**COMEDY PERFECTION** Groundhog Day (1993) Reaction: FIRST TIME WATCHING

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*COMEDY PERFECTION* Groundhog Day (1993) Reaction: FIRST TIME WATCHING
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*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. All rights belong to their respective owners.

[@NetanelWorthy]

Something that I really appreciate with the homeless man is Phil understands that no matter what he can try to control, ultimately there’s stuff that he will never have control of. So instead of constantly trying to save the homeless man, knowing it was his last day, he chose to make it a good day. He spent time with him. He made sure he was fed. He made sure that he wasn’t alone.

[@nickreacts6394]

Excellent point!

[@NicholasIrvin]

​@@nickreacts6394a question for you both would you be interested in reacting to a show that is very funny and hilarious at the same time it is called Total Drama Island

[@bigdream_dreambig]

"...you'll never love anyone but yourself." "That's not true! I don't even _like_ myself." That always hits so hard for me. Though he passes it off as a joke, I think it's his first real moment of emotional honesty. So sad, and yet so universal: so many of us don't like ourselves.

[@lingodelfo5415]

And often that leads to not liking the life you're living and other people either. And if you don't, what's the point? So when Phil learns to like himself, his life and others, he can continue living

[@DanGamingFan2406]

I like how there was no one single event that broke him out of the time loop. He got out because he became a genuinely sincere person and truly loved Rita for who she was. Also, according to the director's commentary, the original script states Phil was in the loop for 10,000 years. Crazy.

[@oliviastratton2169]

10 thousand years? Wow! Most Catholics say purgatory is only 1-2 thousand years!

[@hafeya]

@@oliviastratton2169 it's because Harold Ramis was a Buddhist. They believe that it takes 10,000 years to perfect the human soul.

[@kissmy_butt1302]

There are websites out there dedicated to guess how long he was in the loop. They calculate how long it takes to master ice sculpting, playing the piano, etc.... Winning each persons trust to learn all their stories.

[@oliviastratton2169]

@@hafeya Ah, that's right!

[@jebenp]

I saw a fan theory that says the only way to get out of the loop was getting insurance from Ned.. its silly and absurd but I think it's a more fun idea than just loving Rita or being nice or whatever

[@TheBlarggle]

This movie wasn't the first to use the concept of repeating the day, but it popularized it so much that it's common to refer to the phenomena as a "Groundhog Day". Usually when referring to a story concept.

[@GetFitwithDogs]

I've been a huge movie fan since I was a kid. One of the main reasons I like reaction videos is because it's the closest thing to seeing a favorite movie again for the first time. You remember how you felt watching the movie, and you get to see other people go through the same experience, and that's the closest we can get back to that feeling ourselves. Groundhog Day is a classic, so I look forward to watching this reaction.

[@jeffthompson9622]

Well said! It also has something of the feel of introducing a friend to a beloved film.

[@DeRockMedia]

ya, ill binge watch my favorite movies with different reactors to relive the experience...a lot of LOTR reacts ive watched

[@pleutron]

"hot dog" is actually a phrase used for celebration. "out of your gourd" is also a phrase saying somebody is insane/crazy.

[@strangebiped]

It's like: your skull is a gourd & the fruit inside is your Brains.

[@pscar1]

​@@nataliefaust7959I grew up saying "hot dog" and I definitely wasn't born in any of those decades.

[@sciencehistoryandentertain734]

"hot dog" was used in "its a wonderful life" when the kid lights the lighter thing...he say "hot dog"

[@Sairin13]

In the original draft of the story he was stuck in the loop for a thousand years, but that never became official. Consensus in the fandom is that it was around 40 years, so the answer is somewhere between 40 and a thousand years

[@Lady-Seashell-Bikini]

And they tracked the time with Phil reading one page of a book a day in the B&B library.

[@treeofrage7622]

I thought it was 10 thousand, i could definitely be wrong though idk

[@gmunden1]

The Groundhog Day event, as shown in the film , is located in western Pennsylvania several miles from Pittsburgh. The significance of the groundhog/marmot is due to farming and planting of crops. The animal was used as a barometer for the weather , mostly by German farmers. The farmers would observation the sleeping patternsof the groundhogs in order to determine when to plant and harvest. When European immigrants arrived in North America, they relied on the same patterns of behavior of these rodents to help prepare for the coming season. Immigrants discovered the groundhog in the areas where they settled. The use of the name groundhog vs. marmot depends on location. Marmots (same family of rodentia) are often found in the hills and mountainous regions. Groundhogs are found in the valleys or lowlands. Groundhogs are found in places such as Pennsylvania. Marmots are often found in places such as Alaska. Marmots are also found across Europe and some parts of Eurasia. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania broadcasts the Groundhog Day event at dawn on 2 February each year. The event is broadcast live on TV. Many people travel to Punxsutawney to observe the event.

