Groundhog Day

In honor of Gateway Film Center’s 8^th annual Groundhog Day marathon, this entry will be more than just a movie review. For the 8^th year in a row, Gateway Film Center has put on one of the most intense and creative movie challenges I’ve ever heard of. If you can survive 12 straight viewings of Groundhog Day (over a 24 hour period), you are rewarded with 24 movie passes and, more importantly, bragging rights for life. Many have since asked me, “Why would you sign up for that?” It certainly was a tougher challenge than I anticipated, and for someone else that would have been an incredible waste of time, but overall I found that the rewards of going were well worth the experience. I hope I can do this one day with my own children.

In addition to my usual review of the film (which can be found below Post Viewing 12), I’ve included my journal entries from the event which I wrote during the 22 minute breaks following each viewing of the film. I’ve also included pictures and videos from the event to give anyone who hasn’t been a taste of the experience and as a memento for anyone who has. As some of you may have guessed, all of this material makes for a rather long review. True, this is the longest review to date, but still not nearly so long as watching Groundhog Day 12 times, so I hope you’ll give it a chance and enjoy!

“You can leave when you can pronounce ‘poetry’” 

—Anonymous

Post Viewing 1:

Groundhog Day remains my favorite romance film and one of my favorite overall movies. I make an effort to watch it every year around Groundhog Day. In fact, I’m already quoting the movie along with the veterans of this event because I’ve seen it 15 or 20 times before. In all those times I’ve never had any reason to watch it twice in a row though, so I’m really hoping this marathon doesn’t kill my love for such a great movie. So far I’m mostly excited, but I have a feeling that won’t last much longer. At first I was annoyed by people yelling out during the film and clapping, but I think this reaction was based on a typical movie-going experience where talking in the theater is rude and obnoxious. I have a feeling that by the end of all this, the audience’s jokes and clapping will become a source of comfort and a stimulus to keep awake. It’s time to go use the bathroom and prepare for round 2.

Post Viewing 2:

I’ve already done it twice. I checked my watch to see how much time was left (26 minutes remained) for the first time ever in watching this beloved movie. This could be a product of watching it twice in a row, or it might have something to do with the fact that it was after 3 am. I managed to notice something new in the film this time; after all these years I’ve never noticed the dancing, groundhog costumed people in the scene where Phil brings coffee to Rita and Larry. I think I’ll try noticing something new each time—it might make for a good distraction from the monotony? Yeah, let’s go for it.

The first half of the film seemed to fly by. The second half-starting somewhere around the time Phil starts pursuing Rita-was much, much slower. It probably has something to do with most of the montages coming in the second half. I also never realized how loud this movie was! I used earplugs for most of this viewing and I still thought that many of the scenes were too loud (the train, the car exploding, and plenty of just random loud noises).

Post Viewing 3:

I found a few more things I had never noticed in previous viewings: Herman is the name of the other armored truck driver (in addition to Felix) and there is an old man with a sign reading “blizzard” that is upside down before he fixes it.

While the last viewing highlighted the few scenes that I find weak in the film, this time I felt a greater appreciation for my absolute favorite scenes. The scene where Phil is lying in bed with Rita as she’s falling asleep is particularly great. For some reason I felt more alert this time than the second viewing. The 2 liters of Mountain Dew I just consumed probably had something to do with it. I kept myself entertained this time by counting the number of times Phil is slapped (it’s 10). I also identified the exact halfway point as the scene where Phil and Rita first sit down in the German restaurant.

Post Viewing 4:

How much longer do I have to sit here? Things must be getting bad and I must be getting bored because I am turning to math as my source of entertainment. The three-quarter mark of the film is the scene I love so much where Rita begins to fall asleep; it is exactly 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 30 seconds through the film. Things definitely drug this last time. 1 hour and 38 minutes felt more like 3 hours, especially that last half. Why is it so slow?!

I noticed a few new things again: the black bartender only has two lines in the film (when he twice asks Rita: “For you, miss?”) and when Phil is in the hospital asking to see the old man’s chart, the kid who he later saves from falling out of the tree is in the background with a broken leg. I had always assumed he saved the kid from dying.

Two male students in the row in front of me have taken to quoting almost the entire movie aloud. The movie is already becoming annoying enough without having to hear it parroted. I’m fighting to listen to the film instead, but I keep hearing their voices drown out Bill Murray no matter how hard I try. I really hope they are worn out after this viewing or I might truly go insane.

