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BILLY BOY: GROUNDHOG DAY, MAD DOG AND GLORY

© Sean Gallagher

Bill Murray may have been the last of the original cast of SNL (he only joined after Chevy Chase left the show), but he has turned out to have the most interesting career. Ironically, Murray wasn't really the funniest part of SNL (admittedly, with the late John Belushi in the cast, it's hard to compete), but he's turned out the best. It's true that he does share the fratboy sensibility of SNL alumns like Chase and Dan Aykroyd. But what he also seems to have is an ironic detachment from himself and what's around him, though he also seems to celebrate it (as his lounge singer act from SNL indicates). And somehow, while in other actors a refusal to grow up has made them tiresome, in Murray it makes him all the more lovable; he has grown up in some ways, but he still remains a little boy in others. And unlike other SNL alumni, he seems to be choosy about his roles, and will even take supporting roles in other people's films. He also has a serious side, which he indulged in the underrated remake of THE RAZOR'S EDGE. Harold Ramis' GROUNDHOG DAY and John McNaughton's MAD DOG AND GLORY showcase why Murray still has staying power, though the first movie is better than the second.

While Ramis came from SCTV rather than SNL, he also shared the fratboy sensibility that informed SNL (he started out with National Lampoon). But he shows a sign of growing up with GROUNDHOG DAY. It's a funny movie, but in a grown-up way, although it does get a tad sentimental.

Murray plays Phil Connors, a TV weatherman in New York City, who's set to make a trip he despises; to Punxatawnee, Pennsylvania, where Punxatawnee Phil, the most famous groundhog in America, emerges to determine if there's six more weeks of winter or not. Phil considers himself too good for this assignment (he brags of network offers), but goes anyway, partly because he's interested in Rita (Andie MacDowell), his new producer. Along with Larry (Chris Elliot), their cameraman, they head out to the Groundhog Day festival, and cover the event. Unfortunately, a snowstorm arrives, meaning the roads are closed, and they'll be stuck in town for the night. Phil's troubles, however, are only beginning.

The next morning, when he wakes up, it's Groundhog Day again. The same tune wakes him up on the radio ("I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher, in a nice ironic touch). He has the same conversation with the landlady at the bed and breakfast he's staying at. He runs into the same annoying insurance salesman, Ned (Stephen Toblowsky), who claims he went to high school with Phil. He goes to the same Groundhog Day festival. And when he wakes up the next morning, it starts all over again, with only him remembering. At first, Phil's confused, and even goes to a psychiatrist (Ramis) to find out if there's something wrong with him. Then, he starts taking advantage of the situation; he can eat as much as he wants, and he can charm women into bed by knowing what they want. His main target here, of course, is Rita; when one day, he learns she drinks to world peace, he does so the next day. But when that seems to lead nowhere, he then becomes suicidal, with the depressing knowledge that even killing himself won't change a thing. Eventually, of course, this all leads to him being a better person.

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