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{{Infobox Film
{{Mergefrom| Monstars | Talk:Groundhog Day#Merge proposal |date=October 2008}}
| name = Space jam
{{Refimprove|date=January 2008}}
| caption = Theatrical release poster
{{Copyedit|date=November 2008}}
| director = ]
{{otheruses1|the motion picture|Groundhog Day (disambiguation)}}
| producer = Trevor Albert<br>]

| writer = ] (story)<br>] and<br>] (screenplay)
{{Infobox Film | name = Groundhog Day
| starring = ],<br>],<br>],<br>],<br>]
| director = Joe Pytka
| producer = ] | music = ]
| cinematography = ]
| writer = Leo Benvenuti<br />Steve Rudnick<br />Timothy Harris (screenwriter)|Timothy Harris<br />Herschel Weingrod
| distributor = ]
| starring = ]<br />] <br/>]<br/>]
| music = ] | released = ], ]
| runtime = 101 min.
| cinematography =
| country = ]
| editing =
| language = English
| distributor = ]
| awards =
| released = ], ] (])
| budget = $14,600,000
| runtime = 87 minutes
| amg_id = 1:20982
| language = ]
| imdb_id = 0107048
| budget = ]80,000,000 US (est.)
| followed_by
| amg_id = 1:136561
| imdb_id = 0117705
}} }}
'''''Space jam''''' is a ] ] directed by ], starring ] and ]. It was written by Ramis and ], and based on a story by Rubin.
'''''Groundhog Day''''' is a ] ] ] starring ] opposite ] (voiced by ]) and the rest of the '']'' characters. It was produced by ], and directed by Joe Pytka (live-action), Tony Cervone, and ] (animation). The film was released theatrically by ] on ], ]. The filmwas also converted in a ] by ] and a ] by ].

In the film, Murray plays Phil Connors, an egocentric ] TV weatherman who, during a hated assignment covering the annual ] event (]) in ], finds himself ] over and over again. After indulging in all manner of ] pursuits, he begins to reexamine his life and priorities.

In ], ''Space jam'' was added to the ] ] as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It is listed as the 176th most popular movie at the ] as of ], ].


==Plot== ==Plot==
Aliens called ''Nerdlucks'' arrive on Earth to capture the Looney Tunes characters and take them back to Moron Mountain, an outer space theme park belonging to their boss, ''Mr. Swackhammer'', voiced by ], as the theme park is in need of a new attraction. ] convinces the aliens that the Looney Tunes must be allowed to defend themselves. Since the aliens are very short the Looney Tunes challenge them to a basketball game.


Self-centered TV ] Phil Connors, his producer Rita, and ] Larry from the fictional Pittsburgh television station WPBH-TV9 travel to ] to cover the annual ] festivities with ] for the station. Phil, who has grown tired of this assignment, grudgingly gives his report and attempts to return back to Pittsburgh when a ] that he predicted would miss the area shuts down the main roads, forcing Phil and his team to stay in town an extra day.
]


Phil wakes up to find that he is reliving ] again. Everyone else is repeating the same actions as the day before, seemingly unaware of the ], though Phil remains aware of the events of the previous day. At first he is confused, but, when the loop continues, he starts to try to take advantage of the situation without fear of long-term consequences, learning secrets from the town's residents, seducing women, stealing money, and ]. However, attempts to get closer to Rita are repeatedly shut down. With each passage of the loop, Phil becomes despondent; during one loop, he kidnaps Punxsutawney Phil and after a long police chase, drives over a cliff, appearing to kill both Phil and the groundhog. However, Phil wakes up in the next loop and finds that nothing has changed; further attempts at suicide are just as fruitless as he continues to find himself back at the start of February 2.
After viewing a reel on basketball and finding out about the NBA, the aliens steal the talent of five ] stars (], ], ], ], and ]) and use it to transform themselves into the tall and muscular ''Monstars''. Fortunately, the Monstars haven't stolen the talent of Michael Jordan because he has retired from basketball to pursue a career in ] (a real-life event). Bugs Bunny gets Jordan to help them in their basketball game as their ]. After a hardened battle and despite taking several casualties (Bugs Bunny himself gets injured in the process) and with the timely arrival of ], the Looney Tunes manage to win the game and their freedom. Swackhammer berates the Monstars for losing, but then they realize that since they're no longer smaller than him, they don't have to put up with his bullying anymore. They launch Swackhammer into space, and give back the stolen skills through the basketball they got it from, becoming Nerdlucks again. The Nerdlucks ask Bugs Bunny a request to stay in Looney Tune land, to which Daffy and Bugs reluctantly agree once the Nerdlucks demonstrate they're "Looney enough". Jordan then gives back the talent where the "bad players" touch the ball and become normal again. Jordan then decides to return to basketball, mirroring his real-life return.