Post Viewing 5:

The struggle is real. The first half of the movie was a blur. I finally gave in and fell asleep for 13 minutes (or at least I know I made it to the halfway point and then woke up 13 minutes later). The fact that I am still not halfway done makes me want to cry. Meanwhile I’m experiencing some form of Stockholm syndrome where the song “I’ve got you Babe” has gone from maddening to something I felt the urge to sing along to; I must be losing my mind. For the first time ever, I’m dreading the next viewing.

Post Viewing 6:

I can’t even write about this one beyond saying I was in and out of consciousness and the parts I was awake for featured a new peanut gallery that cropped up in the back row with an energy that was punch-them-in-the-face-level annoying. These people had to have taken speed, cocaine, pot, or snuck in late somehow; they are wayyyy too happy and excited right now. Needless to say, I hate them. The screen says we’re halfway done which means it’s been twelve hours. I have lost all sense of time in this room and the lights coming on and turning off feel like their own days and nights. The sun must be out by now but I’ve yet to go outside on a break. I’m dreading the next three viewings as much as I did the last 6.

Post Viewing 7:

No. Not again. Please make it stop. My head feels foggy when I watch the movie. I was having a hard time remembering which parts of the movie had happened and which were still to come. The film’s rhythm of fast and dragging parts is now set in stone. While I watched, I rooted to just make it past the each lull. I fell in and out of consciousness again this time, and yet somehow I managed to notice a new aspect of the film: Rita is wearing a ring on a necklace at the party. You make choices and you live with them (and boy am I living with them).

Post Viewing 8:

Long gone are the days when I never looked at the clock while watching this film, or where it took an hour at least. It was only 8 minutes into this viewing that I checked my watch, hoping for some reason that the film was accelerating at a faster pace than the last 7 times. Even the much faster beginning is starting to drag. My friend and I had to resort to counting the number of times “Ned” was said in a viewing, prompting the audience to yell “bing”; the number is 18, though there haven’t been many “bings” since about the fourth viewing. Most people around me are asleep. This was the first time I made it through a viewing all the way since the 4^th viewing. I’m still trying to notice new things but didn’t catch any this time. Anything different is good.

I can’t believe that before this event I used to consider the scene where Phil drives off the cliff funny. It’s so loud that I am starting to dread it every time.

 The Stockholm syndrome with “I’ve got you Babe” is gone. Now I can’t stand it worse than ever.

My excitement over the fact that there are only four viewing left lasted all of one second—the time it took me to realize there is still a full work day’s amount of time left.

Post Viewing 9:

The film somehow managed to go by even slower at the end. I swear there’s some kind of trick going on where they’ve slowed down the last half hour to make this go longer. I passed out again but only for a short time thanks to the truck explosion. They should make an alarm clock with the noises from that scene.

There’s a potential for hope now. I think if I can just make it through this next one I’ll be okay.

If I never hear the word “prognosticator” again, it will be too soon.

Post Viewing 10:

It’s amazing how even after 10 viewings the beginning half flies compared to either of the last two quarters. How can 49 minutes go by so much faster than 24.5? How is that possible? It feels like there are movies within the movie.

People are noticeably beginning to smell. The shower I took right before this feels like a lifetime ago.

Post Viewing 11:

Groundhog Day is no longer a movie; it’s become life as we in this room know it. Cheering for Pork Chop and laughing at Larry’s bad jokes are now as much a part of our routine as getting dressed in the morning. Somehow these scenes and others like them have been recycled and are funny again. Everyone in the theater is so excited to be done that there was a huge spike in the audience’s energy; everyone is feeding off each other’s energy, making our group energy greater than any individuals. 

This last viewing was inexplicably fun and fresh. Everyone was fully into the movie, even more than the first viewing because we are all veterans now; the “bings” were back, chants of “Pork Chop” echoed throughout the theater, and there was an endless stream of jokes (the best of them earning the title of this review).

Groundhog Day is fun again, and I’m hoping the next viewing is even more fun than this past one. I’m so glad that there’s a chance I’ll leave this marathon with my love for this movie intact.

