Boating a concept so simple you wonder why nobody had thought of it before (man is forced to live the same day over and over again until he gets it right), Groundhog Day is not only one of the finest comedies of the 90s, but actually remains fresh, funny and original after repeated viewings.
Bill Murray is on career best form as arrogant weatherman Phil Connors, who uses his predicament (repeating the smalltown meteorological phenomenon of Groundhog Day ad infinitum), first for his own ends (cue criminal activity, mass cake binges etc.), then to romance colleague Andie MacDowell and turn himself into an all-round perfect person.
Director Harold Ramis avoids sentimentality and smalltown stereotypes in favour of one genuinely hysterical set-piece after another and, perhaps best of all, offers no complex or meaningful explanation as to why his protagonist should be in this mess and simply allows the comedy to shine through.
