Hitch Review

 

        Before 2013, Will Smith films had a continuous run of his films being number one in the box office. Hitch was a contributor for his streak. One of the best romcoms that I have seen that closes this shortened month. I have seen it a couple of times variously on cable. For some odd reason I could never wise up and buy a physical copy for myself. Regardless, here’s a gem from the early 2000s. SPOILERS will appear in the review. 

1. Story

        To begin with, we follow Alex Hitchens narrate about the concept of love in New York City. He is known commonly in the city as “The Date Doctor” since his m.o. is to have men be in long lasting relationships. In between that, we follow Albert, played by Kevin James. I think this film is his only good film as far as I’m aware. Anyway, he is a financial helper to Allegra Cole played by Amber Valleta, and he has the hots for her. 

        So throughout the film, Alex coaches Albert to have the guts to ask out Allegra. At the same time, he falls in love with a newspaper columnist. Sara played by Eva Mendes, for who Alex falls in love with. The interesting twist to this is that his methods to flirting don’t work on Sara. This is a unique conflict since his method has worked for the men he helped. 

        This is an enjoyable romance film that anyone can enjoy. Most of the cast has that chemistry that gels. It’s a recurring thing with these films that has to be stressed, the chemistry has to be there. What I really like is that Alex doesn’t see Albert as just a client. He does in the beginning but eventually warms up to him as a friend. It’s enjoyable to see Albert and Allegra dating and actually falling in love. 

2. Idea of Finding Love

        Aside from Hitchens helping out his friend Albert, I give the film this with this nuance idea of finding love. Alex gives the clients a sense that they can date anyone, no matter if the woman is above their league. To have Albert date a rich woman in New York is pretty bonkers since when you look at them separately, they have no shot at being together. 

        I think what this film works best is that, for as much as Alex claims to be a date doctor, his only axiom is to just gain confidence. Not that he has an ego, he does it since he was stood up by a girlfriend in college. The best part is when he declines to help a man who just wants to sleep with a woman. Which in turn getting Hitchens getting a bad rap in the city. 

        While I’m not saying that this movie is deep by any measure. I feel that the way Hitch presents this concept is nuance in a way. It’s relatable since with anyone who lacks the self confidence likes someone who themselves think have absolutely no shot. When the person in question just needs the confidence to just be himself. 

3. Overall 

        As far as Will Smith films goes, this is where his comedic talent comes out. It’s in no way a bore, Smith has that factor where he is charming, and it manages to gel with everyone. It’s one of the best romantic films on the 2000s. Just the fact that it has a concept as someone dating someone that is leagues above them isn’t new but does so in a way where it’s endearing. 

Hitch gets a four out of five. 

10 Things I Hate About You Review

 

        I remember watching this one back when I was in high school. I forgot the actual reason as to why the entire class watched the film, but it was enjoyable on my end. Some people don’t know that it was actually a modern day take on the classic Shakespeare play The Taming of the Shrew. I’ll go into detail as to why in the 90s there was so much modern day takes on classic literature and Shakespeare. SPOILERS will appear in the review. 

1. High School Shakespeare

        The whole film takes place in a high school in Seattle, Washington. The film is about the new kid Cameron, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt who befriends Michael. He shows him around the school’s various cliques. Cam likes the prettiest girl he sees, Bianca played by Larisa Oleynik who can’t date anyone since her older sister is the shrew in this story. Kat played by Julia Stiles, is the antisocial one of the cast of characters. 

So throughout the movie, Michael and Cameron try to scheme a way to have Kat get a date so that Cam can date Bianca. Patrick played by the late Heath Ledger, goes along with the plan when the pretty boy Joey gives him the money to date Kat so that he can date Bianca. One would think that Patrick would pretend to care about Kat, but he eventually opens up to her to shed out the tough guy image. 

I feel as a whole the film is a good bookend of the decade. As far as I’m aware there weren’t that many high school films that were released in the 90s that was as popular as the ones that came out during the 80s. With this one, the whole decade and the feel of the movie is like one big character. To make my point short, everything just shouts the time period. 