Post Viewing 12:

The last viewing was much like the 11^th, though not quite as good. The 11^th was purely excitement for the prospect of finishing, while the 12^th saw some exhaustion enter as people tried to maintain their energy levels from the 11^th. These last two viewings made this whole experience worth it and I would not have fully appreciated them without the misery of viewings 5-9. We did it. We survived. It is the end of a very long day. Now to go sleep for 12 hours.

***Below is a video taken from the eleventh viewing. The purpose of including this video is not to see the movie, but to appreciate the audience's level of interaction during the marathon so apologies for the poor visual quality. I would also like to note that the first few moments are pictures of the screen during intermission. The people at Gateway were clever and kind enough to include a countdown inbetween each viewing.

Groundhog Day: The Review

                In doing the Groundhog Day Marathon, my greatest fear was not that I wouldn’t complete the challenge, but that by completing it I would have to sacrifice my love for such a terrific and lovable film. Thankfully this was not the case; in fact I have a deeper appreciation and love for the movie than ever before. The day after the movie marathon I actually found myself in a weird withdrawal that I can only attribute to how engrained the film must have become in my psyche. There’s also something to be said for the comradery that is formed when you go through an experience like that. I hope that by sharing my experience at this event and this review will encourage anyone who hasn’t seen the film to check it out, and who knows, maybe even persuade someone to try out the Groundhog Day Marathon for themselves!

Characters/Acting

Bill Murray (Phil Connors): As much as I enjoy Bill Murray as the lovable, crazy Carl in Caddyshack, Murray is at his best in the role of Phil Connors. Similar to his character in Scrooged, Phil undergoes a transformation from an egotistical narcissistic to a compassionate and genuine romantic (with plenty of character development in between). Murray is convincing as both “bad-Phil” and “good-Phil”, and while the audience is never really rooting against him, his ability to play both sides of the character so well is a testament to his range as an actor.

Bill Murray is in his comedic element when he’s sitting in the diner and responding sarcastically to each characteristic of Rita’s perfect man (Rita: “He’s not afraid to cry in front of me”. Murray: “This is a man we’re talking about, right?”). Groundhog Day also features the goofy side of Bill Murray that audiences have come to know and love, such as the scene where he kidnaps the groundhog Phil and pretends that it is driving the truck.

The highlight of his performance, however, comes towards the end of the film when he has fallen in love with Rita. There are a few lines in these scenes that could have come across as cheesy, such as: “The first time I saw you, something happened to me. I never told you, but I knew that I wanted to hold you as hard as I could.” Instead of cheesy, Murray delivers them as completely sincere, to the point where it’s hard to imagine that he hasn’t actually fallen in love with Andi MacDowell. As I’ll get to later in this review, the writing in this film is outstanding, but it only works because there is an actor with Bill Murray’s talent to pull it off.

Andi MacDowell (Rita): As an author’s note, I will fully admit that my review may be biased in favor of Andi MacDowell because quite frankly I find her to be one of the most naturally beautiful actresses I’ve ever seen, right down to her lovely South Carolinian accent. Viewing her performance as objectively as I can, I still think she is the perfect actress to play this role. Her charming and likable demeanor offers the perfect complement to Murray’s rough-around-the-edges attitude in the first half of the film and then develops into a heart-warming, on-screen chemistry. MacDowell’s strength, in particular, is her ability to express so much with her body language, especially her eyes. During all of her scenes with Murray, he does most of the talking, but MacDowell’s expressive face and sometimes flirtatious glances ensure that she shares the audience’s attention. It’s easy to say that Groundhog Day wouldn’t be Groundhog Day without Bill Murray, but I think that Andi MacDowell also adds to the film’s magic, especially with regards to the love story (even if she can’t properly pronounce “poetry”).

Chris Elliot (Larry): Elliot is mostly a side-character in the film, providing comic relief at moments or serving as a foil to the suave and confident Murray. Not much is asked of Elliot in his role, but he does a solid job with the part he’s given; he is particularly convincing as a stereotypical nerd who, try as he might, just can’t convince Nancy to give him a chance. Maybe try something other than “Wanna check out the inside of the van?” the next time, Larry.

Pork Chop (Man in hallway): I have never seen an audience cheer for a character in a movie theater with as much fervor as the Groundhog Day audience cheered for the beloved “Pork Chop”. Though he only has three very brief scenes in the film, how could I not throw some love his way? You go, Pork Chop!

