One of the best movies ever, a delight

Rating: 10/10 (2 February 2001)

With the notable exception of film critics, everyone who has seen this movie loves it. It seems that Hollywood is stuck with about seven basic plots. Here's a movie that is totally different. A new idea, a comment on our humanity, a metaphor for our lives, and we're not scolded about our failings, we're allowed to laugh as we learn - what were the critics thinking about with their ho hum reviews?
The plot? Bill Murray is a conceited and arrogant Pittsburgh weatherman doomed for all eternity to repeat February 2 in boring Punxatawnie, PA over and over again. At least until he gets it right. What's right? Murray finds out the hard way, and you'll have a delightful trip learning with him. And you might discover something about yourself along the way.
Murray is the only person alive who could have pulled off the lead role, and Andie McDowell plays the innocent foil just perfectly. The setting in Punxatawnie is cleverly broadly American. Critic Roger Ebert recently asked why we see no movies about small town Americans who are as lovable and eccentric as those in certain Irish and English settings such as "Waking Ned Divine." Well here it is Ebert, the characters and the actors portraying them are as eccentric and lovable as they come. They make the movie work.
Harold Ramus did absolutely nothing wrong putting this movie together.