Groundhog Day

I'm cheap. I don't like to pay to rent movies. We often don't like to buy movies. So we check out movies from our local public library. I've been intrigued by the title of this movie for some time since my birthday is on Ground Hog's Day. So, I decided to check out the movie.

I don't recommend movies to people any more. The reason is that some people have been shocked by movies that I've said I liked. I remember one couple recommended one certain movie, and when we saw it, we were a little surprised at the loose life style of the people in the movie considering this family was a pillar in the church. Well, considering what that family seemed to tolerate, we said we like another movie, which they saw and reported back how shocked they were that we'd like that movie (which was tamer than the other movie). So -- these comments I am making are in no way an endorsement of the movie by me or the management of this blog.

In my younger days, I used to watch Saturday Night Live. Bill Murray was one of the regulars in that irreverent comedy program. So, seeing he was in the movie, I figured I had an idea of the type of comic content this movie could have.

The main characters of the movie are Phil Connors (Bill Murray), his producer Rita, and a cameraman Larry. Phil is a weatherman at a fictional TV station in Pittsburgh. Phil is a pompous mediocre snob who has to go to Punxsutawney to cover the annual Ground Hog's Day celebration. Phil, Rita, and Larry go to Punxsutawney and cover the event, but get stuck in the town because of a blizzard. Phil wakes up the next morning, discovering it is February 2nd all over again. In fact, he keeps waking up each morning with it being February 2nd for a long time -- the movie director says this goes on for ten years.

Phil, played by Bill Murray, goes through all sorts of possibilities on how to play with this being stuck in time. Phil discovers his actions have no consequences, and so he seduces women, robs bank trucks, even allows himself to get caught by police -- but each morning the same thing happens, he wakes up at 6 am at his Bed and Breakfast on Ground Hog's Day again. Life gets to be unbearable for Phil, and he even commits suicide in various ways, only to wake up again at 6 am. Phil finally pours out his heart to Rita and her advice helps him to find a goal to his life as being a benefactor to others. He cannot have the people, in one day, fulfill his needs, but he can learn each day about others around him and even learn subjects, such as jazz piano playing, French, and ice sculpting. In becoming a benefactor, saving people's lives around him and helping others with difficulties, and in self learning, people come to love Phil in just that one day span of February 2nd. Phil even loves Rita in self-sacrificial ways, and Rita returns his love -- and then Phil wakes up and its February 3rd. Phil has become a more complete human.

Do I recommend this movie? No. As I said, movies often contain elements that completely interferes with others enjoying the movie. There are elements within the movie that I would not recommend for children. Some elements of the movie might be uncomfortable for others. Normally I recommend reading the reviews of movies at screenit.com. However, Groundhod Day is not in the reviewed movies.

Did I like the movie? Yes; it grew on me, after thinking about it for a couple of days. The movie points out the value of living a life devoted in love to others, and how satisfying that is. It's not a perfect movie, but I enjoyed it. I also liked it because it plays with some philosophical issues, such as time, that I think are interesting. (In fact, Jared is discussing some interesting thoughts on time in his blog). But don't see the movie because I liked it.