Stalking for Love

The 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, has always been a favorite of mine.

If you'd asked a younger version of me what the movie was about, I would have said

Groundhog Day is a movie about a cynical, selfish, man who must relive the same day over and over again

[Ned laughing]

until he learns to care for the people around him, and in so doing, becomes a better person.

"It's hard down there at the bottom." [plates clinking on counter]

Today I think I'd describe the plot somewhat differently.

[clock clicks, light music plays]

I'd say, Groundhog Day is a movie about a cynical, selfish, man who must relive the same day over and over again,

Until he's able to learn everything there is to know about his coworker and, despite her repeated rejections,

use that information to eventually make her fall in love with him.

While both plot summaries are technically accurate, what I missed as a younger man was an understanding of how movies often present stalker-like

behavior as a harmless or endearing part of romantic courtship.

[Rita:] "How did you do that? [Phil:] "I know your face so well, I could'a done it with my eyes closed."

[Rita laughing]

[light, jazzy music playing]

One popular romance trope in particular

provides the foundation for the plot of Groundhog Day.

I call that trope

Stalking For Love.

"I would really appreciate it if you would just go away." [knocking on the door] [woman screams]

If you've spent any time at all going to the movies, or watching television,

then you're probably already familiar with this romance formula, and how it works.

[Patrick:] "Excuse me, have you seen The Feminine Mystique? I've lost my copy."

[Kat, angrily:] "What're you doing here?"

[Patrick:] "I heard there was a poetry reading."

[Kat:] "You're so -" [Patrick:] "Charming."

[Patrick:] "Wholesome."

[Kat:] "Unwelcome?"

Our hero is typically a nice guy who doesn't quite fit the Hollywood ideal of manhood.

And who, for a variety of reasons, hasn't found love.

One day he happens upon a very special woman,

and instantly becomes infatuated with her.

Time slows down, the music swells, and the camera zooms in.

These audio-visual cues are designed to communicate to us, the audience, that this is true love.

But wait, there's just one small problem.

[Mike:] "I was wondering if I could, uh, snag yer cellphone number or yer email before you left."

[Sue:] "I don't think so Mike."

She doesn't return his feelings.