[@cshubs]

The choking guy/mayor was his real brother, Brian Doyle Murray.

[@strangebiped]

HOLY COW! I didn't know THAT! WOW!

[@Stogie2112]

His name is Brian Murray. His stage name is Brian Doyle-Murray.

[@jomojojo6603]

Bill Murray didn't actually have chemistry with the groundhog in the truck. It bit him several times. Andie McDowell actually slapped him to make it look real. They had to stop filming a few times because his face was turning red and swelling. For me, the best line of the movie is "Not today" when the old man dies. I think ppl don't understand that it doesn't really mean today (that the old man dies). Phil means "Not today" because today is every day for him. (Did that make sense?) Guys, for a feel good comedy, try "City Slickers".

[@customfinn]

My favorite line is when he was on the phone saying about tomorrow, "there wasn't one today!" [Click] " hello? Hello?"

[@cindyknudson2715]

He had changed. After the conversation with her, he stopped seeing it as a curse but rather as a blessing. Became a blessing to others. He finally was someone he liked. He stopped trying to use her and everyone else. He was someone she could love the next day too.

[@jeffthompson9622]

Harold Ramis plays the neurologist that he sees in this. He also plays a doctor in "As Good As It Gets." He worked with Bill Murray in "Ghostbusters" 1 & 2, and "Stripes," as well as cowriting those three films.

[@strangebiped]

I miss Harold Ramis & His Intelligent Humor & Acting!

[@agentooe33AD]

don't forget Ghostbusters the Video Game, the true third movie in the franchise.

[@DeRockMedia]

@@agentooe33AD for real, i wish i coulda played it but i watched the footage on YT as its own movie, such a gem of a game

[@leonardshevlin7260]

Harold Ramis was an extraordinary gentleman. He became a family friend who was truly there for us, especially when we had sickness.

[@raybernal6829]

RIP HR .....

[@leonardshevlin7260]

@@raybernal6829 My brother loved SCTV and the National Lampoon movies. When he was fighting cancer, my other brother got in touch with his neighbor he hadn't met, Harold Ramis and he was kind enough to call. The caller ID read RAMIS, HAROLD and so my brother answered the phone, "I told those idiots at Make-a-Wish that I wanted a call from Joe Flaherty!" RIP Joe O'Flaherty

[@TenTonNuke]

It's interesting that Phil goes through the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Because he basically is coming to terms with his own death.

[@Marant2327]

So a theory I recently read is that when Rita told him to do the news segment the first time and he blew her off, that started the time loop. It finally broke when he did the great news segment she wanted that last time. It's a good theory!

[@randybass8842]

Great reaction, and I love the extended discussion afterwards. I have this on DVD and watch it at least once per year (Groundhog Day is a good time to watch it). In the last few months, I've been watching a lot of reaction videos of this, maybe 10 to 20. One thing I though of while watching your reaction, is that we don't see what it was like in the evening party before that final night. Bud, the master of ceremonies, had died earlier that evening by choking on his steak at the restaurant. Something happened to the older women after they had the flat tire, and Phil saved them by changing it for them. Something had happened to the piano player, and they needed an immediate replacement, so Phil was able to fill in and substitute, thanks to his "years" of piano lessons. That party would have been a very bleak and dismal place without the actions of Phil on that day. If you notice when Phil is in the hospital with the old man, in the background is a boy in a wheelchair. This is the boy he saves from falling out of the tree (who never thanked him).

[@Wayne-745]

The mayor is Bill Murrays big brother.

[@browniewin4121]

I love this movie, I've seen it so many times since it was new and I enjoy watching every time. RIP Harold Ramis, he was wonderful.

[@helenzebcharles]

First Tremors and now Groundhog Day? You are reacting to my childhood faves. This is awesome ❤

[@jollyrodgers7272]

A gourd is slang for 'skull'. Hot Dog! (hot-dickety-dog) is a 20th century (or earlier) exclamation of joy. Rats! Nuts! Nertz! are negative sentiments. That's Nat King Cole singing IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE, my favorite cover of that song. Sean Connery sings a line of it to Dustin Hoffman in FAMILY BUSINESS (1989).

[@FredtheFrisian]

Thanks guys, great comedy. One movie with Andie MacDowell you should see is Four weddings and a funeral! All the best from the Netherlands!

