Letters
Lazy Sunday: Groundhog Day
Dear Kay,
Netflix is now streaming one of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day.
What if we had the chance for a do-over? What if the day changed, but everything within that day stayed the same? What would we do if we had all the time in the world?
Phil Connors is a weatherman from Pittsburgh. Burned out, jaded. One of his annual assignments is to cover the annual February 2 celebration in Punxsutawney where a groundhog seeing his shadow determines whether winter will end early or continue for six weeks longer. Phil heads out with a sour mood, his cameraman Larry, and Rita Hansen, a TV producer played by Andie McDowell.
The next day, Phil awakens and discovers that it’s still February 2, and he’s still in Punxatawney.
I love Bill Murray in this movie. (This and the imperfect Lost in Translation are both great Bill Murray performances). World weary is such a Bill Murray mood.
Fans have dissected the number of days that Phil relives February 2. Is it 11 days? 33? 4,576? Does it matter? Not at all, but it shows you how this movie has fascinated us for more than 25 years.
Here’s Groundhog Day 101, for all you fans. If you haven’t seen this classic movie, you are in for a treat.
Love,
Ann
Mine too his character grows with each day……I also really like Lost in Translation this one surprised me how much I did………….
As a GenX who grew up in the 80s and 90s, Bill Murray’s movies are the stuff of fond memories for me. Honourable mention for Ghostbusters as well (80s magic in a bottle + Sigourney Weaver was ace in it too).
I adore this movie. I agree it was Bill at his best. Andie (my curly-haired idol) was luminous. I’m also a big Harold Ramis fan, since the days of SCTV, and he did an amazing job with the film. Did you all know that there was actually a “Groundhog Day” Broadway musical? Hard to believe, right? I saw it and it had its fun moments, but c’mon, nothing can ever compare to the genius of the original source.
I used to teach in Woodstock, Illinois where the movie was made. Every year, Groundhog Day is still a HUGE deal there…and there are two enormous groundhog figures in the school district’s offices!
Although I know the premise, I’ve never seen the film, so thanks for the nudge. I also have to recommend my favorite Bill Murray movie, “What About Bob?” Pure silliness that makes me forget a bad day every single time!
It’s an absolute favorite at our house! A movie that is better the more times you watch. ‘Groundhog Day’ and ‘Meet the Parents’ we can never pass by when channel surfing!
I could watch this movie day after day after day….
The movie was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois (my hometown). My dad said when the movie came out everyone went to see it twice. Once to see who in the town showed up in the final cut and then the second time to see the movie. I still love it. His bed and breakfast is about a block from my grandmother’s house which is now a bed and breakfast. The ‘hotel’ in the movie is the opera house on the square. If you get to northern Illinois you should just spend the day.