Well I’ve just looked in today’s ‘Weekend’ magazine to see that ‘Groundhog Day’ is on tonight. I thought I’d review the film before tonight to give any possible viewers the chance to decide whether to watch it or not.

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~ Cast ~
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Chris Elliott,
Bill Murray,
Stephen Tobolowsky,
Andie MacDowell,
Brian Doyle-Murray,
Robin Duke

Directed by: Harold Ramis

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~ Info ~
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Running time: 1hr 43mins
Rating: PG
Category: Comedy
Released: 1993

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~ Brief synopsis ~
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Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, a TV weatherman who visits Pennsylvania to cover the Groundhog Day ceremony but wakes up one day to find himself endlessly reliving the same day over and over again.

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~ Detailed synopsis ~
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Phil Connors was getting really bored with his job. He’d covered the Groundhog Day ceremony for the past five years and he’d just heard that he had to do it all over again. He really did not want to cover this story this year.
He sets off to Pennsylvania to do the assignment.
This particular year though he wakes up but realises its February 2nd all over again. He tries to tell people that he is living the day again but no one, obviously, believes him. The same thing happens the next morning, it should be the 4th February but yet again, it’s the 2nd all over again. Phil thinks he’s losing his marbles (understandably!). This process repeats itself again and again, he starts to get more and more agitated until one day (yes, you’ve guessed it, February 2nd!) he decides to put an end to it once and for all. Hr tries to commit suicide…. Only to find himself right back where he started!
He realizes that he is not going to get himself out of this loop hole and so decides to change his behaviour. He becomes the model citizen in the hope that it will release him from Groundhog Day.

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~ Sarah’s view ~
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I first saw this film years ago on video. At first I thought the film was pretty rubbish. The word ‘repetitive’ certainly came to mind. However I decided to stick the film out and was thoroughly pleased I did do. By the end of the film I’d changed my mind about it completely. It was actually really original and funny.
If you’ve not yet seen this film I really would recommend it. I know the synopsis I’ve given it doesn’t really make it sound like a great film, but give it chance, I’m sure you’ll grow to like (love?!) it. This film is certainly original. I’ve never seen any film even remotely like Groundhog Day before.
As well as being really original though, this film is also really funny. Don't just take my word for it though, it was ranked 34/100 Funniest Film awards (in America).

Favourite quote:
“I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster and drank pina coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. THAT was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over and over and over again ..”

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~ What the heck is Groundhog Day?? ~
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Well when I watched this film the first time around I had absolutely no idea what Groundhog Day was supposed to be. I certainly didn’t expect it to actually exist.
It turns out though that is doesn’t just exist, people celebrate the day every year!

Punxsutawney Phil is the world's smallest and furriest weather forecaster and each year on February 2 he comes from his electrically heated burrow to forecast the weather for the year ahead. He then gives his prediction to a Groundhog Club representative in ‘groundhogese’ and the rep then translates the prediction for the general public.

(Just in case you are curious, this year Phil saw his shadow which means they are going to have 6 further weeks of Winter.)

The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet:
"If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."
If it all sounds a bit hocus-pocus to you then you might like to know that residents insists that the groundhog has never been wrong.
What does it all mean?
Well if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner.
So there you have it folks, this sort of thing does happen, not just in the movies! Ok, so maybe people don’t get stuck in time warps very often…!

You can buy your own copy on video from Amazon for £5.99:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004CNUM/qid=1021725869/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2_2/202-9717778-9226200

Or DVD for £18.99:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005UL69/qid%3D1021726115/202-9717778-9226200

Failing that you can catch it tonight on ITV1 at 10:30pm. The Daily Mail's Weekend Magazine has given it 5 stars and is 'Generally suitable for all'.