[@flarrfan]

A great movie that no one ever reacts to, for some reason. It's absolutely delightful!

[@neilt6480]

Meh. I'm a surly old curmudgeon who enjoys an occasional RomCom, but I enjoy the ones with a twist like Groundhog Day or Sliding Doors. This is one of my favourites. Four Weddings is formulaic pap.

[@paulrogers4483]

On my list of the top 10 movies ever made. It's gotta be the most original concept for a movie ever conceived. Think of it as A Christmas Carol/Scrooge except Groundhog Day not X-mas and lifetimes rather than overnight. Just the reclamation of a complete asshat or hole if you prefer. The number of days he spent in the loop was never confirmed by anyone as far as I know but it had to have been multiple lifetimes. Think about it, he would have had to studied years to do some of the things he did. Becoming fluent in French, playing the piano at a professional level, ice sculpting at a master level, ice carving at a master level alone would have taken decades a piece. Amazing movie all in all and I'm glad you got to see it, It's definitely on the list of movies you have to see in your lifetime. BTW the scene with the groundhog steering, Bill got bit a few times LOL. ✌Peace✌

[@mrtim5363]

I'm sorry, When I went to chef school, Ice Sculpting was a one year course. & If you did it every year for all four years of schooling, you could count the individual lines on the feathers of an eagle. Decades, are not required. Peace.

[@annmariemills1554]

The Dr. at the beginning of the movie was Harold Ramis also known as Egon from Ghostbusters RIP❤

[@MikeHarvey-ol7xr]

Egon, but not forgotten.

[@mj6866]

Somebody calculated that Phil was caught in the loop for 34 years.

[@mythra7174]

When he goes to the movie theater dressed as Clint Eastwood, he tells the woman he's with that he's seen the movie 100 times. So even early on, it's been quite a while.

[@Lady-Seashell-Bikini]

@@mythra7174 He also learns French, piano, and ice sculpting, all of which take years to master.

[@TheMrsWatcher]

The actress who plays Debbie is the voice of Princess Bubblegum in Adventure Time.

[@Ocron145]

And Fred her new husband is General Zod in the new Superman Movies.

[@areolata]

I just came back from Woodstock, IL, after being in the square where this was filmed, and then came home to find that you two watched this. How fortuitous!

[@markdenio4537]

Just wait until you're back in Woodstock "tomorrow".

[@diamondsmiles6882]

You didn’t mention the “Sonny and Cher” song every morning! Vital part! Thanks for the laughs. Have watched this movie many times!

[@kristinewells961]

You both have an amazing way to speak to all the different lessons in this movie!!! Thank you!❤️

[@shainewhite2781]

There was a theory that Ned Ryerson was actually the Devil and that Phil was dead or on the brink of death, and has been living the same day over and over again until he sells his soul to Ned in order to get out of the time loop.

[@Felix-Sited]

That's a doozy if true.

[@charmingjinx9379]

Either way, Phil is stuck with all that insurance he signed up for with Ned Ryerson because he did that on his last repeated day.

[@pleutron]

🤣

[@nickreacts6394]

Now THAT would be quite the twist! I love new / alternative interpretations to movies that change your whole perspective

[@MrStephenLast]

Here is a fun trivia fact: The young male newlywed is played by Michael Shannon. You may know him as General Zod from Man of Steal. I only know this because he mentioned it in an interview I read.

[@jgsrhythm100]

In 93 I went to see Groundhog Day which ended up being sold out so opted for " Fire in The Sky" ( based on the true accounts of Travis Walton) and still talking about it. Boggles the mind how such a brillant film flew under the radar. .. Highly, suggested. Love Groundhog Day. Completely different film but equally as impactful.

[@anyviolet]

Harold Ramis gave a fascinating interview about the many reactions to this movie. Yep it's hilarious, but it also apparently inspired people from so many philosophical and religious backgrounds (or none at all) to think about/interpret the events and themes in the long repeat of this day., like you and the barfly mentioned at 13:48. Hindus spoke about the purpose of reincarnation, Catholics spoke about the purification of purgatory, Jews, about repentance from selfishness, Buddhists, about learning through suffering to put aside your own desires, etc etc. Ramis was bemused by this because he hadn't necessarily intended the movie as philosophy, but he did understand how people could see this movie as a metaphor for life -- in lots of ways. GREAT discussion at the end , by both of you. Thanks for posting.

[@maurer3d]

43:59 Yes this was the first full length movie to be a timeloop story a,d in my opinion it is still the best, granted some of the others are pretty good too.