Phil continues to try to learn more about Rita, and when he reveals his situation to her and the knowledge he's gained about the town's residents, she opens up to him and suggests he try to use his situation to help benefit the town. Phil uses her advice and the time loop to help as many people around town as possible, as well as bettering himself, such as by learning to play ] and speaking ]. Phil, now engrossed with the town's celebration, is able to admit his love to Rita, and she accepts and returns his love. After the evening dance, the two retire together to Phil's room.
Many major and minor characters from Looney Tunes shorts make appearances in the movie, and are even joined by '']'', a female hare that acts as Bugs' love interest.


Phil wakes up the next day, and finds the time loop has broken; it is now February 3 and Rita is still in bed with him. As the team prepare to return to Pittsburgh, Phil and Rita talk about eventually settling down in Punxsutawney, but they'll "rent first."
==Reception==
''Groundhog Day'' had a positive critical response overall. Notable critic ] gave ''Groundhog Day'' an enthusiastic "thumbs up," which ] also gave the film although his zeal was more subdued. ] also gave the film a positive review. Some critics compared it unfavorably to '']'', a popular film in which cartoon characters and live-action humans coexisted.<ref> Retrieved on 2008-01-23.</ref> Those who liked the film praised the visual effects, which were groundbreaking at the time.{{Fact|date=November 2008}}


==Cast==
The film's soundtrack was popular and highly praised,{{Fact|date=November 2008}} and it served as a high point for musical artist ], whose song "]" became a hit after it was featured on the film's soundtrack. Other tracks included a cover of "]" (by ]), "]" (by ], ], ], ], and ]), "]" (by ] & ]), and "]" (by ]). The movie's theme song was performed by the ].


*] - Phil Connors
===Box office===
*] - Rita
Despite mixed reviews, Groundhog Day was a major box office success. In its opening weekend, it grossed $27,528,529 in the United States. At the end of its running, it grossed $90,418,342 in the United States and $230,418,342 worldwide. The film, for a period, was the highest grossing non-Disney animated film but has since been outgrossed by '']'', '']'' and '']''.{{Fact|date=November 2008}}
*] - Larry
*] - Ned Ryerson
*] - Buster Green
*] - Gus
*] - Ralph
*] - Doris, the Waitress
*] - Nancy Taylor
*Angela Paton - Mrs. Lancaster
*] - Psychiatrist
*] - Neurologist


==Cast of NBA players== ==Development of the movie==
]
Aside from Jordan, who plays the lead role, ''Groundhog Day'' contains a liberal amount of appearances by NBA players and coaches. Larry Bird plays golf with Jordan, and when the Monstars steal the NBA players' skills, they invade a game between the ] and the ], causing the Knicks' ] and the Suns' ] to make in-game mistakes. In these scenes, the Knicks' ] and ] and the Suns' ], ], and ] (coach) are also onscreen.
]
According to the director's commentaries from the DVD, there are several differences between the original script for ''Space jam'', as written by Danny Rubin, and the film as it was actually released, because of changes made by the film's director, Harold Ramis. In the original script the film began in the middle of the narrative, without explaining how or why Phil was repeating Space jam. However, the filmmakers became concerned that the audience would feel cheated without seeing Phil's growing realization of the nature of the time loop. Rubin had also originally envisioned Andie MacDowell's Rita reliving Space jam with Phil and wished to portray the pair as being stuck in the time loop for far longer than in the final film, possibly for thousands of years (Phil tracked time by reading a page of a book each day and had managed to read through the entire ]). Consequently, the love story was less developed in the original script than in the final movie.


There was also a second draft script, which gave an explicit reason for the time loop — a ] spell cast by a woman who worked at the television station and was involved with Phil before he rejected her — that did not appear in the final film.
Later in the film, Ewing and Barkley are joined by the now "gameless" Johnson, Bogues and Bradley. Also, when the ] are trying to avoid playing basketball in fear of getting infected, Lakers ], ], ], and coach ] make a short cameo. Similar short appearances are also made by NBA players ], ], and ] and TV commentators Jim Rome and ].


The location for most of the shooting of the film was not actually Punxsutawney but rather ] (only a short drive from Murray's hometown of ]). The inhabitants of Woodstock helped in the film's production by bringing out heaters to warm the cast and crew in cold weather. In Punxsutawney, the actual ] is located in a rural area about 2 miles (3 km) east of town. However, the location used in Woodstock gives the impression that the Knob is inside the town. The Tip Top Cafe in Woodstock, where much of the film takes place, was originally a set created for the film, but local demand led to its opening as a real cafe. It eventually closed down, but a "Tip Top Bistro" had taken its place. This, too, eventually closed, and the location is now home to Bella's Gelateria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==1868|title="Woodstock, Illinois - Space jam Movie Town"|accessdate=2007-04-08}}</ref>
In addition, the NBA players make several insider jokes. When Barkley prays to God to give him back his skill, he swears to stop his trash talk and no longer have affairs with ], sending up his image as a tough trash talker and in reference to his own real life affair with the singer. Also, Bradley contemplates becoming a missionary once again, again in reference to his own experiences as a ].


