself repeatedly trapped in the same day, Groundhog Day. Phil must figure out how to break the cycle, if there is a way to do so.

The film is certainly one that brings thoughts and feelings of hope with the central theme being, "if you could do something over again, would you make it better?" In the film, Phil goes from one extreme to another in his quest.

Though at first choosing to create more chaos, Phil evolves over the course of the film to then choose to use his repetitive day to find ways to better the lives of those around him. As a result, the story proves to be very well-done structurally.

Over time we begin to feel for Phil and empathize with him. By the end of the film, we feel success in his prevail. Leading the cast as Phil, Bill Murray does an excellent job playing every inch and aspect of the character.

Murray's ability to deliver snarky sarcasm in a way that makes him endearing truly grounds us in our affection for the character. His chemistry with Andie MacDowell also proves to be unwavering. With a film that takes place in the same place over the span of the same day, director Harold Ramis excels in his ability to keep the film entertaining and interesting no matter the circumstance.

This is also evidenced in the superb production value. Overall, the film proves to be a hit. It's no wonder it's been able to stand the test of time and still connects with audiences to this day!