[@ojwh1933]

I think an underrated comedy personally is 'Rat Race' from 2002. It's chaotic fun with a great cast. I feel like it would make for a good reaction too.

[@adampare8088]

Popular opinion, from interview with director, Phil spent about 10, 000 years in the day. That's how he got so good at almost everything

[@cshubs]

Wow, the most I ever read was 80 years.

[@adampare8088]

​@@cshubs80 years is a lot but it takes more years to get so good at all the things he did. Plus knowing everything about everyone and all the events that would happened

[@cshubs]

​@@adampare8088 I agree, but damn, 10,000 years is severe! And consider this: he wasted most mornings on the groundhog, and so he had only half a day to learn all that!

[@adampare8088]

@@cshubs Well yeah, you're making my point for me. He wasted a ton of days so 80 years isn't enough time

[@cshubs]

@@adampare8088 I was never married to 80 years. 🙂😝 It's just the highest number I read.

[@madelinemitchell5102]

I’m so glad you liked this ❤🎉one of my favorites!!! 😂

[@heidi_d]

This was (more than likely) the first movie of this kind - reliving the same day in a loop. I cannot remember any before it, and when it came out people were enamored with it!

[@benjaminsheppard5149]

I looked up this movie online and the director went on record saying Bill Murray was stuck in this loop for at least 33 YEARS!!! Holy Jumping Jehoshaphat!!! Three decades in that one day?!?!

[@ZbigniewZiggyCzachor]

There is no official estimate but some calculation made by adding all the skills he learned and the knowledge he possessed during the time loop says that he could spend up to 10.000 years there.

[@EastPeakSlim]

Thanks for a great reaction to a fun movie. In a few months, I'll turn 75. This movie, along with a fair amount of life experience, has taught me to be grateful for each and every day.

[@alvinhelms2170]

This is one of my favorite movies of all time (and probably #1 in the Comedy category). And the conversation between the two of you while (and especially after) watching it was the most cogent and insightful reaction I've ever seen on KZbin. Very precise bullseye. … Or rather, two bullseyes.

[@linette4829]

YOU GUYS ARE SO FREAKING CUTE 🥰🥰🥰🥰 been watching you for a while always love your reactions.. Stay genuine blessings to you and yours 🥰

[@nickreacts6394]

Thanks so much!

[@jeffreybaker4399]

Never noticed before that "Alice" was born in Ireland and lived in Erie (PA). Eire is the Irish word for Ireland. Coincidence or the writer having fun with words? Enjoyed your reactions, a lot of fun.

[@belvagurr403]

The man playing the mayor is Brian Doyle Murray, Bill’s brother. He’s in all his movie’s.

[@raybernal6829]

Not only a fantastic script from Harold Ramis and Danny Rubim but Bill Murray using his sarcasm and arrogance to top tier performance...thanks Nick and Quynh😊

[@carlesmacuaid]

"Wrestlemania? Is that like some wrestling show? I dunno" This made me laugh out loud. I'm a wrestling fan but for some reason it makes me quite happy that there are people out there that have never heard of the biggest event on the wrestling calendar.

[@shirw]

I love the message that every day is an opportunity... it depends on what you do with it. :) Also, my husband and I love to quote, "Well, no. Probably not now." 😂

[@0okamino]

Admire Larry’s optimism, but there’s a limit. 😄

[@donadavs]

nice reflection on the movie's wisdom at the end

[@nickreacts6394]

Thank you!

[@DeRockMedia]

This used to be one of my favorite comedies as a kid, now as an adult, its more existential and horrifying to me, its like playing a game with NPCs, you will eventually sense that nothing is real and would probably drive me mad after years of doing it. In the Wikipedia entry: In relationship to the spiritual interpretations of the films, many have tried to estimate how long Phil supposedly remains trapped in the loop, in real time, with a wide variance in estimated values. During filming, Ramis, who was a Buddhist, observed that according to Buddhist doctrine, it takes 10,000 years for a soul to evolve to its next level. Therefore, he said, in a spiritual sense, the entire arc of Groundhog Day spans 10,000 years.[19] Deezen noted that the second draft of the screenplay called for Phil to be cursed to live the time loop for 10,000 years.[9] In the DVD commentary, Ramis estimated a real-time duration of 10 years. Later, Ramis told a reporter, "I think the 10-year estimate is too short. It takes at least 10 years to get good at anything, and allotting for the down time and misguided years he spent, it had to be more like 30 or 40 years."[50] In 2005, Rubin said, "Ultimately it became this weird political issue because if you asked the studio, 'How long was the repetition?', they'd say, 'Two weeks'. But the point of the movie to me was that you had to feel you were enduring something that was going on for a long time ... For me it had to be-I don't know. A hundred years. A lifetime."[51] In 2014, the website WhatCulture combined various time duration assumptions and estimated that Phil spent a total of 12,395 days-just under 34 years-reliving Groundhog Day.[52][53]