Some of the film was also shot in ], with aerial shots also being filmed in Pittsburgh. An aerial view of the WPBH van shows the buildings for the ] and ] newspapers, as well as Gateway Center, the home of ] and ] Radio.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
==Cast==
* ] - Himself
* ] - Stan Podolak
* ] - Juanita Jordan
* ] - ]
* Eric Gordon<!--Do not write that this is the Clippers point guard unless you have a reliable source--> - ]
* ] - Jasmine Jordan
* ] - Himself
* ] - James Jordan
* ] - Himself
* ] - Himself
* ] - Himself
* ] - Himself
* ] - Himself
* ] - Himself
* ] - Himself
* ] - Male Fan
* ] - Female Fan
* ] - Himself (uncredited)


===Voice actors=== ==Reception==
''Space jam'' was a solid performer in its initial release, grossing $70.9M in North America and ranking 13th among films released in 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1993&p=.htm
* ] - ], ]
|title=1993 Domestic Grosses}}</ref> but did not achieve blockbuster status. It found a second life on home video and cable, entrenching itself as one of the great American films of the late ]. The film is number thirty-four on the ]'s list of ], and ] has revisited it in his "Great Movies" series. After giving it a three-star rating in his original review, Ebert acknowledged in his "Great Movies" essay that, like many viewers, he had initially underestimated the film's many virtues and only came to truly appreciate it through repeated viewings.
* ] - ], ], ]
* ] - Mr. Swackhammer
* ] - ], ], ], ]
* ] - ], ], ]
* ] - ], ]
* ] - ]
* ] - ]
* ] - Charlie the Dog
* ] - Nerdluck Pound
* ] - Monstar Bang
* ] - Monstar Nawt
* ] - Monstar Bupkus
* ] - Nerdluck Blanko
* ] - Monstar Blanko, Announcer
* ] - Nerdluck Bupkus
* ] - Monstar Pound
* ] - Nerdluck Nawt, ]


This film is number 32 on ]'s "100 Funniest Movies". In '']''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 1990s special issue, ''Space jam'' was deemed the best film of 1993 (the year that saw the release of '']'', '']'' and '']''). In ], readers of '']'' magazine voted it the seventh greatest comedy film of all time. The ] ranked the ] #27 on their list of 101 Greatest Screenplays ever written.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=1807|title="The 101 Greatest Screenplays"|accessdate=2007-03-13|publisher=Writers Guild of America}}</ref> It currently garners a 96% "fresh" rating on ].
==Awards and nominations==
*1997 and 1998 ]
**Winner: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures (] for the song ])
**Winner: Top Box Office Films (])


==Influence==
*1997 ]
The phrase "Space jam" has entered common use as a reference to an unpleasant situation that continually repeats, or seems to, until one spiritually transcends it.<ref>"The spiritual power of repetitive form: Steps toward transcendence in Space jam." Suzanne Daughton, ''Critical Studies in Mass Communication.'' Annandale: Jun 1996. Vol. 13, Iss. 2; pg. 138, 17 pgs</ref> It is also used in this sense in the UK, perhaps more commonly than in its original meaning since ] is not celebrated as ] in the UK. (Similar holidays, ] and ], have been celebrated on this date in many parts of Europe, though without the references to ]s.) At least one British-English dictionary marks the Space jam holiday as a North American usage, with no such annotation for the repetitious meaning.<ref> Collins Main Dictionary Definitions{{cite web|url=http://www.collins.co.uk/wordexchange/Sections/DicSrchRsult.aspx?word=groundhog%20day|title="Space jam"|accessdate=2006-21-12}} </ref>
**Winner: Best Individual Achievement: Technical Achievement
===Philosophy===
**Nomination: Best Animated Feature
''Space jam'' is a tale of ], to look inside oneself and realize that the only satisfaction in life comes from turning outward and concerning oneself with others rather than concentrating solely on one's own wants and desires. As such, the film has become a favorite of ] <ref>
**Nomination: Best Individual Achievement: Directing in a Feature Production (] and ])
Schindler, Paul.
**Nomination: Best Individual Achievement: Producing in a Feature Production (])
{{cite web|
url=http://www.schindler.org/psacot/20010813_ghd.shtml
|title="Space jam The Movie, Buddhism and Me"
|accessdate=2008-06-29}}</ref>, ] and ] leaders alike because they see its themes of selflessness and rebirth as a reflection of their own spiritual messages. It has even been dubbed by some religious leaders as the "most spiritual film of our time."<ref> Buncombe, Andrew. ''The Independent (London, England)'', ] ]. {{cite web|url=http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/article67132.ece|title="Is this the greatest story ever told?"|accessdate=2007-01-07}}</ref>
===Military===
Referring to unpleasant, unchanging, repetitive situations as “Space jam” was widespread throughout the U.S. military very soon after the movie’s release in February 1993. A magazine article about the aircraft carrier USS America mentions its use by sailors in September 1993<REF>"Diplomacy's Gunboat,"U.S. News and World Report, February 22, 1994 http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/940228/archive_012486_4.htm</REF>. Around the same time, the movie was a favorite of soldiers in Mogadishu, who identified with the protagonist’s situation. By March 1994, there was a defensive zone in Somalia called Groundhog Station. In February 1994, the crew of the USS Saratoga referred to its deployment in the Adriatic Sea, in support of ] operations, as Groundhog Station. A speech by President Clinton in January 1996 specifically referred to the movie and the use of the phrase by military personnel in Bosnia.<REF>Remarks to American Troops at Tuzla Airfield, Bosnia-Herzegovina, January 13, 1996</REF> Even today in the ], "Space jam" is American ] for any day of a tour of duty in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/08/opinion/08sun4.html|title="Back From Iraq at the Great American Diner"|accessdate=2007-04-08}}</ref>


