• Groundhog Day (1993) -- Magically heartwarming journey. Timeless dramedy, 9/10. SIGN UP for your free Netflix trial: http://www.Netflix.com/Jogwheel SAVE $10 on MoviePass: http://www.MoviePass.com/Jogwheel TWEET a review with the #JPMN hashtag, and have it featured! WATCH full episodes, every Friday night: http://bit.ly/JogJPMN ~~ Movie Night Reviews ~~ Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, upcoming trailers, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, each film is scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight a film's best and worst features in ten key categories. Each "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode, which air on the JPizzle1122 channel every Friday, November through May. Born in February 1986, Jonathan Paula is a professional YouTuber and creator of the hit web series, "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?". In April 2006 he founded Jogwheel Productions, a new media production company that specializes in web video. He has been reviewing films since 2003, and professionally since 2009. Jon graduated from Emerson College in 2008 with a degree in Television Production / Radio Broadcasting. He currently lives in Rockingham, NH with his wife Rebecca. ~~ Links ~~ Twitter --------------------- http://bit.ly/JonTW Facebook ---------------- http://bit.ly/JonFBFan Main Channel ----------- http://bit.ly/Jogwheel 2nd Channel ------------ http://bit.ly/JonWorld Movie Night Show ----- http://bit.ly/JogJPMN FAQ Video --------------- http://bit.ly/JogFAQv T-Shirts ------------------- http://bit.ly/JogStore ~~ Technical ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ---------- Panasonic HMC-150 Microphone ----- Sennheiser ME 66 Software --------- Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 Computer ------- http://bit.ly/JAV010 • Jogwheel Productions © 2013 • ~~ Review Script ~~ Perhaps the most successful of the Ramis / Murray collaborations - this fantasy comedy drama made over 70 million dollars when it was released in February of 1993. Bill Murray stars as a grumpy, arrogant, and egocentric TV weatherman who finds himself stuck in a 24-hour time loop, while also being trapped physically in the small suburban town of Punxsatawney, PA - for their annual Groundhog celebrations. This brave, and unique premise hinges entirely on our protagonist: and I can't picture this idea working with anyone *but* Murray: his sarcastic delivery, dead-pan comedy style, yet lovable and heroic charm, even when being a bit of a jerk, is what drives this film so effectively. This is a man who is forced to struggle with the possibility of eternity: living out February 2nd thousands of times... indulging in hedonism, before experimenting with numerous suicide attempts, he eventually decides to make the best of a terrible situation, and re-examine is life; he also uses he countless loops to learn the piano, how to ice-sculpt, and speak French. After some playful scored montages, this 101 minute adventure settles down, and we start to see Murray enjoying himself: helping the townspeople, and courting the love of his life: Andie MacDowell, who outright rejects his advances in nearly a hundred separate timelines. An ageless beauty, MacDowell is amazing in this role... her mousey curiosity is countered by Murray's know-it-all confidence, remaking on his seemingly God-like knowledge of the town, it's citizens, and the future: "Well maybe the *real* God uses tricks, you know? Maybe he's not omnipotent. He's just been around so long he knows everything." The couple's incredibly chemistry is strengthened by all of the humorous failed attempts... loop around, Murray is able to learn a bit more about this women's desires, while simultaneously learning why he values in himself. Even the bit-players are unforgettable, from Rick Docommun as an endearing and nervous barfly, or Stephen Tobolosky, the intrepid Ned Ryerson: a smarmy insurance salesmen. The moral self-reflection one experiences while watching this picture is unavoidable: a marvelous accomplishment by director Ramis: who skillfully balances grandiose questions like "the meaning of life" alongside more basic principals dealing with love and understanding. The score by George Fenton is a light, and festive ones: keeping this light and playful even during the picture's darkest themes. Consistent use of camera angles help drive home the repetition in this picture, which may become tired: but I for one love watching this picture over and over again, every February. Similarly, the temporal circle is never explained... what made Murray was so special, or cursed, to get stuck in a loop? An intriguing concept, endearing performances, great dialogue, and a truly beautiful execution, "Groundhog Day" is a "Magically heartwarming journey. Timeless dramedy."  ~

• published: 27 Jan 2013
• views: 5356