[@Stogie2112]

Bill Murray has 8 brothers and sisters: The Murrays are Ed, Brian, Nancy, Peggy, Bill, Laura, Andy, John and Joel. Brian Murray uses the stage name Brian Doyle-Murray. He co-wrote the story for "Caddyshack" with Harold Ramis. Eldest brother Ed Murray died in 2020. Ed was the inspiration for the character of Danny Noonan in "Caddyshack", as he won a caddy scholarship to Northwestern University.

[@strangebiped]

I think ROD SERLING did an episode of "The Twilight Zone" about an American Flying Saucer Crew that didn't remember they had CRASHED their Flying Saucer Space Ship when trying to "TAKE OFF" from a Desert Planet they had already explored and kept seeing their OWN WRECKED SAUCER each time they attempted landing and 'TAKING OFF' from The Desert Planet. It's a Good Episode to watch, like all of his TWILIGHT ZONE STORIES.

[@billverno6170]

Hot Dog is a celebratory expression. Watch It’s A Wonderful Life. When George Bailey hits the lighter in the drug store and wishes for a million dollars he always follows the wish with Hot Dog!

[@leesweets4110]

44:10 There is a movie called "12:01" that was made before Groundhog Day that does the time loop concept. It was more of a scifi action drama.

[@jewel79]

Was it really made before? It came out a few months after Groundhog Day... at least where I am...

[@leesweets4110]

@@jewel79 I'll be honest, I dont know the dates. I could be wrong; just going by memory. My household was a big Murray fan so we would have seen groundhog day pretty early on, as soon as it came out. And I distinctly remember seeing 12:01 literally years earlier as a television broadcast. I remember thinking groundhog day was copying an already done story idea, albeit in a comedic way.

[@bidwell13]

6:05 the groundhog thing never made sense to me cause if he sees his shadow then the sun is out and it’s spring. If he doesn’t then it’s cloudy. One movie that has a fun story about the groundhog is the Rankin-Bass tv special “Jack Frost” from 1979. It has Buddy Hackett, Robert Morse and Don Messick. This and the other Rankin-Bass specials from back in the day were amazing. 13:02 Egon before meeting Peter. 14:59 it’s funny that the cops actually followed them on the tracks.

[@marcojimenez595]

Usually, "the talent" means on-air people not producers or anything else behind the camera, his tone would suggest otherwise lol! Thanks for doing this movie!

[@tofersiefken]

My two favorite Bill Murray movies are both serious ones (rather than the comedies for which he is legendary). I hope you'll consider reacting to Lost in Translation (2003) and The Razor's Edge (1984) which is listed as the first dramatic role that Bill Murray undertook as a lead actor.

[@wafflebrothel7712]

My dad passed away a few years ago on February 2nd. I’ve watched this movie each year since. Such a great film. Puts a smile on my face and positive thoughts in my head.

[@FrogmanAnime]

I like the time loop trope. I read most timeloop fiction. I particularly like the innortal style loops. It’s where one person anchors a loop and others overtime join them in the loop. The anchor is supposed to anchor the reality and keep it stable while those to join the anchor are supposed to keep the anchor stable. There is a whole Multiverse of this style of time loop, especially on fanfiction, but there’s also areas on space battles. As I said, I like the trope. In one of the compilations of content in the Pony loop (Mlp:fim archive)trope by innortal One of the looping ponies ends up in this movie and alerts the administrators that there’s a problem, and that the loop is completely broken as Phil isn’t supposed to be awake, but he is which means he’s been looping through his Groundhog Day experience multiple times. Thankfully, the Admins were able to patch it to allow him to loop outside of Groundhog Day. Admittedly, he was very close to breaking.

[@LiaaaaaaaaAAAAAHH]

They estimate he could have been in the loop for anywhere from 10 to 10,000 years. I think it is really however long you think it takes for a bad person to become a good one.

[@nataliefaust7959]

I like the 10,000 years to enlightenment theory myself. Great movie pick! Adorable reaction as always. Especially predicting Ned getting punched. XD

[@wozing]

So this is an old philosophical thought experiment by Friederich Nietzsche. In his original presentation, he asked the reader to imagine they were forced to relive the same life-day-by-day, every detail the same-for all eternity, how would you live? All of your mistakes remain, but all of your victories remain. The goal was to strive for the best version of you that you could be. It's a great thought experiment for anyone trying to figure out their life and themselves.