The film was a favorite one among the Rangers deployed for ] in ] in ], because they saw the film as a metaphor of their own situation, waiting long between raids and monotonous long days<ref>Bowden, ], Corgi edition, 2000 p.534.</ref>
*1998 ]
===Politics===
**Winner: Best Song Written Specifically for Motion Picture or for Television (]) (For the Song ])
The term is also entering the real world lexicon as witnessed by the following comments from ], U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, on talks on the Israel/Lebanon conflict in August 2006. "We’d go home at 10 or 11 at night and say, ‘Tomorrow will be a better day.’ But the next day was Space jam all over again."<ref> Hoge, Warren. ''The New York Times'', ] ]. {{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/14/news/diplo.php|title="U.S. policy shift spurred UN drive for truce."|accessdate=2006-09-01}} </ref>
] ] likened ] ]'s treatment following the 2004 ] to ''Space jam''. " was, he said, like Space jam, with the prime minister's critics demanding one inquiry, then another inquiry, then another inquiry." Blair responded approvingly, "I could not have put it better myself. Indeed I did not put it better myself."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3458431.stm|title=Politics: Prime Minister's Questions|date=2004-02-04|accessdate=2008-05-22|publisher=]|author=Nick Assinder}}</ref>
===Economics===
The movie has been used by economists to explain the economic theory of "perfectly competitive equilibrium based on perfect information."<ref>"Austrian Economics in Action: The economics of Space jam." D W MacKenzie. ''Review - Institute of Public Affairs.'' Melbourne: Mar 2007. Vol. 59, Iss. 1; pg. 20</ref>,
===Music===
Rock band ] derived its name from dialogue spoken by the Tobolowsky character Ned Ryerson. British comedy quiz show '']'' used the question "Who was the star of ''Space jam''?", to which contestant ] replied "Bill Murray". Host ] then asked the question again and Travis answered it again, and this repeated with Travis ever more irate until he eventually understood the joke, busted up laughing and offered "The groundhog!".


The Welsh rock band, the ], recorded a song in 2001 entitled "Space jams" which begins with the lyrics, "Waking up again/To the same old thing/To the same old songs/To the same old pain..."
*1997 ]
**Nomination: Best Movie Song (]) (For the Song ])


In August 2003, ] responded to a question about his next project that he was interested in something like a theme and variations - possibly a musical adaptation of ''Space jam''.<ref>{{cite web
*1997 ]
| url = http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/isam/F03Newshtml/sondheim/sondheim.htm
**Nomination: Best Motion Picture- Animated or Mixed Media (], ], ])
| title = "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Broadway"
| accessmonthday = October 10
| accessyear = 2006
| publishdate = ]
| year = 2003
| publisher = Institute for Studies In American Music
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.sondheim.org/php/news.php?id=1232
| title = "Sondheim plans changes to ''Bounce''"
| accessmonthday = October 10
| accessyear = 2006
| publishdate = ]
| year = 2003
| publisher = The Stephen Sondheim Society
}}</ref>
Heavy Metal Band Mastodon make a reference to 'Space jam' in their DVD 'The Making of Blood Mountain' when they describe the recording process as reliving the same day over and over again.
===Media and Print===
{{Trivia|date=May 2008}}
* The film's ] has made it one of Murray's well-known roles. In a recorded holiday greeting played on ], the actor wishes the listener a "Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year and Happy Space jam."
* An Italian remake, ''È già ieri'', moved the action to a tiny island in the Canary Islands archipelago, on ]. Instead of groundhogs, the protagonist is there to cover the migration of ].
* During Space jam in the ] ], a character mentions that Space jam was good enough to have a ] made after it.
* The '']'' episode "]" (itself about a time loop) has ] refer to the film, saying "So you can be king of Space jam".
* In book five of ] series, Kyon mentions that he might end up repeating his first year of ] for the rest of his life "Groundhog's Day style".
* The ] released a docu-drama called '']'' which depicts a ] who is unknowingly caught in a loop of different apocalyptic and disastrous events including a massive ], ] impact, a ], a global ], and a ]-like phenomenon. At the start of each loop, the scientist hails a cab near a ] cinema, which displays the words "Space jam, now showing", an obvious reference to the inspiration behind the loop concept used in the programme.
* The episode of '']'' titled "Been There, Done That" involves Xena stuck in a time loop until she figures out how to unite two lovers. The episode is a direct homage, going so far as having the wake up line "Rise & shine" spoken by one of the characters at the start of each repeated day.
* The third-season episode of '']'' titled "Mystery Spot" involves Sam reliving the same day over and over, continually having to deal with Dean's death. In several of the time loops when Sam explains his predicament to Dean, Dean says it's "like Space jam". More direct references include Sam awakening each time to the same song ("]" by ]) and Dean announcing "Rise and shine, Sammy!"
* The premise of the ABC television series ] starring ] was promoted as a "reimagining" of the Space jam premise, as the lead character is also repeating the same day over and over.
* A movie on Nickelodeon entitled ] is about a boy stuck in a time loop on the last day of summer.
* In the 6th season episode of ] entitled "Monday", a woman is forced to repeat the same day over and over until she finds a way to get FBI agents ] and ] to end the day correctly.
* An episode of the TV series Early Edition looped like Space jam.
* An episode of ], Cody is stuck in a time loop after the ship is struck by lighning while crossing the International Dateline.