2. Product of the Times

        You know it’s the 90s when it’s dominated by alternative rock, and ska. Aside from the wise choice to not use grunge music from either Nirvana or Soundgarden since it’s tied to Seattle. The whole movie is like a time capsule of the times. It would be interesting if aside from the music they would use dated slang to really capture the times. The wise thing was that everything feels authentic in terms of speech since it’s supposed to be a timeless story that’s part of a list of adaptations of the Shakespeare play.

        Also, Kenneth Branagh pumped out movies of Shakespeare films where he did the dual roles as actor and director. It was like the decade was a sort of celebration of Shakespeare or just a way to make more money by adapting classic plays since the money was there. I’m serious, Disney’s The Lion King is an adaptation of Hamlet and made bank for the studio. In 1998, Shakespeare in Love won best picture in the Academy Awards. Some may argue that it didn’t deserve it as some declare that Saving Private Ryan was the film that should’ve won but was snubbed. 

3. Modern Day Take on a Classic

        Since the decade is practically the overall theme of this review, the whole era had films that was littered with modern takes of classic stories. Films like Clueless and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet showed the audience a unique adaptation of having the classic story but set in the places where it’s believable. What made this film work is that with the high school background it couldn’t be any perfect to have a Shakespeare comedic play. It broke ground by having one of the characters really put the female characters in their place by saying they aren’t who they really are. 

        It’s the charm factor that the entire cast has that really sell the movie to anyone. One thing I would say that can get a bit frustrating is those moments where the film sprinkles in the Shakespeare references. I can understand that the general public has no clue that this was an adaptation. To the ones that do know that it is, can find it grating since it pops up every once in a while, the film will drop references. Although with that, we wouldn’t actually have the moment where the title of the film actually means something in the end.  

4. Overall

        Bottom line, this is an enjoyable adaptation of the classic play. It’s one of those films where you don’t have to know or read the play to really understand what’s going to happen. There are moments where I laughed a lot which is something that I didn’t expect with this film. The whole film reminds me of the 90s with the music and, I think it’ll be the next decade to be exploited in cinema. 

        10 Things I Hate About You gets a four out of five. 

Underrated Gems: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

        This is one of those films where I actually shut it off when I was watching it on Netflix. The following day, I relented and sat through the film. It was very enjoyable, and I remember that when the film was released, a tie-in video game was on consoles for a limited time. When I did the background info on the film, I was surprised that it bombed badly in 2010. It made sense when rewatching the film that it’s very niche. Not your typical comic book film since it embeds itself with video game stuff and quirky humor. SPOILERS will appear in the review. 

1. Not your typical comic book film

        I watched this film after being exposed to Edgar Wright films. He already made a name for himself when he directed Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz before releasing Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Most of his filming techniques is everywhere in the film. This is where the term “auteur” comes in. Where motifs like quick edits among other things pop up in a director’s film.

        Anyways, the film is based on a comic book. When you sit down and watch it, it’s like a comic book made in three dimensions. A better way to explain it than that is seeing the onomatopoeias pop out in a nondiegetic way. Again, words like “POW” pop up and action lines appear during a fight scene. The first instance of seeing this type of comic book design was in Ang Lee’s Hulk. Although, that film messed up since it had the comic book panel moments litter the film when it’s supposed to be a think piece about the jade giant.  

        With all that, the film is about Scott Pilgrim, played by Michael Cera meets a new girl Ramona Flowers played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who has to fight her seven evil exes in order to properly date her. Since the world operates like it’s a video game. In the midst of that, he has a band who is trying to get a record deal. In between that happening, Scott already has a girlfriend Knives Chau, played by Ellen Wong who thinks that Ramona is stealing Scott from her. The story has romance written all over it since that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be. 

2. Scott Pilgrim is a Conflicting Person

        I was turned off when Scott was cheating on Knives for Ramona. I thought about it more and something that I missed when I was focusing on just Scott. He’s so aloof with his actions that he never revels in being an ass. He is actually given an ultimatum from his gay roommate that he has to break up with Knives in order to be with Ramona. Scott is lazy about it and just pursues Ramona. 

        Aside from that, he meets with his ex-girlfriend Envy. When they talk, there’s a little detail where the camera pans on Scott and we see photos of them together. Envy has a band as well and hates Scott. We can only infer and guess how bad the relationship turned out for the both of them. This part kind of shows just how Envy is as wanting to have revenge on Scott for breaking up with her. 