[@pigeonboy958]

In the script it supposedly says he was there for ten thousand years of that one day.

[@chris...9497]

Some stitched-together history on Groundhog's Day (as I understand it): German soldiers were involved in the Revolutionary War, fought for the US to gain its independence from Britain. The final battles were in the mid-Atlantic; the surrender was from Cornwallis at the Battle of York, in what became Pennsylvania. After the War, a lot of the Germans settled in Pennsylvania rather than sail home to crowded and unfree Germanic monarchies. As a result, more Germans immigrated to the same area and families flourished on lands taken from Native Tribes. With them came German culture which still remains to this day. This includes sauerkraut as a traditional side dish at Thanksgiving (Pennsylvania & adjacent Maryland) and the tradition of Groundhog's Day. So the short version of this tradition's origins is that the Germans brought it to America. February 2nd was a pre-Christian Celtic holiday, midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and so perfectly situated at a point in the year to try to work out how quickly the snows of winter would be gone and the fertility of newborn animals, spouting seedlings, and pollinated flowers would bring forth the security of easily-sourced food. February 2nd was such an important day of weather prognostication that it had to be 'baptized' and converted into the dogma of the Catholic church calendar. As such, it ceased to carry the pagan name of Imbolc and was instead referred to as Candlemas. In Medieval times, a number of verses and song referenced 'sunniness' as a harbinger of how quickly winter season would turn into spring. For the Germanic nations, they relied on an early riser of hibernating mammals, the badger, and wove the expectation that the badger seeing its shadow (on a too-early sunny day) would drive him back into his burrow for another 4 weeks. But if he emerged into the dullness of an overcast winterish day, spring would advance much sooner and the badger would remain above ground. When the Germans emigrated to America, there were no badgers to observe. But there were groundhogs (aka woodchucks, whistlepigs). They transferred their tradition to groundhogs for a few generations before the folk belief mostly died out. Then, in 1877, Punxsutawney newspaper editor Clymer Freas jumped on the bandwagon of creating sensational events that were a hallmark of that time period (such as museums and circuses like the ones established by PT Barnum). Freas brought back and played up the whole Groundhog Day celebration, bringing tourism and fame to the tiny town of Punxsutawney. The first Groundhog Day was in 1887. Early events featured the butchering, cooking, and eating of groundhog, but that feature soon died out. In its place was the hokum of a single ancient groundhog they named Punxsutawney Phil, who supposedly drinks a magic elixir each summer that extends his life; Punxsutawney Phil is reputed to be some 150 years old now. And his handlers purportedly speak to him at his annual appearance in 'groundhogese', to get the report of either an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter. It's all hogwash of course, but the entire nation plays along for the fun of it. Meanwhile, the rest of the one-day festival is spent in pop-up German beer gardens, drinking beer, eating sausages, playing polka music, and celebrating German culture like an early Octoberfest. Note: In the Director's Commentary DVD of this film, Ramis explains that Bill Murray's character Phil, though trying to 'be good' to maybe earn his way out of his time trap, actually had nothing to do with how it started and how it stops. His character, his wisdom, his actions have no effect on his eventual escape or the length of time he was trapped. It wasn't God or any other spiritual/magical influence, just pure pointless chance. That said, humans don't like such empty explanations; they have to produce explanations that draw on their own personal belief system(s). Recommendation: Bedazzled (2000). Sublime. There was a British film called "Bedazzled" (1967) about an overlooked unconfident young man (Dudley Moore) who is offered a better life by a devil (Peter Cooke). Like the story of Faust, the devil provides these seemingly perfect situations that always contains a terminal defect. The young man complains, gets a different life, but they all go bad. It was social satire, quite funny. Then Harold Ramis remade a smarter version of it in 2000, starring Brendan Fraser as the young man and Elizabeth Hurley as the devil. Notable in the recurring cast is Orlando Jones. THIS was the film that convinced me Brendan Fraser could REALLY ACT. Somehow, he embodies such different characters in such different bodies (GREAT makeup) and such DIFFERENT circumstances, yet at the center is the spark of the same person evident in each of them. You would love this 2000-version! Ramis was an amazing director.

[@j.s.viewer3923]

This town they filmed in actually exists. It’s about a 30 minute drive from me, called Woodstock, IL. They have a metal plaque in the sidewalk at the spot where Bill Murray steps in the puddle. Groundhog Day is a big shin-dig there every year since this movie came out. Highly recommend a visit, so cute!