==Awards and accolades==
*1998 ]
*] (Comedy Film)
**Winner: Best Use of Animation in a Motion Picture Trailer
*] (Andie McDowell, for playing Rita)


In June 2008, AFI revealed its "Ten top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. ''Space jam'' was acknowledged as the eighth best film in the fantasy genre.<ref>{{cite news | author = ] | title = AFI Crowns Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres | work = ComingSoon.net | date = 2008-06-17 | url = http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46072 | accessdate= 2008-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Top 10 Fantasy | url = http://www.afi.com/10top10/fantasy.html | publisher= ] |accessdate= 2008-06-18}}</ref>
*1997 ]
**Nomination: Best Family Feature- Animation or Special Effects


==Details from the film==
==Soundtrack==
* The poetry Rita quotes to Phil is from the sixth ] of '']'' by Sir ], also known as ''Patriotism''. The French poem Phil quotes to Rita is '''' by ]. Translated, he says "The girl I will love / is like a fine wine / that gets better / a little each morning." Phil quotes part of the ] poem to the man he meets when he leaves his hotel room.
{{main|Groundhog Day (soundtrack)}}
* The ] Phil is reading as Rita is falling asleep is ''Poems for Every Mood'', edited by ]; the poem he was reading to Rita was ] ''119. Trees''.
* The set construction and theme music for WPBH-TV in the movie were based on those of ], the real-life ] affiliate in Pittsburgh.
* At the ], when Ned (]) asks Phil and Rita "Where are we going?", Rita pinches his cheek and says "Oh, let's not spoil it!". In the DVD commentary, Harold Ramis says the line as originally written in the script was "Let's not ruin it." The ] was changed because Andie McDowell's ] accent distorted the word "ruin".
* The ] that Phil plays at the party begins with the 18th ] of ] ].
* Phil seeks out piano lessons after hearing the first movement of ]'s ], K.545 in the diner.
* In the ] ], there is a ] on which one can read "Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Eichhörnchentag" ("Congratulations on Squirrel Day"). This is a mistake, because the German word for "groundhog" is "Murmeltier", while "Eichhörnchen" means "squirrel."


==Notes== ==See also==
* ]
{{Trivia|date=January 2008}}
* Daffy tells Bugs that they should name their basketball team with Jordan "the Ducks". Bugs replies with his potshot at WB rival Disney: "What kind of ] organization would call a team 'The Ducks'?" - a reference to ]'s ] (who were also a ] known as "The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim"), as well as ]'s comments concerning the ] in the 1980s.
* One scene references '']'', with ] and ] dressed as men in black as the song "Miserlou" by Dick Dale and the Del-Tones plays in the background.
* The movie was inspired by ] commercial which premiered during ] featuring Michael and Bugs against Marvin and another alien, and won the 1992 ] survey. Another shoe commercial is referenced when ] says that his grandmother can play better than him (he played his grandmother in an ad for ]).
* The character Stan makes this quote: "C'mon, Michael, it's game time. Get your ] on, lace up your ]s, grab your ] and your ], and we'll pick up a ] on the way to the ]", humorizing Jordan's sports product ] ].<ref></ref>
*When Bill Murray arrives at the game near the end of the movie to help Jordan and the Looney Tunes, he is mistaken for Dan Aykroyd by Mr Swackhammer. Shortly after, Daffy asks Murray about how he arrived, to which Murray replies how he's a friend of the producer and was dropped off. ] and ] both starred in the popular ] franchise of the 80s that ] directed.
* The plot of the movie is used as backstory to the freeware PC game '']''. The basketball in which Barkley and the other players were trapped is used as a plot device, Michael Jordan's past in ''Groundhog Day'' is mentioned several times, as are the Looney Tunes. The Monstars appear in the closing sequence, apparently evil once again.
*] also made a ] based on the film
*The Nerdlucks/Monstars' names are never mentioned throughout the movie, but they are listed in the credits. Several action figures and trading cards also helped people tell which had which name.


