On the way to the town, he grumbles about having to go on this assignment and his coverage is mediocre at best. He wants to leave but a storm prevents them from traveling back to Pittsburgh. Phil Connors fits Aristotle's idea of a comic hero. The citizens in the town fit his idea of ordinary people. They are all going about there day. Some work in the diner, others are delivering the mail, some are headed to work. One steps into a big puddle on their way to work. In the morning, he wakes up on Groundhog Day again. He goes throughout the day thinking he is in a dream but wakes up the next day back on Groundhog Day. He realizes he is stuck in the town and everyday starts back at Groundhog Day. In order to try and break the loop, he commits suicide dozens of different times. This always fails and he starts to fall in love with Rita. After a seemingly perfect day, it starts all over again.
Bill Murray then commits himself to helping the town and spends years honing different skills, such as becoming a piano master, mechanic, and learning when and were someone would be choking in a restaurant. He wakes up one morning and travels around the town with Rita and is always in the right place at the right time. He tells her that no matter what, he will always love her. The two then leave and when they wake up in the morning, it is finally the day after Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day is a meaningful art form that expresses a bigger meaning of what is the purpose in life. Phil Connors lived the same day over and over again and did whatever he wanted. Over time, he began to use his predicament as a tool to help others. Little by little he starts to help people in the town. He fixes a car, saves a choking man, and makes everyone else have a great day. He learns compassion for others and what he can do for others in his lifetime.
I think Groundhog Day is a prime example of an original comedy. As hard as it was for him at the start and throughout the majority of the movie, he learns a valuable lesson and eventually rises at the end. Very well written article, Chris.
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