Well it's Superbowl time – again – and you know what that means. Superbowl commercials! (You didn't really think I was going to say football did you?) Over the years the Superbowl has been a showcase for some of the most innovative and mind-blowing advertisements of all-time. Whether it was the 1984-esque commercial that introduced the world to the Apple Macintosh computer thirty-six years ago, or the Volkswagen ad with the Darth Vader Force kid, Superbowl ads offer something for everyone, even if you're not a football fan. Much like the last commercial I mentioned, many ads for the Big Game often have a movie aspect to them. Such is the case for an upcoming motorvehicle advertisement that will see a prominent actor return to one of his most iconic comedic roles.
Academy Award nominee Bill Murray will reprise the part of weatherman Phil Connors from the film GROUNDHOG DAY for a Jeep commercial. The move is clearly kismet as both the Superbowl and Groundhog Day happen to fall on the same date this year. Confirmation of Murray's return came courtesy of the official William Murray Golf Instagram account. The account – which highlights the golf apparel company Murray and his brothers founded a few years ago – shows Murray's Connor in a very familiar situation:
And as commercials are fond of saying, "Wait! There's more!" Not only will Murray be coming back for the ad, Stephen Tobolowsky will return as Ned Ryerson (Needlenose Ned! Ned the Head!) and Bill Murray's brother Brian Doyle-Murray will play Mayor Buster Green. No word yet on whether Bill Murray will deck Ned in the face but one can hope. Also Chris Elliott and Andie MacDowell better show up or I will riot.
What's interesting to me is the lengths that Jeep went to pull off this commercial. Not only did they get Bill Murray, his brother, and Stephen Tobolowsky to return, the ad is also set in the same exact town – Woodstock, Illinois – that the 1993 movie was filmed in. Moreover, Jeep dolled up Woodstock to look exactly like Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Talk about committing to the bit. This whole situation almost makes up for Planters killing Mr. Peanut – almost.
Personally, I consider GROUNDHOG DAY to be one of Murray's finest performances. Obviously many consider Bill Murray's roles as Carl Spackler and Dr. Peter Venkman in CADDYSHACK and GHOSTBUSTERS respectively to be his most iconic, but I'd rank Phil Connors right up there. It was the first time I ever realized that Bill Murray was more than just a comedic actor. The part has some real heart to it and Phil's story arc really showcased Murray's acting prowess. His conversation with Andie MacDowell's Rita Hanson about her likes and dislikes in the third act was particularly impactful.
So what do you guys think of this news? Are you excited for a GROUNDHOG DAY themed Superbowl ad? Do you like the film? Do you tune in for just the commercials? Sound off in the comments below!