Groundhog Day is one of those movies where I have never met someone who did not like it. This is Bill Murray and Harold Ramis at their very best. I would rank Groundhog Day at number 23 behind Ghostbusters and Scrooged as far as my favorite Bill Murray performances go.
How to Download Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day was released on February 12, 1993. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
Comparing Groundhog Day and Scrooged
You know, Scrooged is a very interesting comparison for Groundhog Day as the movies do share more than a few similarities. In both movies, Bill Murray plays a rather unlikable jerk who thinks that he is better than everyone who then has to change his ways and treat people better.
Phil Connors: A Weatherman Stuck in Time
Bill Murray plays the role of Phil Connors. Phil is a local TV weatherman who has a rather salty personality and just like he has the past few years, he is having to go to Punxsutawney to cover the report on the Groundhog Day event. The whole thing with this “rat” and the local hicks who eat it up annoy Phil to no end and he cannot wait to get out of this place.
Reliving Groundhog Day: Phil’s Hilarious Antics
His report is without enthusiasm, to say the least, but he at least has a new producer in Rita (Andi MacDowell) who is easy on the eyes. Phil goes to bed that night and soon realizes when he wakes up that he is stuck in a time loop! At first, he thinks it is Deja Vue, but he then comes to terms with the situation he is in.
It is here that we get some of the best work from Bill Murray. He starts to screw around and get up to all kinds of trouble ranging from robbery, high speed chases, and even multiple suicide attempts. If you love Bill Murray (and who doesn’t?) you will get a massive kick out of the stuff he gets up to here. 30 years later and I still laugh super hard when he kidnaps the groundhog Phil and Thelma and Louise style drives off a cliff with him.
Phil’s Journey to Self-Discovery and Love
While all this crazy stuff is happening, Phil starts to realize that he loves Rita. He uses the loop to try and get closer to Rita, but no matter what he does, she will not hook up with him. Realizing that he does love her, he starts to cherish the time he gets to spend with her. He also starts to realize the error of his way and goes above and beyond to help the townspeople with the various problems that they have. While this is a comedy, Groundhog Day also has a ton of heart.
Feel-Good Ending and Timeless Appeal
This is the kind of movie that will make you laugh, but by the end of it, you will have a big smile on your face as it does have a very feel-good ending to it. While we get Bill Murray’s brand of over-the-top comedy here, Groundhog Day I feel also has a good message of being kind of good to others.
Groundhog Day 4K Release: A Mixed Bag
I will say that I was a little bit disappointed with the Groundhog Day 4K release. The 4K does have an upgraded picture and it looks fantastic. However, they did not add any new extras at all to the 4K release! If you already have the Blu-Ray, you already have all the extras and special features. It is a real shame that they could not have added a few more interviews of behind the scenes stuff for this 4K release.