[@tommiller4895]

Bill Murray was the perfect choice to play Phil Connors. He is great playing a nice guy or a jerk. Buster the Groundhog keeper was played by Brian Doyle Murray, Bill's brother. Because of problems filming in Punxsutawney, PA they decided to film the movie in Woodstock, IL. Rita's Hotel was actually the Woodstock Opera House and Phil's B&B was a private home. They filmed the Gobbler's Knob Ceremonies in the Town park. The only Woodstock "Giveaway" is the Woodstock Jewelry store in the background near the Diner.

[@bigdream_dreambig]

7:55 I never had that problem. In fact, when I set my alarm to turn on music to wake me up, I was always awakened by the little "click" the clock made right before the music started instead!

[@maurer3d]

23:05 Many people have theorized how long Phil was stuck there, The director once said 10 year, but it never said in the script, other people have calculated out 34 years, based on the skills he shows off thru the movie and the amount of time it takes to master them (on average). But it could have been thousands of years too.

[@lc8155]

Always the best reactions. Thanks!

[@toadynamite8141]

I never looked it up, but you cant tell me that animal crossings old Lyle isn't based off Ned , He's a GROUNDHOG, he sells insurance and he says Bang! Close to Bing!

[@Gutslinger]

28:28 - "Hot dog!" is a common exclamated expression. Lol The same as saying something like "Holy mackerel!" It's Basically the clean version of the "Hot damn!" exclamation.

[@VolkswagenNut1969]

I’ve seen this many times over the years and I never made that connection until now…that his reaction to the death of the old man and that he couldn’t do anything about it was to start making his own existence more meaningful by helping others….something he COULD do! Nice observation! 😃

[@zedxxx9]

Well done! It was really enjoyable watching this with you. That was a really good edit except for one small mistake... you left out the line "Let's live here" at the end. That's final sweet punch.

[@SonOfEire3]

If you like this movie I HIGHLY recommend "Palm Springs". It has a similar concept and goes even deeper into all the metaphysical/philosophy stuff this touches on

[@OklasoonaHomer]

I've always thought they should have announced a sequel, then re-relased the original.

[@TearyEyesAndersonReacts]

There is also a mini sequel Super Bowel commercial from 2020 "*Extended Cut* Bill Murray Jeep Gladiator 'Groundhog Day' Commercial w/ Behind The Scenes Footage! ". I think the time loop began because the guy at 7:28 hitting Phil in the head with the shovel, as that is one of the few things we only see once. "Hey, jerk on the phone, you deserve this," then bap with the shovel, and time loop. Perhaps it's that guy from the Star Trek 'Q continuum', that married a human, and he was just passing by. ;)😉

[@lou7139]

The guy that played Ned Ryerson (Stephen Tobolowsky) was in some potato chip commercials and it was pretty funny. Was a nice tribute to this movie.

[@mikes6457]

he was also the toy designer in Sneakers 😃

[@jdb101585]

It's *such* a good movie.

[@michaelbowen2343]

Apparently someone did the math and he was stuck in the time loop for 33 years and 350 days.

[@stevenmacknight9960]

16:25 for the Ned punch!!!

[@0okamino]

That was a doooooozy! 😄

[@stevenmacknight9960]

@@0okamino Nice one!!! That's my favorite scene!!!

[@maryhughes6372]

Great point Quinn about how he was already feeling like he was in a time loop just doing his everyday normal stuff. And how that brought him depression. We can all, in some way, can relate to that.

[@christopherdouglass9434]

The guy in the bed and breakfast that asks, "Going to see the groundhog?" is also Max in Armageddon

[@jeffthompson9622]

Do you recognize Bill's brother, Brian Doyle Murray, as the mayor?

[@nickreacts6394]

No way!

[@philc2729]

One of my favorite time-paradox movies. Even though I love it much, I still can't see it too often because it also feels a bit too real sometimes.

[@TheDaringPastry1313]

Someone did the math on how long it would take to be an expert on all of these things that Phil ended up doing in the movie. It turns out that he was probably stuck for around 34 years and Harold Ramis even said in an email in 2009, "“It takes at least 10 years to get good at anything, and, allotting (sic) for the down time and misguided years he spent, it had to be more like 30 or 40 years,” Him being freed is all about the line at 25:06 - "I could never love someone like you Phil, because you'll never love anyone but yourself." Him being freed is all about being selfless and giving to all those around him.

[@Joker_JAK]

It's actually 10,000 years.

