In older times, tribes, villages, and towns, followed the seasons using nature's cues as to when to perform certain duties. Observing when certain plants appeared, or herds of animals migrated into or out of the area were a clock different than the hands that meter out every second of our modern day. It worked rather well; those kinds of deadlines actually meant something - because knowing when to plant crops meant the difference between eating and dying - whereas today...well, a lot of times we're just counting down the seconds until...what, exactly? Until the next presentation? Or sale? Or disturbingly short vacation time? Do you ever wonder if we're doing it wrong? If we lost something in our fervor to move on from the past? After all, the rest of nature had been getting by with those same clocks for millennia.
Now, sure, these observations get a little bit iffy, and at some point in the past, perfectly logical reasoning can often become insane ritual. Through the co-opting of tradition by conquering religions and cultures (not to mention the times when the past simply got it wrong), time can whittle away any sense of the past's logic and beauty till it appears ridiculous and comical, a grotesquerie of what it once was.
...And that's how you get to the point where you use rodents to tell you when winter will end. That's right. It's Groundhog Day. But Groundhog day may be more magical than we think.
And it's a damn fine thing, too, because I forgot how dark this movie actually is.
Now, sure, these observations get a little bit iffy, and at some point in the past, perfectly logical reasoning can often become insane ritual. Through the co-opting of tradition by conquering religions and cultures (not to mention the times when the past simply got it wrong), time can whittle away any sense of the past's logic and beauty till it appears ridiculous and comical, a grotesquerie of what it once was.
...And that's how you get to the point where you use rodents to tell you when winter will end. That's right. It's Groundhog Day. But Groundhog day may be more magical than we think.
Groundhog Day: The Movie
The first thing I need to say about this film is just how funny it is. This is Bill Murray at some of his very finest. With an excellent script from Harold Ramis (also director of the pic) and Danny Rubin, it's not hard to see why. The story of a man caught in a time loop on Groundhog Day couldn't possibly get away without touching upon the absurdity of such a premise. I mean, why not a time loop on Christmas, or someone's birthday, bringing them back to the start of the previous year (ooh, I should write that...back off, it's mine), or some such. The fact that they went this route is not only hysterical; it is nothing short of genius.And it's a damn fine thing, too, because I forgot how dark this movie actually is.
"What if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today."
The existential questions opened up by time loop movies in general are some of my favorite, because it always goes dark. You see, as a metaphor, Groundhog Day works on two levels. On the one hand, we have the fairly obvious second chances theme (and third, etc.), an opportunity to keep trying to be better. This can be seen as a beacon of hope in our lives. That's important. We need hope like air. We need to believe that we can learn from our mistakes, that we can become a better self, let go of a ridiculous ideal, or, egad, just get out of bed in the morning.
There is, however, always another side. The converse of hope is despair. Groundhog Day is, in so many ways, about the many ruts we find ourselves trapped by in our lives. Phil (Bill Murray's character, not the rodent) starts out a jerk...but is he a jerk because that's how he is, or does he, like so many of us, feel trapped by his life to the point where it drives him to become the curmudgeonly dick that he is? Even with his decision to leave his current station for a larger network gig, one gets the feeling that Phil feels powerless in his life, stuck in the same routine. Yet, he has the power to make changes for his own betterment and, whether he takes them or not, he still acts like an asshole.
This feeling of powerlessness through inaction carries into the time loop, giving one the sense that Punxatawney is actually purgatory....that Phil is being punished, not for his misdeeds, but his lack of aspiration. No matter how Phil dies, his day starts the same each time, with that fucking alarm clock. He is not even given the variety in this endless time loop of waking up differently. It's a rut turned up to 11.
This feeling of powerlessness through inaction carries into the time loop, giving one the sense that Punxatawney is actually purgatory....that Phil is being punished, not for his misdeeds, but his lack of aspiration. No matter how Phil dies, his day starts the same each time, with that fucking alarm clock. He is not even given the variety in this endless time loop of waking up differently. It's a rut turned up to 11.
Groundhog Day is a defiance of all things routine. Even how Phil dies at various points: jumping off a building, stepping in front of a bus, kidnapping Punxatawney Phil and driving them into the ravine, etc., are all a pretty dark way to go in a movie that, on the surface, is a romantic comedy. But it's that darkness that is so important. Rather than allowing fate to continue to rake him over the coals, he takes his death(s) into his own hands. He takes a power many of us wish we could (and don't see how we can) in our daily lives...a power of choice...and that much of this choice is taken in despair makes it no less powerful to watch.
So, if Groundhog Day is as much about shaking up our routine as it is about learning how to not be a dick, one has to ask themselves, are the two related? Are we bigger dicks because we've resigned ourselves to lives of monotonous and unfulfilling routine? [Hint: if you look at the way people act in rush hour traffic everyday, you may have your answer.] Would we all be happier if we just took Phil's route at various points in the movie, and said "Fuck it. I'm going to take up ice sculpting."?
