Title: Groundhog Day
Year Released/Rating: 1993 PG
Starring: Bill Murray, Andie McDowell, Chris Elliott
Directed By: Harold Ramis
Written By: Danny Rubin, Harold Ramis
Genre: Comedy
Star Rating: 5/5 stars
Where I Got It: We own it!
Trivia:
- Bill Murray was bitten by the groundhog twice during shooting. Murray had to have anti rabies injections because the bites were so severe.
- There are exactly 38 days depicted in this film either partially or in full.
- On the DVD, Harold Ramis states that the original idea was for him to live February 2nd for about 10,000 years. Later he says that Phil probably lived the same day for about 10 years.
- All the clocks in the diner are stopped, mirroring Phil's predicament.
- The groundhog ceremony is depicted as occurring in the center of town. Gobbler's Knob, where the ceremony takes place in real life, is a rural, wooded area, about two miles outside of Punxsutawney.
- A family of groundhogs was actually raised for the production.
- In order to get the scenes to look alike many different takes were filmed in different weather conditions. Eventually Harold Ramis chose the bleak Wisconsin look for the film.
Summary: A weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.
Review: It's Groundhog Day so of course we had to watch Groundhog Day. It is a tradition after all. Apparently, J and I really have a thing for Bill Murray comedies. This was is very interesting will al the twists and turns. And I can't even imagine how hard it was to shoot and reshoot some of these scenes multiple times. Overall, I really enjoy rewatching this movie every year.
Best Bits:
- Phil: This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.
- Phil: You want a prediction about the weather, you're asking the wrong Phil. I'll give you a winter prediction: It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.
- [Phil Connors is stopped by the police after some crazy driving] Phil: Yeah, three cheeseburgers, two large fries, two chocolate shakes and one large coke. Ralph: [to Phil] And some flapjacks. Phil: [to Cop] Too early for flapjacks?
- Phil: Ned, I would love to stay here and talk with you... but I'm not going to.
- [Driving down the railroad tracks toward an approaching train] Phil: I'm betting he's going to swerve first.
- Buster Green: If you gotta shoot, aim high. I don't wanna hit the groundhog.
- Phil: It's the same thing your whole life: "Clean up your room. Stand up straight. Pick up your feet. Take it like a man. Be nice to your sister. Don't mix beer and wine, ever." Oh yeah: "Don't drive on the railroad track." Gus: Well, Phil, that's one I happen to agree with.
- Phil: [Holding Phil the Groundhog behind the wheel] Don't drive angry. Don't drive angry!
- [after Phil has driven the truck he has stolen off a cliff to kill both himself and Punxsutawney Phil] Larry: He... might be okay. [the truck explodes in a fireball] Larry: Well, no. Probably not now.