        This is probably one of the film’s strongest point is Scott’s character arc. He is having multiple relationships and not having the guts to break it off. Lacking the self-respect he needs to really give him the confidence of just growing up. Another thing I noticed is that after fighting the evil exes, Scott feels like he’s not worth it to Ramona. It would be one thing were the film just be repeating in terms of evil exes, I like the moment where he feels like the whole ordeal is just draining on him. 

3. Niche

        I might as well slowly work my way on how and why the film bombed. As I mentioned earlier, the film is very niche. Not that you have to read the comic book to understand what’s going on, but really take in the quirky effects that is being presented with the film. Such as when Scott’s band finishes playing, Ramona’s first ex fights Scott. In a way that’s completely unorthodox, he sings like it’s a Bollywood film since he’s Indian. I love it when Anna Kendrick’s character says “What?”. It just sets up the audience’s reaction when seeing that part. 

        Another example is that the film copies most video game tropes and comic book aspects. It’s engaging since Edgar Wright utilizes his film aesthetics to make the film something to behold in the special effects. I feel that it’s good action, it just doesn’t work when it’s live action. Like the parts that supposed to be gravity defying stuff looks weird when an actual person does it. It just works in animation, as it was perfectly displayed in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Not to diminish the film but, it also contains drawn segments of the comic book when Ramona talks about one of her evil exes. 

        It’s conflicting since it makes the film slightly inconsistent with what it wants to be. Either be a quirky comic book film, an ode to video games, or an animated film that embraces those aspects of geeky culture. Regardless, Edgar Wright manages to balance the mundane with the film to make it a cult classic. If that was his intention or not.  

4. How Did it Bomb?

        With all that being said, the film didn’t make enough to turn a profit for Universal. It grossed 30 Million dollars less than its film budget. After doing some digging, it might’ve been just bad advertisement from Universal. Every studio is susceptible to this, since it’s hard to convey to the general public what this film is. 

        And just by watching it, it may turn off some people who wants to see a comic book film. Mind you, that genre isn’t limited to just superheroes. Another cult classic, Ghost World is about growing up, but is considered one of the best comic book films ever made. Without having a cape or a hero in the marquee. I like Scott Pilgrim since it combines video games with good music. Another thing is that it’s another teen movie with Michael Cera. During it’s release, he had starred in Juno and Superbad, two great teen films, but audiences started to get tired of seeing him in yet another type of him where he’s just quirky. 

5. Overall

        This is an enjoyable film that is part of the slate of films that are classified as cult classic. For the sum of its parts, it’s a good romantic film with bits of comic book and video game humor. I think it’s only detriment is that it’s not a very accessible film for the general audience. As I say with any movie that breaks the norms, check it out. 

        Scott Pilgrim vs. The World gets a four out of five. 

When Harry Met Sally Review

        I feel like with every generation in cinema, there must come a romance movie that makes it feel totally unique. When Harry Met Sally… is one of those films that came out in the tail end of the 80s. Typically, most romantic comedies have a distinct formula of how the story and characters are going to be dictated. It’s not usually a bad thing, but it’s the typical trope where the films if viewed in a marathon start to feel the same. Here, this movie does an interesting thing and subverted the genre on its head. Paving the way for more films to be experimental in a way to freshen up the genre. SPOILERS will appear in the review. 

1. Not Your Usual Film

        I heard about the film when I was perusing the YouTube channel “Lessons from the Screenplay”. It mostly analyzed what it did different with the genre’s formula. Watching it for the first time, I completely understood that this wouldn’t be the standard rom-com film. Harry, played by Billy Crystal drives with Sally, played by Meg Ryan drive to New York City as Harry is moving there. 

        During the ride, they talk to pass the time and Harry asks Sally some personal questions about her relationships. He posits that a man and a woman can’t truly be friends since they have to have sex. Sally doesn’t believe it. After they go their separate ways, we meet them again. In two various points of the ‘80s, both characters meet each other and spark up a friendly relationship. Easily they steal the show through their synergy and time getting comfortable with each other. 

        The film acts like a play since it’s mostly dialogue heavy film. It’s one of those films that dare to be subversive and flip the tropes that is the usual standard. Such as when the duo talks about the film Casablanca and splice in shots of them group exercising to throwing cards to a hat. Usually when things are going south, we’d see them doing their bits. We get to see the moments that are teases where we think they are about to finally get together and are just split. 

