Learning from Mistakes and Changing Bad Habits

In the movie Groundhog Day, Rita does have a powerful influence over Phil and there is no doubt about it. Phil is a narcissist, for sure. He is constantly thinking that he is the best and a “talent” that is too good for certain places. Rita is the complete opposite. She is optimistic, going with the flow of things, and making the most of any day.

Phil was being very pessimistic and rude to every person that he was coming across. He was not willing to have any type of small chit chat with the people at the bed and breakfast, no sympathy for the poor man on the corner, or even catch up with someone that he has had history with. It is not known about how long Phil was stuck living Groundhog’s Day for but was trying ever way possible to end the repeating day, either by committing suicide or not caring for others throughout the course of the day. No matter which day it was in the repetitiveness for Phil, Rita was always upbeat and happy. She was the one to give him advice about what to do, which was to improve himself.

She brings out the best in him and was able to show him the light of better living. He was able to learn from mistakes he made on previous, repeated days to make better on the next. He discovered that there was no point in being sour ever repeated day when you can make the most of it. This was shown in the movie that he was able to know everyone in town and their stories, help the town's people, learn to play the piano, ice sculpt, and even speak French. In achieving this, he was able to get out of the repeats of Groundhog’s Day and move onto the next day.

I think the movie’s message about “true love” is that you can’t win anyone over with egotistical charm. A person with good qualities and an optimistic is going to like someone that is closer to who they are. Phil went from being a person with poor, pessimistic qualities living the same day, every single day, to a person that reached enlightenment, becoming a better person, and moving on with life. It showed in the movie, when it was the day after Groundhog’s Day and Rita was still with him.