When we first meet Phil Connors in Groundhog Day, he's a selfish jerk who doesn't care about anything but himself. But reliving the same day for more than ten years has a way of changing people.
It doesn't happen right away, but over time Phil learns exactly what it feels like to care about someone else as much as (or more than) yourself. Along the way, Phil makes just about every mistake a guy can make when trying to get someone to love him.
Questions about Love
- What does Phil think "love" is at the beginning of this movie? How does that definition change as he goes on?
- Why does Rita eventually come to love Phil? How has he changed?
- When does Phil really start making an effort to love the people around him? What sparks the change?
Chew on This
Take a peek at these thesis statements. Agree or disagree?
In Groundhog Day, we learn that selfishness is a dead end and the only path to lasting fulfillment is love.
Groundhog Day reminds us that love can often grow out of total despair.