Anyone who’s seen the movie “Groundhog Day” knows about…Groundhog Day” rascally groundhog Punxsutawney Phil pops out every February 2 to let us know if there are going to be six more weeks of winter. What you might not know, however, is just how personally the groundhog’s shadow takes its responsibilities. Deciding one day he can’t handle the burden he places on people by predicting winter, the Shadow bugs out, leaving the Groundhog to follow him.
The Shadow, being of understandably darker nature, heads to Tijuana to satisfy his earthier delights. The Groundhog flies a plane down to Mexico to bring him back. What follows is a cross-country journey (on foot, what happens to the plane is never explained) that will take the duo through such places as Las Vegas, Burning Man, Amarillo, and Memphis before hopefully finding them safe at home.
In spite of the constant need of the Shadow to satisfy his mysterious obsessions, and the constant folksy narration by the deep-voiced Robert Seymore, “Groundhog Crossing” feels less like a parable than a kids story produced by NFL Films, right down to the “epic journey” soundtrack.
The two people wearing groundhog costumes are just like NFL mascots, now that I think about it.
That said, I don’t really know what to tell you about this movie. Sure, the pair walk their way across the continent, but really not much happens. It’s mildly humorous, and cute in spots, but largely superfluous, and even at only 70 minutes it still feels a little long.
