Please note: The following text contains spoilers
“Let me ask you guys a question. What if there were no tomorrow?”
Time loops. Time vortexes. Time warps… We’re obsessed with the manner
in which time, as a way to measure our existence, functions, malfunctions
or can be manipulated - especially for the purposes of Sci-Fi. Take About Time
for example, a romantic comedy which is primarily concerned with utilising
time travel, to write the (sometimes very embarrassing) wrongs of our lives.
Or The Terminator, in which a cyborg is tasked with changing the future,
by literally killing the past. In either case, each film leads with a what-if
scenario explored to its full, mind-bending potential. Groundhog Day
(the godfather of time-loop movies) is no different in that regard, but it
also manages to transcend the perceived limits of the comedy genre,
in providing us with thought-provoking questions about the very purpose
of humanity’s existence - all within a brisk, 100-minute window.
“Let me ask you guys a question. What if there were no tomorrow?”
Time loops. Time vortexes. Time warps… We’re obsessed with the manner
in which time, as a way to measure our existence, functions, malfunctions
or can be manipulated - especially for the purposes of Sci-Fi. Take About Time
for example, a romantic comedy which is primarily concerned with utilising
time travel, to write the (sometimes very embarrassing) wrongs of our lives.
Or The Terminator, in which a cyborg is tasked with changing the future,
by literally killing the past. In either case, each film leads with a what-if
scenario explored to its full, mind-bending potential. Groundhog Day
(the godfather of time-loop movies) is no different in that regard, but it
also manages to transcend the perceived limits of the comedy genre,
in providing us with thought-provoking questions about the very purpose
of humanity’s existence - all within a brisk, 100-minute window.
In essence, this is a redemption story in which the self-centred, cynical weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray, at his deadpan comic best), is inexplicably forced to relive the film’s titular, mind-numbing day, over and over, when he’s caught in a never-ending time loop. For Phil, this is (initially) a fate worse than death - especially since he can’t stand being trapped with the small-town “hicks” of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Despite being incarcerated, however, Phil realises that there are benefits to even a dire situation such as this. Namely, he discovers that if there isn’t a tomorrow, there are no consequences for his actions, and he can do whatever he pleases. Naturally, Phil does it all - from robbing a bank, to binge-eating, to pursuing countless one-night stands... And yet, these delights leave him feeling empty, dissatisfied with his existence, and driven to suicide - the latter of which hilariously does nothing to break the time loop, regardless of the countless, ridiculous methods he employs. Instead, his state of brokenness reveals that every indulgence is in fact worthless and a complete waste of the time given to him. The Bible also regards such activities as being pointless, most notably when the writer of Ecclesiastes remarks upon life’s indulgences:
“Anything I wanted, I got. I did not deny myself any pleasure. I was proud of everything I had worked for, and all this was my reward. Then I thought about all that I had done and how hard I had worked doing it, and I realized that it didn't mean a thing. It was like chasing the wind — of no use at all…”
(Ecclesiastes 2:10-12, GNT)
(Ecclesiastes 2:10-12, GNT)
Without knowing it, Phil comes to understand the biblical concept that to live a self-centred life is completely meaningless and ultimately unsatisfying. So, he decides to try something other than living for himself, in attempting to care for and treat fairly, those around him. It doesn’t necessarily come easy for Phil - people are forever ungrateful or blissfully unaware of his ‘good deeds’. And yet, his determinedly ‘good’ behaviour reflects a desire to live righteously, especially when he embodies many principles of the Kingdom of God - in choosing selflessness over selfishness, for instance. Without knowing it, Phil does indeed seek the attributes of the “Kingdom of God above all else” (Matthew 6:33, NLT), when he chooses to dedicate his time loop to no longer “chasing the wind”.
And yet for Phil, he still seems lost. He carries out every good deed on his time-loop checklist, but still wanders aimlessly through the streets. Is he carrying out these good deeds from a sense of duty? Or because he knows it’s the right thing to do now? It certainly seems that way. For whilst Phil knows exactly what he should do with his life, there is still no driving force behind it. He has no reason to continue doing good, because tomorrow is exactly the same. However, he begins to develop feelings for his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell), who notices that Phil has undergone a transformation, of sorts, when they begin spending time really getting to know each other. Phil’s attraction to Rita soon becomes sincere and he seeks to honour her as best he can, rather than be his cold, cynical self. In truly getting to know Rita, seeing her as a valuable person who has worth, Phil chooses to undergo a transformation of the heart. He no longer does anything out of a sense of duty but serves others because he genuinely has love for them. And that is what ultimately breaks the time loop, sending him back into reality as a changed man.
And yet for Phil, he still seems lost. He carries out every good deed on his time-loop checklist, but still wanders aimlessly through the streets. Is he carrying out these good deeds from a sense of duty? Or because he knows it’s the right thing to do now? It certainly seems that way. For whilst Phil knows exactly what he should do with his life, there is still no driving force behind it. He has no reason to continue doing good, because tomorrow is exactly the same. However, he begins to develop feelings for his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell), who notices that Phil has undergone a transformation, of sorts, when they begin spending time really getting to know each other. Phil’s attraction to Rita soon becomes sincere and he seeks to honour her as best he can, rather than be his cold, cynical self. In truly getting to know Rita, seeing her as a valuable person who has worth, Phil chooses to undergo a transformation of the heart. He no longer does anything out of a sense of duty but serves others because he genuinely has love for them. And that is what ultimately breaks the time loop, sending him back into reality as a changed man.
The Bible teaches that for all of our good works, we can’t do anything to erase the problem of sin in our life and, just like Phil, the dissatisfaction that comes with even dedicating our entire lives to ‘goodness’. No matter what we do, “everyone has (still) sinned and is far away from God's saving presence” (Romans 3:23, GNT). The only way to be truly freed from a place of brokenness then, is to find purpose for our lives and be saved from eternal death. But in order to do that, we have to recognise what Jesus did for us in dying on the cross and rising again, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour - the only One who can save us. For ‘doing good’ on its own is never a solution for the problem of sin (those deliberate choices to ignore God and do wrong in His sight). God doesn’t call us to be ‘good people’, He calls us to be His own - a people who then out of their love for Him, choose to walk in goodness and righteousness as a result of experiencing His love for us, which we will then want to share with others. In turning from our sins and trusting in Jesus’ promise of salvation, we are no longer left chasing after the wind. Rather, we will be liberated from our dark ways of living (set free from our own loop, if you will), and brought into new life with God here, but also in eternal life with Him when we die. For with God, there is always a brighter tomorrow.
Challenge:
- Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch Groundhog Day for themselves? Use the film’s themes to ask them what they thought of the film, if they spotted any links to Christianity and what they might think of the Gospel’s response to this subject.
- If you feel able to, ask them if they’ve ever yearned for something more in life and where they might find true fulfilment. You could then ask them what they think about God’s response to ‘having it all’ would be, and if they're open to hearing it, take an opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them.
Dear Lord, As I watch this film, I ask that you would be present here with me. Highlight to me anything within it that is honourable, anything that can be used in conversation for your Kingdom purposes. Amen.
Groundhog Day is now available to stream on Netflix (UK), or purchase on DVD & Blu-Ray
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