It's these questions and more that have allowed this spunky little flick about a boy and his rodent to stick in the craw of our imaginations. In fact, Groundhog Day has become so popular for time-loops, that over the years there has been a spate of movies and TV episodes featuring this very trope. The "What if?" and "If only I could do this over again" concerns of our life provide great fodder for the tragic comedy of our lives. It doesn't matter that others have done it before. Time loops and second chances are now indelibly associated with Groundhog Day.
Ending the Loop
Ultimately, time loops are about solving problems, correcting mistakes. Often there's an appeal to or trust in the universe that's required. We do it over and over until we get it right. I know a couple who are celebrating their anniversary today. They decided to get married after seeing Groundhog Day, because they realized that they had made their mistakes in relationships, and were ready to "do it right." We should all be so lucky.
Bonus: Let's Do the Time Loop Again...
See what I did there?
So, if Groundhog Day simply wasn't enough for you, fear not. There are movies and TV episodes galore to sate even the most gluttonous for punishment. Star Trek: TNG and X-Files had a couple choice episodes on the subject, as do some other shows and movies. So if you love the potential time loops have for both philosophical discussion and classic comedy, then you might like some of my other favorite time loopers. Interestingly enough, these are mostly all comedies, and even the more serious ones have major elements of humor to them.
Lola Rennt (Run, Lola, Run)
I rewatched this in preparation for this post, and can't wait to do a post on this all of its own. It's a really tightly shot, well-written film. I recommend watching it in the original German with subtitles (or without, if you're linguistically-inclined). Franke Potente is amazing in her breakout role as the fate-challenged girlfriend of a smuggler, trying over and over to save her boyfriend from his gangster boss by coming up with 100,000 marks. The crux? She only has 20 minutes to do it. Thank the powers that be for do-overs.
Edge of Tomorrow: Live, Die, Repeat
Tom Cruise fights aliens in very cool mech-wear, dying repeatedly until he becomes skilled enough to help Emily Blunt's character defeat the invaders before total annihilation. What could have been a disastrous action blockbuster, actually turned out to be a fairly riveting sci-fi...action...blockbuster. Really, though, it's quite good. The pace, stunts, and more than its fair share of comedic moments make it more than worth the watch.
Besides, raise your hand if you want to see Tom Cruise get killed in a movie over and over again....
....wow, that's a lot of hands. Harsh.
Naked
This Netflix original borrows more directly from "12:01" by Richard A. Lupoff. In this movie, Marlon Wayans plays a groom who just can't seem to get his crap together, which is really bad, because he's supposed to be getting married in an hour. Time loop to the rescue! Did I mention that each time he resets he wakes up in an elevator totally naked? Though I didn't feel this one took the most thought-provoking of approaches with this comedy, it is fun and light. If you like time loops, but hate angst, this is probably your best bet.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "Life Serial" S6 Ep 5
This is only a short scene in the entire episode, but it definitely bears mentioning...and watching. Buffy is harassed by the least scary "Trio" of villains ever. After sabotaging her at both school and work, the idiots decide to stick her in a time loop involving a mummy hand and retail hell. They even reference the Star Trek and X-Files episodes for our geek pleasure. It also bears mentioning that nothing is funnier (and sadder) than seeing Buffy sobbing in sheer hopeless frustration over the hour that will never end, and feeling that you've had that kind of day before...
Supernatural - "Mystery Spot" S3 Ep 11
Borrowing several tropes from Groundhog Day (they even mention the movie) is one of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite shows. The lesson in this one isn't for the one dying, but like the latter part of GD, this focuses on the lack of control of keeping someone else alive. Brothers Sam and Dean find themselves up against the Trickster once more, which is always comedic gold. But it's the dark turn of this episode that makes it particularly good. After Sam tries and fails to save Dean for well over 100 Tuesdays in a row, the Trickster, wanting to teach him a lesson about trying to control the inevitable, allows Dean to be killed one last time...outside of the time loop. Sam is left alone to grieve and plot revenge on the god who did this to him. Sadly, it will be at least a couple more seasons before Sam learns his lesson....but that's kind of what we love about this show...after all, we are the most rabid fandom out there.
It also features one of the funniest television scenes I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying:
Ah, brothers...
Title: Groundhog Day
Based on: "Replay" by Ken Grimwood, and "12:01" by Richard A. Lupoff
Released: February 12, 1993
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Fantasy/Dark Comedy
Director: Harold Ramis
Writer: Harold Ramis, Danny Rubin
Music: George Fenton
Actors/Actresses: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott
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