Submission to FamilyFed, August 2009

FamilyFed.org Movie Reviews – August 2009

It's that time again – the warm weather is becoming old news, the pool has been conquered, and the back-to-school commercials have started their run on TV. Yup, it's the end of summer. And as I can almost hear the collective groan of students the world over, I offer some advice. Yes, school can be a drag, and maybe even a struggle. But often, these struggles are essential for our personal growth, and can yield amazing experiences... should we choose to let them. For instance, take the protagonists of our two movies this month. Both, being placed in unusual circumstances, are forced to struggle. And in their struggle, both grow into men of substance. Sound promising? Well, read on!

Groundhog Day (1993)
Directed By Harold Ramis
Starring Bill Murray
Rated PG (for some thematic elements)
Running Time: 101 Minutes

What would you do if every morning, you woke up to the exact same day? This is the challenge facing Phil Connors (Murray), an egocentric weatherman from Pittsburgh, PA. Asked by his network to cover the Groundhog Day festivities in Punxutawney, PA with his producer Rita and cameraman Larry, Phil grudgingly complies. But when a blizzard comes through, forcing the crew to stay overnight in Punxutawney, Phil becomes ensnared in a time loop. And as luck would have it, Phil is the only person who knows that this is happening. After trying out some of the various options – despair, revolt, hedonism and self-destruction – he realizes that he can use the situation to grow and change.
Groundhog Day is a prime example of using a struggle to grow, as Phil is forced to trudge through the situation of repeating the same day, without knowing if he will ever witness tomorrow. He yearns to figure out the situation, and at first, he fails as he gives in to selfish behavior (such as breaking the law and eating tons of unhealthy food). But when Rita's presence comes more into the foreground of Phil's consciousness, he is challenged with learning to love her genuinely, and to give of himself to make her happy. At first his efforts are contrived and self-centered, but over time (the director supposes Phil is stuck in Groundhog Day for about 10 years), he learns to do it sincerely. Furthermore, he learns that sometimes the best love is the love you give unconditionally (see the progression of his relationship with the homeless man for an example).
The beauty of Phil's situation is that it presents a unique opportunity for him to learn from his mistakes. This can be seen in the succession of scenes where Phil, making an error, uses the knowledge gained to repeat the same situation without error. While we the viewers do not have such luxuries as “do overs” for our pivotal moments, we do have the everyday luxury of applying our resultant knowledge in situations similar to that in which we erred. Throughout the film, we see that Phil truly needed this experience in the time loop to push beyond himself and grow outward. Likewise, Groundhog Day is an excellent reminder for us to do the same.

Some discussion questions viewers may want to discuss are:
1.Observe how much Phil has changed from the beginning of the movie to the end. Where exactly was his turning point?
2.Go back to the scene where Phil laments about his situation to his fellow patrons at the bar. Note their response. Do you ever feel like them? Why? What can we do to break the cycle of repetition?


Dan in Real Life (2007)
Directed By Peter Hedges
Starring Steve Carell & Juliette Binoche
Rated PG-13 (for some innuendo)
Running Time: 98 Minutes

Dan Burns carries many responsibilities – widowed father of three spirited daughters, member of the large but close-knit Burns clan, and newspaper advice columnist being considered for syndication. Each role is both a blessing and a burden, and it is clear that Dan is worn out. Then, as if on cue, Dan meets a woman that rejuvenates his heart and soul. Too bad she's his brother's girlfriend. What happens when the two interact during the Burns family reunion? You might be surprised...
Dan in Real Life is a beautifully constructed film. It marries comedy and sadness in a wonderfully endearing way. Steve Carell in particular carries his role off marvelously. In other, less capable hands, this role could have come off as a whiny mess. But Carell manages to convey a truly likable and relatable character. However, such a character could not be successful alone; his character shines thanks to the Burns family. Pay attention to them. Both collectively and as individuals, the family's casting and execution radiates the true warmth and spontaneity of the family dynamic. None of the family members seem contrived (except perhaps for Dan's second daughter, who is a bit over the top... but what 15 year old isn't?). And none of the characters has to be overtly explained; they are just who they are. This is a mark of good character development.
But gosh, poor Dan. He just keeps fumbling and fumbling. Much like Phil Connors in Groundhog Day, Dan Burns responds to his circumstance in various ways - disbelief and frustration, loneliness (e.g. “this corn is like an angel”), selfishness - and ultimately from a place of genuine love. He takes quite a few wrong turns before heading in the right direction, but guided by the GPS of a loving family, he does indeed find his path to love and happiness. Take note of the many times in which a member of the Burns family offers Dan advice. This dynamic between the family members illustrates an important component of struggle – we do not have to struggle alone. Our family, teachers and friends have much to offer from their own life experiences. What's more, these are people who want to help those they love. In an age where most movies and sitcoms focus on family dysfunction, it is refreshing to see a family who, though not perfect, are there for each other.

Some discussion questions:
1.Is Dan the only character to grow during the movie? If not, who, and how?
2.Go back to the lighthouse scene. Who in this movie is a Lighthouse? Does Dan have a lighthouse to guide him? Does being a lighthouse imply that you have all the answers?


For a flower to bloom, it has to push through quite a bit of dirt to find the sun. Likewise, for us as people to grow and reach our fullest potential, we must be willing to push on, even through the murkiest depths of uncertainty and emptiness. We also must be willing to learn - to survey the situations around us with serenity and openness. And what's more, we should take advantage of the brilliant resources that can be found on the life experiences of loved ones. If we choose to do these things, today's frustrations can become a foothold for tomorrow's advancement towards our ultimate potential.