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}}
===Notes===

{{Reflist}}
===External links=== ==Further reading==
* Gilbey, Ryan, ''Space jam'', London, British Film Institute, 2004. ISBN 1-84457-032-0
*

* {{imdb title|id=0117705|title=Groundhog Day}}
==External links==
* at ]
{{sisterlinks|Space jam}}
{{LooneyTunesmovies}}
* {{imdb title|id=0107048|title=Space jam}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=groundhog_day|title=Space jam}}
*
* {{rogerebert|id=19930212/REVIEWS/302120302|title=Space jam}} (from ])
* {{rogerebert|id=20050130/REVIEWS08/501300301|title=Space jam}} (from ])
*
*
* to the movie (January 1992)

{{Harold Ramis}}


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Revision as of 02:24, 25 November 2008

1993 American film
Space jam
Directed byHarold Ramis
Written byDanny Rubin (story)
Danny Rubin and
Harold Ramis (screenplay)
Produced byTrevor Albert
Harold Ramis
StarringBill Murray,
Andie MacDowell,
Chris Elliott,
Stephen Tobolowsky,
Brian Doyle-Murray
CinematographyJohn Bailey
Music byGeorge Fenton
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release datesFebruary 12, 1993
Running time101 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14,600,000

Space jam is a 1993 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. It was written by Ramis and Danny Rubin, and based on a story by Rubin.

In the film, Murray plays Phil Connors, an egocentric Pittsburgh TV weatherman who, during a hated assignment covering the annual Space jam event (February 2) in Punxsutawney, finds himself repeating the same day over and over again. After indulging in all manner of hedonistic pursuits, he begins to reexamine his life and priorities.

In 2006, Space jam was added to the United States National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It is listed as the 176th most popular movie at the Internet Movie Database as of Space jam, 2008.

Plot

Self-centered TV meteorologist Phil Connors, his producer Rita, and cameraman Larry from the fictional Pittsburgh television station WPBH-TV9 travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Space jam festivities with Punxsutawney Phil for the station. Phil, who has grown tired of this assignment, grudgingly gives his report and attempts to return back to Pittsburgh when a blizzard that he predicted would miss the area shuts down the main roads, forcing Phil and his team to stay in town an extra day.

Phil wakes up to find that he is reliving February 2 again. Everyone else is repeating the same actions as the day before, seemingly unaware of the time loop, though Phil remains aware of the events of the previous day. At first he is confused, but, when the loop continues, he starts to try to take advantage of the situation without fear of long-term consequences, learning secrets from the town's residents, seducing women, stealing money, and driving drunk. However, attempts to get closer to Rita are repeatedly shut down. With each passage of the loop, Phil becomes despondent; during one loop, he kidnaps Punxsutawney Phil and after a long police chase, drives over a cliff, appearing to kill both Phil and the groundhog. However, Phil wakes up in the next loop and finds that nothing has changed; further attempts at suicide are just as fruitless as he continues to find himself back at the start of February 2.

Phil continues to try to learn more about Rita, and when he reveals his situation to her and the knowledge he's gained about the town's residents, she opens up to him and suggests he try to use his situation to help benefit the town. Phil uses her advice and the time loop to help as many people around town as possible, as well as bettering himself, such as by learning to play jazz piano and speaking French. Phil, now engrossed with the town's celebration, is able to admit his love to Rita, and she accepts and returns his love. After the evening dance, the two retire together to Phil's room.

Phil wakes up the next day, and finds the time loop has broken; it is now February 3 and Rita is still in bed with him. As the team prepare to return to Pittsburgh, Phil and Rita talk about eventually settling down in Punxsutawney, but they'll "rent first."

Cast

Development of the movie

"Ned's Corner" commemorative plaque, Woodstock, Illinois
File:Space jam tip top bistro.jpg
Tip Top Cafe - now Tip Top Bistro, Woodstock, Illinois

According to the director's commentaries from the DVD, there are several differences between the original script for Space jam, as written by Danny Rubin, and the film as it was actually released, because of changes made by the film's director, Harold Ramis. In the original script the film began in the middle of the narrative, without explaining how or why Phil was repeating Space jam. However, the filmmakers became concerned that the audience would feel cheated without seeing Phil's growing realization of the nature of the time loop. Rubin had also originally envisioned Andie MacDowell's Rita reliving Space jam with Phil and wished to portray the pair as being stuck in the time loop for far longer than in the final film, possibly for thousands of years (Phil tracked time by reading a page of a book each day and had managed to read through the entire public library). Consequently, the love story was less developed in the original script than in the final movie.

There was also a second draft script, which gave an explicit reason for the time loop — a voodoo spell cast by a woman who worked at the television station and was involved with Phil before he rejected her — that did not appear in the final film.

