Groundhog Day - 1993

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Directed by Harold Ramis

Cast:

• Phil – Bill Murray
• Rita – Andie MacDowell
• Larry – Chris Elliot
• Ned – Stephen Tobolowsky
• Buster – Brian Doyle-Murray

Story: Phil the Weatherman has a little problem. Okay, Phil the Weatherman has a lot of problems, but this particular one is unique. Phil is caught in a Karmic Loop. He has to keep living the same day over and over again until he gets it right. But he has no idea of what right is. Up until now, he has been a miserable excuse for a human being, selfish, self centered, and inconsiderate, thinking of other people as just a means to an end. His producer, Rita, and his cameraman, Larry, pretty much consider Phil as another never will be local broadcaster who works cheap enough to get by. For Phil, no matter what he does, he wakes up in the same room at six a.m. every morning. Slowly it dawns on him that he can do anything he wants, anything at all, and there are no consequences. Or are there?

Review: Groundhog Day is one of those films you either love or hate. No in between, no take it or leave it. Everyone has an opinion, and surprisingly they all appear to be valid. I fall on the “love it” side of the equation, but I am a huge Bill Murray fan. Everyone knows a Bill Murray, the guy who wants to do something just wrong enough to get him fired and just right enough to be fun. Bill's character in this film is at the stage in his life where he is totally focused on advancing his career, regardless of what happens to those around him, which is why he cannot advance his career. Chris Elliot as Larry the cameraman is resolved to his role in life, observing the lives of others and getting his paycheck at the end of the day. Maybe Chris wanted to try a straight role for once, maybe there was only room for one comedian in the film, but Chris actually contributes little to the film. Andie MacDowell is the naïve, wide eyed beginning producer who really doesn't care about her job as much as she cares about her own agenda. Only in her case, she isn't willing to step over or on people to get where she needs to be in life. Personally I like this film because it is an exhaustive study on the transition of a man through circumstance from an ass to a man. Rated PG for a couple of sexual situations and some violence, I'd say the teens would not be offended, but I doubt they will get it. Collectible if you like Murray, or just like an interesting play on Karma.

Footloose - 2011

Paramount Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Dylan Sellers Productions

Directed by Craig Brewer

Cast:

• Ren MacCormick – Kenny Wormwald
• Ariel Moore – Julianne Hough
• Rev. Shaw Moore – Dennis Quaid
• Vi Moore – Andie MacDowell
• Willard – Miles Teller
• Wes Warnicker - Ray McKinnon
• Lulu – Kim Dickens
• Chuck Cranston – Patrick John Flueger
• Rusty – Ziah Colon

Story:This is an homage to the classic 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, and Dianne Weist. The story hasn't changed. A tragic accident takes the lives of five teenagers coming home from a senior dance, one of them the minister's son. The small southern Presbyterian town is so shocked and appalled it outlaws dancing and other types of parties, and places curfews in effect in an effort to protect the teens from themselves. Three years later, Ren MacCormick moves to the town after losing his mother to leukemia, and quickly learns about the restrictions. His Uncle Wes is owns a used car lot in the town, and realizes his nephew will need an advocate in order to get along with the local sheriff and minister. Ren makes friends quickly, but he soon learns the minister's daughter is heading down a dangerous path with an older race car driver, Chuck Cranston. Ren works to pass a petition around town to withdraw the ordinance banning dancing, and while he does not succeed, he manages to get permission to hold a senior dance in a local cotton mill adjacent to the town.

Review: Footloose is about more than dancing, although Kenny Wormwald certainly can do that. Footloose is a classic tale of tragedy and redemption, about the differences between teens and adults, about the way we see ourselves and others. Craig Brewer has managed to update this classic film without losing one iota of the feel of the original. Kenny Wormwald is excellent as Ren, the out of town boy thrust into the small country town environment. Julianne Hough plays the minister's daughter with a flair that shows some insight into the dynamics of a family dealing with the loss of a child. Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell were perfect choices for the minister and his wife, and Quaid adds a different perspective to the role than Lithgow's original portrayal. Ray McKinnon gives us a new look at his ability to adapt his normally more aggressive character acting to a kinder, gentler advocate, and Kim Dickens provides just the right touch as the aunt. Very appealing were the characters of Willard and Rusty, played by newcomers Miles Teller and Ziah Colon. Filmed in the small town of Acworth, Georgia, the photography and cinematography are excellent. Rated PG-13 for language, sexual content, and some violence and drug use, this is a film, with correct parental supervision, should be viewable by the entire family.