Directing

Harold Ramis takes a creative and somewhat complicated story (written by Danny Rubin) and brings it to life in an equally creative manner. One of the most difficult challenges in directing this film must have been coming up with a way to show Murray living the same day over and over and let the audience feel Murray’s frustration without losing interest or becoming too annoyed (somehow I don’t think he had 12 consecutive viewings in mind for his audience). Starting each day with the clock flipping to 6:00 and playing the same Sonny and Cher song certainly helped the audience to relate to Murray’s building frustration. But Ramis kept even these scenes fresh as the views of the clock flipping and even the speed that it flips was varied, as was the method Murray used to destroy the clock in some scenes. Scenes and characters (like the diner dishes dropping or Ned running up to Phil) were also repeated to give the effect of Murray living the same day over and over, and they too were altered just enough to avoid boring the audience. Ramis executed these scenes flawlessly.

Another directorial aspect of the film worthy of praise is how seamlessly Phil flows from one Act to the next: first the egotistical Phil who discovers he is repeating the same day, then testing the boundaries of his regeneration by acting recklessly, to selfishly pursuing first Nancy and then Rita, followed by his depression over being trapped and finally to acceptance and genuinely winning the love of Rita. Each segment of the film is identifiable by Phil’s character changes, each of which has their own distinct feel, but through all of these stages the film never stumbles or lacks continuity.

Story/Writing

Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin were both screenwriters for the film, though it was Danny Rubin who wrote the original story. The idea of a man living the same day over and over is in itself an original idea—one which Hollywood has already taken to repeating in The Edge of Tomorrow—and both Ramis and Rubin deserve high praise for creating such a unique story.

An interesting concept is nothing, however, without a good story to give the film meaning. Groundhog Day’s love story is far from original—there are plenty of movies about a man who starts off as a jerk but reveals a heart of gold: Beauty and the Beast, The Breakfast Club, and His Girl Friday being just a few examples—but nevertheless it fits. The love story between Phil and Rita is an uplifting resolution to the otherwise grim story of a man trapped, essentially alone, is a reality he cannot even escape through death.

Ned Ryerson is a fun and entertaining side character. The scene where Phil pretends to be attracted to him is wickedly funny and his expression during the hug is priceless. His quirkiness also makes it easier to watch Phil repeat the same scene four times.

The bowling scene is perhaps the weakest scene in the film; while it does serve a purpose in showing Phil’s transition from confusion to mischief, it and the subsequent chase scene feel forced.   

The decision to show Phil trying and kill himself in a death montage is rather clever and I appreciate the concept of having him try in a variety of ways. This montage, as well as the slap montage, is also strengthened by its brevity, which keeps the film light and helps with the pacing.

One of the few lines that does not work is “Gosh, you’re an upbeat lady”. It did not take twelve viewings to expose this line as awkward and clunky. I’m not sure how this one made it past the editing room floor.  

Had Groundhog Day been a drama instead of a romantic comedy, the film’s ending could have seemed too rosy. Instead, both writers included comedic elements throughout the film (such as Ned Ryerson), which kept the overall tone of the film more consistent. As an audience member, I completely buy into Murray’s love for Rita, especially in the scene where he is lying next to her in bed and telling her about how much he loves her, even though she has fallen asleep and in the scene where he carves a snow sculpture of her face. “I know your face so well I could have done it with my eyes closes” would probably have come across as incredibly cheesy but with the right actors and the proper tone, the risk paid off. Instead, the scene shows the audience that Phil is completely committed to his genuine love for Rita despite having given up hope of escaping the same day. He has dedicated day after day, year after year, to his love for a woman he longer thinks can ever return his love; and yet it is his love for Rita that frees him in the end. Groundhog Day is a powerful story because it explores the themes of redemption through love, personal growth, and self-sacrifice; these themes, when told well, will always resonate with the best parts of our souls.

Conclusion: Groundhog Day remains the best romantic comedy I’ve ever seen. The chemistry between Murray and MacDowell is flawless and the movie’s tone successfully balances goofy comedy and a serious plot. I will continue to watch it over and over. That about sums it up for me. Thanks again to David Henderson for telling me about this challenge; I owe ya one, buddy.

Grade:

WRAP: 100%

Below I have included another video for those of you who enjoyed the first. Again, the video quality itself is not good, but the purpose is not to see the movie, but to appreciate the audience's level of interaction during the marathon.