Some days just don’t go your way.
Whether you slip in a puddle on your way to work or your boss lays you off, sometimes all we can do is hope for these days to end, but what if they don’t?
That is the story that Phil Connors, the protagonist of Groundhog Day, must endure.
Connors is a cynical weather reporter, reporting the annual Groundhog Day celebration in Puxatony, Pennsylvania.
He does not try to hide his contempt towards the holiday, whining and complaining about the holiday to his new producer Rita Hanson, who accompanies Phil to Puxatony.
On the morning of February 2, Phil wakes in the Cherry Street Inn with his alarm clock blaring Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe.”
Phil reluctantly gets ready for the holiday festivities and goes through the day with an unwavering pessimistic and sour mood, only excited to leave this town and the “hicks” that live there.
However, an unexpected blizzard rolls into town, preventing Phil and his crew from leaving and forcing him to spend the night in Puxatony.
The next morning he wakes up again to “I Got You Babe” along with the same radio banter from the morning host in his room at the inn.
He goes through the day’s events, thinking he’s experiencing an extreme case of déjà vu.
That evening, he unsuccessfully attempts to leave the town again but must return to sleep at the inn.
When he wakes up, it is February 2nd and the events of the day repeat.
This leads to Phil realizing he’s stuck in a time loop.
The rest of the film follows Phil and his adventure through this never-ending day.
As the day repeats, he learns more about himself and the town than he ever thought he would.
Groundhog Day is similar to the much newer and obvious rip-off Palm Springs where the protagonist is stuck in a never-ending cycle causing them to discover their true self.
Both films also focus on an underlying love story, but Palm Springs is unique as two people are stuck within the time loop rather than one.
One could draw a comparison to Edge of Tomorrow or Looper, however, both of these films are much more violent and less comedic than Groundhog Day.
Director Harold Ramis is no stranger to legendary movies, having directed cult classics like National Lampoons and Caddyshack.
He once again hit the mark with Groundhog Day, crafting an ingenious never–done-before movie that will send audiences on a rollercoaster of emotions as the film progresses.
Ramis does not only engineer a hilarious movie with a unique premise but also a truly touching plot line with ups and downs that strike deep within the hearts of the audience.
Groundhog Day is a phenomenal film that will thoroughly entertain all audiences for slightly over an hour and a half.
If you’d like to watch this amazing movie, Groundhog Day is available for free with a subscription to YouTube TV or for rent on Amazon Prime Video.