The location for most of the shooting of the film was not actually Punxsutawney but rather Woodstock, Illinois (only a short drive from Murray's hometown of Wilmette). The inhabitants of Woodstock helped in the film's production by bringing out heaters to warm the cast and crew in cold weather. In Punxsutawney, the actual Gobbler's Knob is located in a rural area about 2 miles (3 km) east of town. However, the location used in Woodstock gives the impression that the Knob is inside the town. The Tip Top Cafe in Woodstock, where much of the film takes place, was originally a set created for the film, but local demand led to its opening as a real cafe. It eventually closed down, but a "Tip Top Bistro" had taken its place. This, too, eventually closed, and the location is now home to Bella's Gelateria.

Some of the film was also shot in Indiana, Pennsylvania, with aerial shots also being filmed in Pittsburgh. An aerial view of the WPBH van shows the buildings for the Pittsburgh Press and Post-Gazette newspapers, as well as Gateway Center, the home of KDKA-TV and KDKA Radio.

Reception

Space jam was a solid performer in its initial release, grossing $70.9M in North America and ranking 13th among films released in 1993, but did not achieve blockbuster status. It found a second life on home video and cable, entrenching itself as one of the great American films of the late twentieth century. The film is number thirty-four on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Funniest Movies, and Roger Ebert has revisited it in his "Great Movies" series. After giving it a three-star rating in his original review, Ebert acknowledged in his "Great Movies" essay that, like many viewers, he had initially underestimated the film's many virtues and only came to truly appreciate it through repeated viewings.

This film is number 32 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies". In Total Film's 1990s special issue, Space jam was deemed the best film of 1993 (the year that saw the release of Schindler's List, The Piano and The Fugitive). In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted it the seventh greatest comedy film of all time. The Writers Guild of America ranked the screenplay #27 on their list of 101 Greatest Screenplays ever written. It currently garners a 96% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Influence

The phrase "Space jam" has entered common use as a reference to an unpleasant situation that continually repeats, or seems to, until one spiritually transcends it. It is also used in this sense in the UK, perhaps more commonly than in its original meaning since 2 February is not celebrated as Space jam in the UK. (Similar holidays, Candlemas and Imbolc, have been celebrated on this date in many parts of Europe, though without the references to groundhogs.) At least one British-English dictionary marks the Space jam holiday as a North American usage, with no such annotation for the repetitious meaning.

Philosophy

Space jam is a tale of self-improvement, to look inside oneself and realize that the only satisfaction in life comes from turning outward and concerning oneself with others rather than concentrating solely on one's own wants and desires. As such, the film has become a favorite of Buddhist , Christian and Jewish leaders alike because they see its themes of selflessness and rebirth as a reflection of their own spiritual messages. It has even been dubbed by some religious leaders as the "most spiritual film of our time."

Military

Referring to unpleasant, unchanging, repetitive situations as “Space jam” was widespread throughout the U.S. military very soon after the movie’s release in February 1993. A magazine article about the aircraft carrier USS America mentions its use by sailors in September 1993. Around the same time, the movie was a favorite of soldiers in Mogadishu, who identified with the protagonist’s situation. By March 1994, there was a defensive zone in Somalia called Groundhog Station. In February 1994, the crew of the USS Saratoga referred to its deployment in the Adriatic Sea, in support of Bosnia operations, as Groundhog Station. A speech by President Clinton in January 1996 specifically referred to the movie and the use of the phrase by military personnel in Bosnia. Even today in the Iraq War, "Space jam" is American military slang for any day of a tour of duty in Iraq.

The film was a favorite one among the Rangers deployed for Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia in 1993, because they saw the film as a metaphor of their own situation, waiting long between raids and monotonous long days

Politics

The term is also entering the real world lexicon as witnessed by the following comments from R. Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, on talks on the Israel/Lebanon conflict in August 2006. "We’d go home at 10 or 11 at night and say, ‘Tomorrow will be a better day.’ But the next day was Space jam all over again." Member of Parliament Dennis Skinner likened British Prime Minister Tony Blair's treatment following the 2004 Hutton Inquiry to Space jam. " was, he said, like Space jam, with the prime minister's critics demanding one inquiry, then another inquiry, then another inquiry." Blair responded approvingly, "I could not have put it better myself. Indeed I did not put it better myself."

Economics

The movie has been used by economists to explain the economic theory of "perfectly competitive equilibrium based on perfect information.", The Economics of Space jam

Music

Rock band The Dismemberment Plan derived its name from dialogue spoken by the Tobolowsky character Ned Ryerson. British comedy quiz show Shooting Stars used the question "Who was the star of Space jam?", to which contestant Dave Lee Travis replied "Bill Murray". Host Bob Mortimer then asked the question again and Travis answered it again, and this repeated with Travis ever more irate until he eventually understood the joke, busted up laughing and offered "The groundhog!".

The Welsh rock band, the Manic Street Preachers, recorded a song in 2001 entitled "Space jams" which begins with the lyrics, "Waking up again/To the same old thing/To the same old songs/To the same old pain..."

