by Julian Spivey

Harold Ramis' 1993 film Groundhog Day is arguably the best comedy of the last two decades.

The film has become a modern cinematic classic because of its unique script, penned by Ramis and Danny Rubin.

Phil Connors is a cynical, self-centered weatherman who has gotten bored with his responsibility to travel to Punxsutawney, Pa., every year to report on whether the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, sees his shadow or not. It is clear that Connors needs a change and an unbelievable one is about to happen.

Connors completes his duties of covering the Groundhog Day festivities but is trapped in Punxsutawney by a surprise blizzard. The next morning when he wakes up, things are all too familiar and it doesn't take long before he realizes he is trapped in Groundhog Day hell.

Hilarity ensues as Connors, played magnificently by the underrated Bill Murray, takes advantage of this peculiarity in time.

Day after day is Groundhog Day in Connors' strange new world. After a while, he begins to feel that his recurring Groundhog Day is never going to end.

The film takes a dark turn that leads to Connors attempting and committing suicide in many different ways. Not to worry though; even death can't stop this psycho time warp.

The film turns into a romance story as Connors develops feelings for his producer Rita, played by the beautiful Andie MacDowell.

He spends day after day wooing the woman who once thought of him as a pompous jerk. It turns out that she is, in fact, the only one who can ultimately break his Groundhog curse.

Through the years, Ramis' film has reminded critics and fans alike of a film that acclaimed director Frank Capra would have done in his lifetime.

In fact, Groundhog Day and Capra's 1946 film, It's a Wonderful Life, have many similarities.

It is the film's irony and originality that gives it life. Murray proves in this film that his acting skills are better than average comedian actors and slapstick stars such as Jim Carrey. Murray isn't just a comedian. He can be a serious actor and make feelings such as sadness, pain and boredom believable.

Groundhog Day was really the first time fans got to see Murray in this light. He's no longer the bumbling Carl Spackler, who he played in the 1980 film Caddyshack, also directed by Ramis.

In 2003, Murray matured even more in movies such as Sofia Coppola's film Lost in Translation, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.

Murray has developed into one of the best actors of the modern cinema era.