If at first you don't succeed... try, try, again!

Rating: 9/10 (19 June 2005)

There's an old Doors song that has the chorus line "break on through to the other side", and it comes to mind as I write. There are many movies now that begin by showing us an everyday, mundane, version of our world and then have the central character "breaking through" to something much more meaningful and significant.
Probably The Matrix (1999) is the best example of such a movie, where a computer message implores Neo to "Wake Up!" and begin a journey that has him uncovering an alternate reality. And then there is The Truman Show (1998), where Truman (True Man) Burbank begins to suspect that his routine everyday existence in the town of Seahaven has another side to it. Even Star Wars (1977) has a dual reality theme, with a deeper reality being evident in scenes with The Force; the light sabre scenes with Darth Vader, in particular, are fights between spiritual warriors, not ordinary beings.
And then we come to Groundhog Day where a nice cosy small town visit leads Phil Connors (Bill Murray) to move beyond the selfishness that has trapped him, towards being a more expansive and loving human being. He realises his limits and becomes a better person. This implies that our lives have a higher purpose and the movie is elevated from simply being a small town comedy.
Groundhog Day is yet another example of a movie that can be enjoyed at two levels: as an entertaining and popular box office hit as well as a thought-provoking movie that raises questions about life, the universe and everything. What could have been an ordinary comedy is lifted up by an intelligent script as well as good acting and directing. It's a movie that is well worth seeing over and over!
Trivia: Groundhog Day is #34 on the AFI's list of funniest American movies.