GROUNDHOG DAY

REVIEWED BY ERIN DAMAN

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: innuendo, thematic elements

Rated:

Imagine it’s been the worst day of your life... you’ve spent the day in a place you hate with people you don’t like.  Then imagine you woke up the next day... and it was yesterday all over again! (Literally!) This is the situation weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself in.  He arrives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania with overly cheerful producer, Rita, and annoying cameraman, Larry, on the eve of Groundhog Day. Sarcastic, grouchy Phil faces the dreaded task of covering the festivities of the aforementioned holiday celebrated in a tiny hick town.  

The next day, after the trio’s task is complete and they are about to leave the small hamlet, Phil discovers they must stay overnight due to a blizzard he thought would go around them. On awaking the next morning, he finds himself caught in a time warp of Groundhog Day. Frustratingly enough, no one seems to realize that February 2nd is happening all over again! And again, and again… Will Phil win the woman he loves?  Will he learn to be a kinder, gentler person?  And will he EVER escape the clutches of Groundhog Day?

Language is surprisingly minimal.  Two uses of "hell," one of “Oh, my God!” and one other misuse of God’s name sum up the language.  Drinking is present, and two lesser characters get drunk. One spoken reference to homosexuality, and once Phil pretends he is gay to get an annoying former classmate off his case. There are a few sexual references and some innuendo, but nothing to verbally graphic. Some people might not approve of the overall “mindset” of this film. Once Phil learns that the consequences of his actions are erased by the next day, he takes full advantage of his situation. He breaks the law and also commits suicide several times, always waking up the next day with no consequences; not the best message to younger viewers.

Also, he takes advantage of his position by finding out all he can about his love interest, with out her ever really knowing it, because by the next day she has no idea what she told him the day before. He then uses this information to impress her and make her think he is Mr. Right. He uses similar tactics to later convince a woman they knew each other in high school to get a date with her, which leads to some serious making out; they keep their clothes on, though, thank goodness.  There is some kissing ranging on the heavier side, but nothing too terrible.

All in all, it’s a pretty good film. Bill Murray’s hilariously sarcastic sense of humor will leave you laughing like it was going out of style! Some people might tire of various parts of the day being repeated, but it didn’t really bug me. Its main problem is the lack of consequences for wrong-doings. But it has some very witty, sarcastic, hilarious dialogue and many funny moments.  If you can look over the more unsavory features, you’ve got yourself an evening of laughs!