Cult Classic: GROUNDHOG DAY

Of all the alleged holidays Groundhog Day has to rank up there as one of the more inane. A large rodent pops its head out a box and some oddly dresses humans proclaim wether or not our winter weather will last six more weeks. Yeah, that's a little weird.

That being said, Groundhog Day has a soft spot in my heart. Back when the world was in black and white and I was a young lad of 15, my first real girlfriend, Shari Murphy, was born on Groundhog Day. It was fun celebrating her birthday when our hormones were raging.

Many years later I got divorced on Groundhog Day. Yep, our court date was set for February 2. As my soon-to-be-ex-wife and I were walking into the courtroom, I stopped her, looked her in the eye and said, "It's Groundhog Day. If I see my shadow, does that mean we have six more weeks of marriage?". She didn't think it was very funny. Maybe that was our problem.

Yet the real reason I like Groundhog Day so much is the Bill Murray film of the same name. For those of you who don't know the film or need to be reminded of it, it takes place on Groundhog Day. Cynical weather man Phil Connors is sent to Punxsuatawney PA, again, to report on the famed marmot Punxsuatawney's Phil, on his annual appearance. Through an unexplained quirk, Phil keeps reliving that day. Every morning at 6:00 AM he awakes to the same song, the same idiotic blathering from some local radio DJs and the same exercise in rodent climatology. Apart from being a great vehicle for Bill Murray's comedic talents, the film also has a winsome Andie MacDowell and a delightful cast of odd ball characters. It is a four star comedy.

It scored well when it came out 25 years ago, but the film has grown. Legions of fans have made it a cult classic. It's even got it's serious side. The religious themes of rebirth are discussed in Jewish, Buddhist and even Christian circles. There is great symmetry within the structure of the film - the two Phils are both weather man, early on Phil gorges himself on food, but later feeds a dying man, Phil tries to kill himself, but then saves people from dying,  Phil hates going to Punxsuatawney, but the decides to live there, Phil is having the worst day of his life, but then finds real happiness and there is more.

There is one thing which stands out for me. 

Phil becomes happy only when he loses his bitterness and embraces life. He helps people. He finds their goodness. He explores himself and becomes more of who he really is. It is then and only then, can he find real love with Andie MacDowell. With that love, Groundhog Day ends for him and the beginning of his life begins. He doesn't have to see his shadow to know his winter is over.

There is a simple moral to Groundhog Day. Be yourself, embrace your life and you will be happy. In the middle of this winter, or any winter, that's a warm thought.

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Garen has been sitting in the dark for over 30 years as an film exhibitor, consultant and reviewer. You may have seen him on NE Cable or some other Boston station.  More likely you heard him pontificating about films on NPR, TKK, RKO, New Hampshire Public Radio, or any number of other stations he's been on, but one thing is certain, he loves, and knows, film.