[@TheDaringPastry1313]

@@Joker_JAK Actually wrong, the original plot IDEA was 10,000 via Ramis himself, but it was too morbid to think of Connors being stuck that long. Then it changed to 10 and he settled on 30-40 years. "Ramis would revise his estimate. “It takes at least 10 years to get good at anything, and, allotting (sic) for the down time and misguided years he spent, it had to be more like 30 or 40 years,” he wrote."

[@mythra7174]

Early on, when he's dressed as Clint Eastwood and going to the movie theater with that woman dressed as a maid, he casually mentions he's seen the movie 100 times. So even at that early point, it's been a long time.

[@the_last_centurion]

My theory is that Phil was in purgatory. When they were trying to go home after the first night and the officer said "you can turn around and go back or you can go ahead and freeze to death" he went ahead and froze to death. His purgatory was his opportunity to remain in his own personal hell or find his happiness. Or when he was in the dinner trying to get an emergency phone line and got hit in the head with the snow shovel it caused a delayed concussion and to dream it hallucinate or something.

[@pleutron]

Nick, i love how you've been on this Friends reaction thing and everything reminds you of an episode or character. I haven't watched Friends now in about 10yrs and it still happens to me LOL

[@Fairplayer43]

Thank you Nick. Again, as legit as always. I am proud of you my boy. You guys are so precious. I laughed the whole video!

[@robertbrookes2000]

I love this film... BUT I think the musical is even better. I saw it last year in London, with Andy Karl as Phil, who was the first to play him in 2016, and he has evolved the portrayal of Phil excellently. The music by Tim Minchin (who also did Matilda the Musical) is perfect, blending a few styles, with some great theme and variation, my favourite song being either 'Stuck' or 'If I had my time again'. Then there's the amazing stage design and choreography, like in the song 'Hope' where Phil repeatedly kills himself only to magically appear back in the bed. Since the musical has been done several times, they've managed to expand the character of Rita, as well as minor characters eg Nancy gets a whole song which is really interesting. All in all it's a perfect adaptation of the film and a bit more.

[@ProfVRandall]

It took him forever -- In the movie Groundhog Day, Phil Connors relives the same day 12,395 times, which is 33 years and 350 days. However, some estimates range from about 500 years up to 10,000 years. My thought how awful for everyoneelse.

[@scottwilson3741]

Such a great movie. I've loved it since i saw it in the theater. Odds are, to learn all the skills he mastered, languages, piano, ice/snow sculpting etc. had to be at least 30-40 yrs

[@Arc851]

Someone made the count, Phil was stuck for ~ 33 years in the loop

[@deannawinsletthughes5958]

Not sure how but someone figured it up and he was stuck in the loop approximately 12,400 times. That’s nearly three and a half decades.

[@jasontodd6779]

You guys Should react to Bedazzled (2000) next. Staring Brendan Fraser. It also directed by Harold Ramis.

[@mrtim5363]

When Phil stuffs the entire piece of cake in his mouth at one time. The director Harold Ramis & the actor Bill Murray are paying tribute to their friend John Belushi fellow comedian and actor who died far too young. The scene is a direct copy of a John Belushi scene in a very funny movie called, "Animal House". & 'Very funny', is all I'm going to say about the film.

[@bigdream_dreambig]

At first it seems like Phil is being so terrible, trying to manipulate Rita so he can be with her, but think of it from his perspective: he's been stuck in this loop for so long that he must be terribly lonely, and yet if he wants to make anything happen with anyone, it _must_ happen within one day. If his pace is any slower, everything resets and he has to start all over again! I've empathized with Phil much more once I realized that.

[@davidmc1489]

16:21 😮😅😅😅 nailed it...hilarious.

[@carriesmith742]

I saw this in the theater as a teenager and it quickly became a favorite of mine. Love Bill Murray! French Kiss with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline is another favorite of mine from slightly later in the 90's but HILARIOUS! LOVE Meg Ryan! Queen of 80's and 90's rom-com's.

[@bobbygeneric1982]

There is another movie called 12:01, with Jonathan Silverman, launched in 1993 too and it's about time loop too.

[@fanmagicks]

Given how stress filled my life is right now, I'd gladly sign up for a day like this. I could call out sick to work & spend the entire day reading my books (several hundred actual physical books), watch all the movies & shows I've missed out on, SLEEP! And just relax with my cats. But go end my luck, the power would go out or the house would burn down or I'd end up sick the whole time. (Not being negative really...if I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any.)

[@Shadowmyst1]

This is my all time favorite time loop movie so I'm glad you liked it.