While the Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day are filmed two decades apart and are entirely different genres, the two movies are actually quite similar in many ways. Despite the plot or setting, various common core concepts begin to become evident after the daily time loop is introduced. So what makes them so similar and which is more confusing between the two movies?
Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day have similar time-loop patterns and main character development. But whether it’s an army officer fighting an alien race in Europe or an arrogant weathercaster stuck in small town Punxsutawney, the common theme and story arc are equally confusing for viewers.
Cage in Edge of Tomorrow and Phil in Groundhog Day have no common ground concerning the premise of their story. However, even with the seemingly impossible task of convincing those around them of their altered reality, Phil and Cage eventually end their struggles. Read on as I share what I’ve learned about why both movies are confusing, what makes them similar, and how the paradox ends.
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What Makes Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day So Similar?
What makes Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day so similar is their time-loop pattern and requirement of the main character to undergo internal change for the better. The two movies also draw comparison with their similar female lead, both named Rita.
The heroes in the Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day use their accumulated knowledge of the female characters’ past histories, likes, and dislikes to woo them. Unfortunately, they come off as creepy once the female characters catch on to their ruse.
It’s only after giving up on being with or saving the lives of the women whom they love, do they earn that love in return.
In the case of Edge of Tomorrow, the romance seems even trickier as Rita gives Cage the cold shoulder the entire film and only kisses him passionately once before being killed in the timeline that no longer exists. Hence, Cage has to earn her respect and love all over again.
Bill Murray, who plays Phil, is a weatherman who is to cover the groundhog’s annual emergence from its hole. He is then caught up in a blizzard and finds himself trapped in a time warp. He didn’t predict this and is doomed to relive that same day repeatedly until he gets it right, or as some have analyzed, until he redeems himself by redoing and learning from experience.
So here are some ways both movies are similar: both have flawed male leads; both have their main character repeating a day over and over until he learns something important that will allow him to break the pattern; and both have female character ‘love interests’ named Rita.
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What Makes Edge of Tomorrow Different from Groundhog Day?
After the denial and confusion wear off, the uniqueness of being in a time loop sets in, and curiosity boils to the surface. In Groundhog Day, Phil dives into the narcissistic playground and uses the knowledge he gains to seduce women, deflect the people that annoy him, and berate coworkers. Ultimately, he uses the paradox to manipulate people to get what he wants.
While Phil manipulates for personal gain, Cage does it for survival. As a result, Cage assimilates with the people around him and gains some leverage. It’s a blend of these minor cues and blatant mimicking that takes Cage closer to his goal.
Of course, there are many other ways the two movies are different.
Cage is fighting aliens to ward off human extinction, essentially protecting mankind. Whereas, Phil is not doing anything so noble or dangerous. In Groundhog Day, the movie centers around Phil’s life and those he affects in the small town of Punxsutawney. While Phil’s positive change is impactful, it’s nothing in comparison to saving the whole world.
Some other obvious ways Edge of Tomorrow is different from Groundhog Day:
- Setting- one is in a small quaint town while the other is in modern ‘future’ London
- Plot- Edge of Tomorrow is basically a war movie while Groundhog Day is more subtle and subdued.
- Genre- Edge of Tomorrow is an action-thriller combined with science-fiction but Groundhog Day fits nicely in the rom-com category.
- Pattern- In Edge of Tomorrow, the main character’s day is reset when he dies over and over, day after day. In Groundhog Day, the time-loop happens at a certain time of day, and not dependent on the lead character dying.
How Does the Edge of Tomorrow End?
The ending of Edge of Tomorrow is confusing because many things happen plus Cage is able to reset the hours. From Cage being fatally wounded to Vrataski sacrificing herself to the successful end of the alien invasion, there’s a lot for viewers to keep up with and wonder if it’s for real.
One main source of confusion for viewers is that Cage inherits the powers from Omega enabling him to reset the day before his arrest. Amidst all that, a blood transfusion causes Cage to wake up. Interestingly, Cage and Rita are alive, the world is saved, and no one knows exactly what happened except Cage.
At the end of the movie, Cage smiles at Rita. However, it’s Cage who resets the hours, so it’s highly unlikely that Rita remembers Cage at this point.
How Many Times Did Cage Die in Edge of Tomorrow?
In the film, Edge of Tomorrow, Tom Cruise’s character, Major William Cage, is seen dying 24 times on screen. However, according to the manga, All You Need is Kill, from which the movie Edge of Tomorrow is based on, the character dies over 300 times.
In comparison, it’s said that Bill Murray’s character spends 22 years reliving his groundhog day!
It’s not surprising, however, that directors for both films chose not to explain this plot point to viewers, as it’s just a lot to comprehend. Instead, they just show enough repetition to get the message across.
Do Bill Murray or Tom Cruise Gain Anything During the Time Loops?
In both movies, the protagonists relive the same day. In the end, the characters have memorized complex sequences of timings and events perfectly and virtually everything about the characters they interact with. And both also learn valuable life lessons from their experiences.
In Groundhog Day, Phil learns ice sculpting, piano, card tossing, and French and Italian. He’s able to recite complex poetry verbatim as well. Besides, he learns how to help each person in the small town and how to be loved. Essentially, he learns to become a worthwhile person.
In Edge of Tomorrow, Cage slowly learns the order of a complicated battle as a newcomer. He trains to become a skilled soldier and undertakes different infiltration projects that seem to require several attempts. He also learns how to put others before himself.
Why Does Edge of Tomorrow Have Two Different Titles?
The movie was known as All You Need Is Kill in its early development. The sci-fi blockbuster also had a tagline, Live Die Repeat. That’s because Live Die Repeat is based on the manga by the title of All you need is Kill. However, the executive at Warner Bros renamed the movie Edge of Tomorrow. And one can only imagine it is tied to profit.
Is Groundhog Day a horror movie?
Groundhog Day is a romantic comedy that operates at its edge as horror. Phil realizes how easily time, when it doesn’t move forward, can become monstrous and lead to insanity. As well, the movie has been interpreted as an allegory for religion, ethics, self-help, psychoanalysis, and economic theory.
Groundhog Day has also been recognized as an analogy for the dread of unchanging circumstances.
For people who live a life of monotony, time can loom. Tuesday can become Thursday; Thursday can become Sunday. The activities differentiating them could largely fall away. For many, this blur, if gone too long, can feel like a horror movie.
What Unlocks the Cycle in Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day?
After the personal progression of the main characters in Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day during the time loop, finding love appears to be the climax of the experience. Both Phil and Cage are able to break the cycle of supernatural proportions with love for others.
One can argue that it’s impossible to find love in a day, but Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day prove otherwise. Coincidentally, the leading female character who the protagonists fall in love with in both movies is named Rita.
Wrapping Up Edge of Tomorrow, Groundhog Dog Comparison Explained
To wrap it up, viewers can easily compare films, Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day. Both male leads are caught in a time-loop and can’t move passed it without some serious internal progression, for the betterment of themselves as well as others around them.
However, each film is distinct with its own plot points, tone, and genres.
Edge of Tomorrow is an action thriller with sci-fi leanings while Groundhog Day is best categorized as a rom-com. Yet, both can also be interpreted as someone’s nightmare, too.
And don’t overlook that the female leads in both are similarly named, Rita.
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