Thanks Ned

In the extra commentary on the DVD of Groundhog Day Stephen Tobolowsky who plays Ned Ryerson comments on the film. He says that initially we, the audience, “don’t want boy to get girl.” Phil is such a vile character at the start of the film that, despite his efforts, we actually hope that he fails in “getting” Rita. The one upside to Phil’s awful nature is that he is absolutely hilarious. His biting sarcasm is the highlight of the film. When Rita asks Phil to dinner with her and Larry he retorts with, “No thank you. I’ve seen Larry eat.” After all, as my famed film teacher says, isn’t humor merely joy at the expense of others? Yes, yes it is. However, as Tobolowsky remarks, we, by the end of the film, warm up to Phil and do see some good inside of him. Phil finds out (and so do we) that he (Phil) has to love himself before others can love him. That’s exactly how it works with our feelings towards Phil. In the beginning of the film, we see a self-centered, self-hating man. So, naturally we hate him too. It’s much easier for an audience to go with what the character gives them. But, as the film progresses the audience goes through different stages, just a Phil does. First, we don’t care that his life stinks because “he deserves it.” Then we feel slightly sorry for him when he tries to kill himself so many times. Next we truly feel pity for him after his hard work on Rita doesn’t pay off. Finally, we feel his same joy as he is successful in getting Rita and breaking his spell. At the end of the film we want boy to get girl and when he does, we lose all of our bad feelings for Phil and experience true joy, just as Phil does, at least for that one moment.