Superb Comedy With A Good Message

Rating: Null/10 (1 December 2002)

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***
Groundhog Day is a superb comedy film for two reasons-firstly it is totally funny and makes good use of it's stars; secondly, it has a good message for us all.
Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, a weatherman who heads out to Pennsylvania to cover the start of spring (Groundhog Day). Despite the absolute absurdity of it,the same day keeps repeating over and over again but only Phil seems to notice it.
I am unaware of how many times the same day starts over and over-I would guess thirty days plus. This sets up some funny situations. One scene(s) is where Phil keeps bumping into a tramp. The first time, he ignores him and the second time, he ignores him but eventually he ends up giving the tramp a large chunk of dough. Another funny scene involves an old friend and a puddle.
You would think that watching the same day repeat would be boring but it is not because the fun is in seeing Phil learn from his mistakes whilst having a good old time. It's also fun seeing Phil's relationship with Rita (played by Andie MacDowell) played over and over again.
As the same day keeps repeating itself, Phil gradually changes. At the beginning of the film he is pompous and arrogant but by being forced to repeat the same day, he gradually becomes more sensitive and caring. Therein lies the message. Obviously, in the real world we cannot repeat the same day over and over but wish we could because we could change things. I can think of several days where I wish I could have started again and changed things. I guess this film is telling us to be aware of the consequences of our actions and to treat people the right way. If we could repeat certain days, I am sure we could but we can't so we must try and get things right the first time round.
A lovely movie with a lovely message.