robowriter:

Bill Murray has a true classic in Groundhog Day and Andie McDowell sweetly plays the romantic foil that his schmuck needs to finally escape from a one-day-in-time self-made hell. Bill plays Phil, a snarky TV weatherman who is climbing the career ladder towards a reputably large metro market. Unfortunately, his annual bottom-of-the-barrel assignment sends him to cover Groundhog Day in Punxsatawney, Pa. He takes it on the chin like a prima donna -- sniping at Andie, his producer, and Chris Elliott, his cameraman -- only to learn (each morning at 6 am) that he apparently has been condemned to repeat the day -- over and over and over again -- presumably until he gets it right. What must he do? He has no idea. He has to discover the answer by trial and error -- over and over and over again -- and herein lies the true magic of this movie. His daily encounters with ordinary citizens -- beginning with the improbably named Stephen Tobolowsky as clueless insurance salesman Ned Ryerson ("am I right or am I right?") -- and the associative and distributive, positive and negative, and even sometimes cumulative lessons he learns from them are the bread and butter of this wonderful situational comedy. Put Bill (as Phil the weatherman not Phil the groundhog) in a sticky wicket -- or a wicker basket -- and see how he pokes and prods to try to get out. That's how this movie works -- and it works marvelously. I love this movie and can't see myself ever getting tired of seeing it one more time. 5 stars. (5-14-09 posted 5-19-09)

Wayward Muse:

Tedious in the extreme. Boring beyond belief. I felt like I was living the day with him and it was a terrible, unfunny nightmare. Though I've enjoyed Bill Murray in a number of films, he really doesn't have the acting chops to inject any profound message into this drivel. Did teach me the value of 101 minutes, though.

Firewater:

I've watched this one about a dozen times and I never grow tired of it. There is something appealing, on a very basic level, about having the ability to live the same day over and over again. GROUNDHOG DAY explores that premise fully, showing how frustrating it could be as well. Bill Murray plays the television weatherman who finds himself in this bizarre, unexplained time loop in which each day begins with the Sonny & Cher song "Babe" playing on the radio. Murray begins this movie as a very unlikeable character. You guess how it ends. Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott are also great in this. Stephen Tobolowsky is, too. Now that I've become a fan of HEROES, I even know his name.

BenderRobot:

A true classic movie. It has lots of laughs and fun, along with lots of heart and excellent acting and writing. This is a film to be watched with the entire family.

AtTheBeach:

If I were to tell a friend that "you need to see this great romantic comedy starring Bill Murray with a scenario based on a woodchuck who emerges from his hole in Pennsylvania to look for his shadow in the snow," he would think I was, at best, an unreliable barometer for enjoyable movies. Bill Murray does not seem like the kind of guy who would be a romantic lead in a movie. He has an edge. He is very funny but teaming with Andie MacDowell in this movie is sensational. The plot sounds like it came from Star Trek where a person replays one day from his life over and over again. The scenario sounds too implausible to pull off effectively but it works. The chemistry between the two main characters is excellent. Bill Murray's character is funny and empathetic without wallowing in sentimentality. One of my favorite movies and one most viewers will want to see at least twice.

PS333:

Fantastic classic Bill Murray. He makes the movie as a jerk with a heart of gold. It made me appreciate how amazing he is as a comedia actor.

ColumboFan:

At this point has anyone NOT seen Groundhog Day. If you haven't, queue her up! This is one of the few movies that hit me as an all time great as I was walking out of the theater. Usually movies have to sink in for me, and I would love to see it for the first time again. The high concept is good, a man keeps reliving the same day over and over again, and it works very well as a clever light comedy. Bill Murray and the cast are engaging and funny, and the hook has endless comic possibilities. But this movie has more going on than that. It plumbs the concept to its logical conclusions, never cheats, and provokes deeper questions that stick with you after the credits. What would someone do if there were no consequences to their actions? What makes a good person if it doesn't matter what you do? What would happiness mean if there was no hope for long term relationships? That's some pretty heady stuff for a light romantic comedy. But don't let my pretentious philosophical musings turn you off from this movie. It's a bright comedy that just sticks to the ribs more than most movies do. Six stars, three thumbs up.

BunnyKing:

Classic Bill Murray and probably one of his first movies where he started to get just a teensy serious. This film isn't just funny, it's clever and occasionally pulls on your heart strings. However, it's also a love story and proves that, given enough opportunity, one may redeem one's self. And honestly, how many of you HAVEN'T wondered what it would be like to relive one mundane day of your life?

Harish:

Now this is a wonderful and delicious movie, if there is one.. Have watched it several times and it leaves me wondering which day I wish was my groundhog day

Coarse Gold:

Bill Murray at his deadpan best in this romantic comedy about personal growth with a bit of sci-fi thrown in. Murray, who begins as an unlikeable primadonna weatherman, slowly becomes less self-centered and begins to care for others when faced with an endlessly repeating day in which nothing in the world changes but his reactions to it. At first he can't believe it; then he cynically takes advantage of it; then despair sets in with a terrible yearning for a tomorrow that won't come. It rises above the routine comedy because of Murray's biting sarcasm and its metaphysical message. Watch it and you'll never look at Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" the same again.