The ever-persistent fan theory of Phil Connors’ buying insurance to break his Groundhog Day curse adds a layer of meta-commentary to a movie that already has so much to say. It’s an undeniably fascinating idea that viewers have not only latched on to but have gone on to mold interpretations of their own.
Redditor u/burghguy3 replied to the aforementioned thread, stating that they’ve always been a fan of the theory. However, the user also believes that along with Ned, the lovable news reporter Rita (Andie MacDowell) is an equally important part of the proceedings.”My own head-cannon is that the ‘deal with the devil’ Phil makes isn’t to escape the loop, it’s for the love of Rita,” the user stated. “Ned wants his narcissistic sense of self-importance … By purchasing Ned’s insurance, Phil is symbolically relinquishing his own ego to Ned the devil. In exchange, Phil is rewarded with the true love of another (Rita), as well as riding himself of his own parasitic narcissism.” Rita’s love being a motivation for Phil’s drastic change of heart isn’t all that surprising, but some believe she plays an even deeper role in the context of the theory.
Redditor u/Freshstocx sees Rita as the antithesis of Ned’s character, commenting, “Actually, Ned is the devil, but Rita is an angel on the other side of Phil’s shoulder. Rita says in the bed that maybe it’s not a curse and she wished she had a thousand lives. ‘It’s all in how you look at it.’ After that night, he begins to do good.” Safe to say, without this crucial awakening, Phil’s story could have ended very differently.
