Groundhog Day

Originally published Feb 3, 2025

Spoiler warning

Comedy films can be quite unpredictable when you think about them. They can be lighthearted or mean-spirited, clever or cringey, gut-bustingly funny or painfully unfunny. However, every so often, there’s that one “comedy” that, while still dishing out plenty of humor, ends up having a surprisingly profound analysis on human nature at its core. Groundhog Day is one of those movies.

Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is a sarcastic, egocentric weatherman who’s sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. When he wakes up the next morning, it’s Groundhog Day once again! Trapped in a time loop that only he is aware of, Phil initially uses it for his own gain, but through a budding relationship with authentic producer Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell), slowly comes to realize the sort of man he wants to be. Murray is perfectly cast for this role, delivering, quite possibly, one of the most satisfyingly well-paced character arcs in any movie I’ve seen. By the time the loop is broken, he’ll make you believe that everyone, no matter how jaded, has the capacity in them to become a better person.

While I find the underlying message to be its strong suit, Groundhog Day is still a comedy, and it definitely delivers in that department. Since the movie is set in a time loop, there’s a great deal of repetition. Fortunately, the varied ways that Phil interacts with the supporting cast (i.e. Chris Elliot, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray) and their reactions keep it from getting stale. Though it does suffer from occasional pacing issues and uncomfortable moments, the balance of comedic cynicism and unfeigned sentiment atones for them.

I’ve enjoyed revisiting Groundhog Day, but I hope I only have to write this review once. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow…

Rating: 8/10