        What the film is doing is such a radical way is basically ask this simple question, “Can Harry and Sally work as a couple?”. When they’re having dinner or just having talks, they banter like a couple. Even their personal talks are something you’d hear if you’re the third wheel when being hearing a couple next to you. As well as arguing since they’ve been close for so much that the idea of actually committing is scary to them. It was engaging since, there's a fear that they could work as just platonic friends. I find it hilarious that they want their friends to date Harry and Sally, but unintentionally fall in love.

2. Couple Interviews

        In between the moments when we follow Harry and Sally, seven interviews recount how the couples shown have met. It’s charming to say the least. The overall thing is how completely different each couple has met each other and managed to stay together. Big picture wise is that every couple fell in love in various and unique circumstances and we’re seeing just how complicated Harry and Sally’s relationship develop in a matter of time. 

It works as a good and bad thing. Good for what I just stated right now. Bad in a sense that it kind of drags the film down. Since, when hearing the fourth interview of how they met, we can infer that with the interviews being presented. We are along for seeing if Harry and Sally can possibly make it work. Some may like it, and I do for the most part. It just gets repetitive for the most part. Thinking about it more, it’s more of a positive. Just forget this whole paragraph. 

3. Overall 

        With all that, it’s a genuine classic. Rob Reiner has subverted a genre that probably didn’t need to be revitalized but have enough of a plot shaking thing where any film can base its story on this film. It’s charming and is one of those films that is timeless.

        When Harry Met Sally… gets a four out of five. 

The Big Sick Review

 

        When it was first advertised, it was going to be an Amazon Prime exclusive, and seeing how I was a paying member, I thought I’d check it out. It’s probably one of the best films that I’ve seen in the 2010s. The entire story is original which I’ll delve more into. As well as being a more nuanced romantic comedic movie that manages to be different and subvert most of the genre’s tropes. This is one of those films where I actually want to have a physical copy to have in my collection, it’s that great. SPOILERS will appear in the review. 

1. A True Story

        As I mentioned in the introduction, the story is actually original. Since it did happen. Kumail Nanjiani co-wrote with his wife and starred as himself. It retells how he met his wife. And how he manages to juggle his ethnic’s notion of romance with him being in love with Emily. The highlight is him unintentionally saving her life. One would think that it would be pretty out there that the events being presented actually happened, and it did. Albeit, with some creative liberties. 

        It’s such a new way to tackle romance since Kumail gives her parents company and really understands their idea of romance. The whole movie without the story is about being in love. I’ll elaborate more on the parent’s side of things since I feel that that’s the big thing in the movie. Other than that, the film is pretty hilarious. The film is littered with comedians not just Nanjiani and Romano, including some like Bo Burnham and Aidy Bryant to name a few. 

        With the comedy, it doesn’t feel forced in the most bit. It’s utilized as a way to break the tension when something is happening to Emily or Kumail. I really want to know if Kumail and Emily actually ran the script with the comedians to see if it was funny enough or balanced enough where the moments that are emotional are just right. Regardless, the film absolutely deserved to be one of the best films of 2017.

2. Emily

        Zoe Kazan has to be the luckiest actress to have the role as Emily since for most of the film has her character be under a medically induced coma. It’s an easy paycheck. Not to smear her role but when she’s with Kumail it’s the most charming parts in the film. They have that chemistry that doesn’t feel forced or just not connectable to us. I like the part where she starts as a heckler and they immediately hit it off. I thought when they first broke up, it would be the last time we’ve seen her. 

        When she’s in the hospital, Kumail manages to save her life. It was interesting since, it was an move that he did that was instantaneous. When she wakes up, I thought that they would finally make up. Refreshingly, she wanted nothing to do with him. That was a gutsy move since it’s unheard of for the love interest to still have the same mindset before being MIA. I was surprised that she wanted to move on. That was short lived when she eventually warms up to him. 

I would’ve liked more scenes or a montage of her seeing the standup of Kumail. Such as when she sees his bombed standup when he’s crying that his ex might die. That montage would’ve worked to actually convince her that Kumail did the right thing and saved her from a potential death. Other than that, her actually visiting his stand up in New York was a happy ending to the movie. 