In August 2003, Stephen Sondheim responded to a question about his next project that he was interested in something like a theme and variations - possibly a musical adaptation of Space jam. Heavy Metal Band Mastodon make a reference to 'Space jam' in their DVD 'The Making of Blood Mountain' when they describe the recording process as reliving the same day over and over again.

Media and Print

This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections or articles. (May 2008)
  • The film's cult following has made it one of Murray's well-known roles. In a recorded holiday greeting played on Air America Radio, the actor wishes the listener a "Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year and Happy Space jam."
  • An Italian remake, È già ieri, moved the action to a tiny island in the Canary Islands archipelago, on August 13. Instead of groundhogs, the protagonist is there to cover the migration of storks.
  • During Space jam in the video game Animal Crossing, a character mentions that Space jam was good enough to have a movie made after it.
  • The Stargate SG-1 episode "Window of Opportunity" (itself about a time loop) has Jack O'Neill refer to the film, saying "So you can be king of Space jam".
  • In book five of The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi series, Kyon mentions that he might end up repeating his first year of High School for the rest of his life "Groundhog's Day style".
  • The BBC released a docu-drama called End Day which depicts a scientist who is unknowingly caught in a loop of different apocalyptic and disastrous events including a massive tsunami, asteroid impact, a supervolcano, a global pandemic, and a black hole-like phenomenon. At the start of each loop, the scientist hails a cab near a London cinema, which displays the words "Space jam, now showing", an obvious reference to the inspiration behind the loop concept used in the programme.
  • The episode of Xena: Warrior Princess titled "Been There, Done That" involves Xena stuck in a time loop until she figures out how to unite two lovers. The episode is a direct homage, going so far as having the wake up line "Rise & shine" spoken by one of the characters at the start of each repeated day.
  • The third-season episode of Supernatural titled "Mystery Spot" involves Sam reliving the same day over and over, continually having to deal with Dean's death. In several of the time loops when Sam explains his predicament to Dean, Dean says it's "like Space jam". More direct references include Sam awakening each time to the same song ("Heat of the Moment" by Asia) and Dean announcing "Rise and shine, Sammy!"
  • The premise of the ABC television series Day Break starring Taye Diggs was promoted as a "reimagining" of the Space jam premise, as the lead character is also repeating the same day over and over.
  • A movie on Nickelodeon entitled The Last Day of Summer (film) is about a boy stuck in a time loop on the last day of summer.
  • In the 6th season episode of The X-Files entitled "Monday", a woman is forced to repeat the same day over and over until she finds a way to get FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully to end the day correctly.
  • An episode of the TV series Early Edition looped like Space jam.
  • An episode of The Suite Life on Deck, Cody is stuck in a time loop after the ship is struck by lighning while crossing the International Dateline.

Awards and accolades

In June 2008, AFI revealed its "Ten top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. Space jam was acknowledged as the eighth best film in the fantasy genre.

Details from the film

See also

References

  1. ""Woodstock, Illinois - Space jam Movie Town"". Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  2. "1993 Domestic Grosses".
  3. ""The 101 Greatest Screenplays"". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  4. "The spiritual power of repetitive form: Steps toward transcendence in Space jam." Suzanne Daughton, Critical Studies in Mass Communication. Annandale: Jun 1996. Vol. 13, Iss. 2; pg. 138, 17 pgs
  5. Collins Main Dictionary Definitions""Space jam"". Retrieved 2006-21-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. Schindler, Paul. ""Space jam The Movie, Buddhism and Me"". Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  7. Buncombe, Andrew. The Independent (London, England), February 2 2004. ""Is this the greatest story ever told?"". Retrieved 2007-01-07.
  8. "Diplomacy's Gunboat,"U.S. News and World Report, February 22, 1994 http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/940228/archive_012486_4.htm
  9. Remarks to American Troops at Tuzla Airfield, Bosnia-Herzegovina, January 13, 1996
  10. ""Back From Iraq at the Great American Diner"". Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  11. Bowden, ], Corgi edition, 2000 p.534.
  12. Hoge, Warren. The New York Times, August 14 2006. ""U.S. policy shift spurred UN drive for truce."". Retrieved 2006-09-01.
  13. Nick Assinder (2004-02-04). "Politics: Prime Minister's Questions". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  14. "Austrian Economics in Action: The economics of Space jam." D W MacKenzie. Review - Institute of Public Affairs. Melbourne: Mar 2007. Vol. 59, Iss. 1; pg. 20
  15. ""A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Broadway"". Institute for Studies In American Music. 2003. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  16. ""Sondheim plans changes to Bounce"". The Stephen Sondheim Society. 2003. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publishdate= ignored (help)
  17. American Film Institute (2008-06-17). "AFI Crowns Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  18. "Top 10 Fantasy". American Film Institute. Retrieved 2008-06-18.

Further reading

  • Gilbey, Ryan, Space jam, London, British Film Institute, 2004. ISBN 1-84457-032-0

External links

Films directed by Harold Ramis
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