Submitted for your approval this February 2: clairvoyant woodchucks who richly deserve their own Weather Channel shows. Last year's Groundhog Day was among the too few bright spots in what was overall a crummy year.
Oddly enough, there aren't all that many movies and cartoons devoted to the humble marmot. Robert McKimson's crew at WB made a noteworthy one. Animation historian Devon Baxter wrote all about it here.
Like many of the cartoons helmed by the veteran Warner Bros. animator-turned-director in his first year at the helm, One Meat Brawl is surprisingly good. Spunky protagonist Grover Groundhog is not without panache, charm and terpsichorean skill. This is one instance in which the chubby-cheeked character design seen in many Robert McKimson cartoons works quite well and suits the main character.
Favorite movie starring Bill Murray? Groundhog Day, with a time-freezing storyline right out of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone!
In the supporting player mix are comedy stalwarts Rick Overton, Chris Elliott, Robin Duke, Brian Doyle-Murray and director/writer Harold Ramis.
My only quibble with this movie: the obtrusively schmaltzy background music.
As far as Groundhog Day the annual event goes, Punxsutawney Phil, without a doubt, is my kind of guy, even when he see his shadow and predicts 6 more weeks of winter.
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