3. Parents

        Aside from the romantic aspect, the parents of both the main stars is also one of the highlights in the film. Since Kumail comes from a Pakistani background, their culture prefers arranged marriages instead of just finding someone. It started out with just comedic timing when the mom would introduce Kumail with a potential wife and then cut to him placing the pictures in a special box. 

        Whereas when Kumail spends time with Emily parents, they’re a dysfunctional couple that sleeps in different beds. I feel that the moments that Kumail is either with his parents and with Emily’s shows us just how complicated the idea of love is. He tries to be honest with Emily about him being hesitant on introducing her to his family. As well as seeing a marriage almost fall apart. He sees this as routes with what he wants to do.

        Eventually he chooses what he wants but is met with scorn from his parents. I feel that the moment when his family disowns him feels a bit exaggerated. His mom did actually disown him, but what the film was doing, I felt that the scene could’ve been just played straight instead of just having it for dramas sake. Although, his brother actually sees his one man act which makes the whole disownment thing moot. 

4. Overall

        Another short review, not that this film has little to work with, but it’s one of those films where there’s so little to talk about how great it is. I feel it reenergized the genre by having a unique spin in the rom-com style. Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon deserved the academy award for best original screenplay. Their story of how they met is the most heartfelt and just original that it is the stuff that Hollywood is made for. 

        The Big Sick gets a four out of five. 

Friday Night Lights Review

        In the state of Texas, Football is king in every corner and facet of the Lone Star State. In 1990, H.G. Bissinger wrote Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, which was a documentation about Permian High School’s football program and the impact it had in the city of Odessa and the players in the team. It was a basis for the film that was released back in 2004, loosely based on the Permian Panthers season in 1988. I think out of all the football films that has been released in the past. Friday Night Lights is up there with the best sports movies of all time. SPOILERS will appear in the review. 

1. The State of Football

        Without a doubt, the film just screams Texas since the state is known for its high school football. I’m going to not focus on the story, but on everything in the film that makes it one of a kind. Something about it has that authentic feel, like the players actually look like they are teenagers instead of the usual obvious 20 somethings trying to act like high schoolers. There’s equal focus on everyone and not just on one specific player. 

        Very early in the film, we assume that the film will about High School Football legend “Boobie” Miles. He is very animated as he is the team’s star athlete. As well as a good talker since he taunts his teammates, such as when he mocks his backups cleats for not being like everyone else’s in the team. Right as they start the practice, the whole team gets that star treatment with the local news networks interviewing them on their upcoming season. As far as I know, we never see that and it can be taboo since anyone who isn’t in the state would find it weird. 

        It’s understandable that the film has Odessa be covered with Permian Panthers signs in the front yard to signs in the stores saying that they’re closed during the game. The town’s pride is the school’s football program to win the state championship. The whole book touches on this part specifically, especially when the cheerleaders make gifts for the players. Now, as far as I know in my part of the state, I never saw that. Or it did happen. 

2. Showing a Different Side

        The strongest part of this film is that it doesn’t hold back from showing the side of the sport that people aren’t aware of. Such as showing just how much the whole sport means to the players and coaches. Every scene is inundated with talk shows of the city folk talking about how the team has to win and how the coach is messing up the team. We have moments where we see the coach here the commentary, but he mostly just powers on forward. 

        One thing that isn’t shown is anyone who gets injured. “Boobie” gets hurt, I think it was shown as karma, but in the context of the sport, it’s inevitable. He is the crucial part of the team, and they start to lose. The coach tries to motivate the team by saying that “Boobie” is fine, but when he leaves is probably the best expression shift I’ve seen. Like, you can’t tell them that he’s done, just tell them he’ll be okay. 

        I feel that it was done to show just how the sport affects everyone. Especially with the quarterback living with his drunk dad. Who used to be a former player who won a championship for the school. Now, is just a has been who berates his son’s performance on practice and in the must win games. I thought the Dad was one note and he changed since he had a hard time telling his son that he has to cherish this moment since it’s temporary. 

3. My Favorite Scene

        This is one of the few instances where I actually talk about my favorite scene. I think it just symbolizes Football in general. After “Boobie” gets to play, he reinjures his knee. Effectively ending his football career. He cleans out his locker and his teammates just feel sorry about him. They don’t say anything, but Miles is just weirded out by it. He then meets his uncle in the car and just bawls like a baby. 

        It’s gut wrenching not to feel sorry for him. With what was established earlier as he was reading college offers, he couldn’t read. When he is crying and his uncle comforting him, he said that the sport was supposed to be his future. The shot that really nails right down is the exterior shot of the stadium. With the car still in the parking lot and the assistants walking into the stadium as business as usual. You can’t find that in any sport film. That is football, the game moves on.

4. The Other Story

        As I was reading the story, the chapter concerning Permian’s opponent Dallas Carter High School deserves its own movie. The film makes them out to be the villain, by having their players be bigger and stronger than the guys we’ve been following in the film. Now, there is a movie about the drama surrounding that team, but I would have liked if we get to see Dallas Carter be more humanized instead of having them be the Goliath for our David. 

5. Overall

        Aside from the creative liberties the film takes in terms of equipment, stadiums, and college logos when the recruiters come to see Permian, the film is one of the best football and sports films that I have seen. By no means is it preachy or try to say something but give the realities of high school football and the real gritty truth that comes with it. The book is a must read as it goes deeper with accounts about the players, city, and everything. Friday Night Lights is the gold standard for doing a football movie, not just in Texas, but in the country. 

        Friday Night Lights gets a four out of five.

Groundhog Day Review

        Out of all the holiday films, why on Earth would anyone make a Groundhog Day film? Well, Harold Ramis found a way and made a film that is very endearing. This is the fifth time that Bill Murray and Ramis made a film together such as Caddyshack and Ghostbusters. It could’ve been a daunting task to make a holiday film where it’s only relevant to the civilians of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This is probably one of the best comedies that came out in the 90s. SPOILERS will appear in the review.

1. Story

        We actually start in Pittsburgh, as weatherman Phil Connors explains to the viewers that a potential blizzard will not happen in their part of the state. His team Rita, played by Andie MacDowell and Larry, played by Chris Elliot are assigned to cover the annual event of Groundhog Day. Phil hates the idea, so much so that he ridicules the people by demeaning them to be just yokels. 

        Eventually, the crew make it to the town on February 2nd and Phil does a half-assed report on the famous animal. For those who don’t know, if the Groundhog sees it shadow, it extends the winter season by six more weeks. I’m not going to divulge the history since you people have phones. Anyways, the crew drive back to Pittsburgh but are stopped by a blizzard. Which makes Phil look like a jackass since he announced that one wasn’t supposed to hit. 

        They stay at the town to weather the blizzard. Phil wakes up, but he thinks somethings amiss since he hears the same radio broadcast, meet the same people with the same conversations. He realizes that he’s reliving Groundhog Day and tries various and hilarious ways to get himself back to normal. Since this is probably the first and only film to have the holiday be the backdrop, Ramis could’ve taken the idea any other way. 

2. Time Loop 

        Some have interpreted the film’s use of the time loop differently, how I see it is through the idea of D.A.B.D.A. Or the five stages of grief. It works in tandem with Phil’s character arc since he starts out as a jerk, then transition to him being cynical when he tries to flirt with a woman by lying about being in her high school class. He gets bored by his approach and tries to find other ways to stop the day from repeating, such as killing himself. 

        Seeing Phil realize and just plainly grow up throughout the film gives him sympathy since he tries to be friendly with the townspeople, given the circumstances. I like the moment when he tries to flirt with Rita on two separate occasions. The first time is when he tries to get to know her and make her fall in love with him but realizes that her day was too perfect, and Phil try to explain what’s happening to him. The second time, he’s just honest and tries again to flirt with her. 

        The moment when he tries to do good is the sincere part since he tried everything including suicide by electrocution, he might as well do some good deeds. Such as feeding a homeless priest some food. Like I mentioned earlier, the plot device is perfect to go along with Phil’s character since he ultimately comes out of the loop a completely different person. 

3. Overall

        Just by length of the review, I loved it and its my second shortest review. The other being The Thing back in October. This is one of the best comedies of the 90s. I know that the time loop has been used in other films in varyingly degrees such as Edge of Tomorrow and Happy Death Day. Check this one out, since it’s probably the best and only film to take place during an odd American holiday. 

Groundhog Day gets a four out of five.