The way he takes the hard push and just leans into it to return at full sales-walk is one of the best bits of physical comedy in recent times. Not overdone & overacted, just perfect.
I had to look up Kurt Fuller now and I recognized him and it turns out he's had a great career too. But Stephen's Ned Ryerson's character was spot on that nobody could have done a better job at playing that nerd.
i once almost bumped into bill murray, physically. we were both in a hurry to cross an intersection in chicago. he was wearing a plaid suit that was pinkish in color overall. i stopped just in the nick of time to avoid a collision, and waved him on with wide eyes. i SO wanted to say the reyerson line from goundhog day and give him a big hug.. but didn't. perhaps i should have. :P
How many times has Stephen heard, "Bing! Ryerson! Ned Ryerson!" on the street. Perfect casting. I was an insurance agent for many years and later taught those going for their licenses. In tips on selling I'd refer to Ned Ryerson and say, "Don't be that guy!"
I had a friend who sold insurance the night I met him in a bar in San Francisco when he told me what he did for a living I said without skipping a beat ... Phil... Phil... Phil Conners it's Ned! Ned Ryreson... he didn't know what I was referring to... watched the movie a few days later and felt offended like I was cutting him down. Oh well. That's the new generation for you.
6:21 What he doesn't say is Kurt went through all of Phil's reactions during the movie. The get away from me, the punch him in the face, and since that ended with a hug that's what he did.
Kurt Fuller seems always like a douchey corporate stooge character actor (ghostbusters) the Ned Ryerson character was more personal and sincere. Especially at the end when Phil Conners figures out his life and buys the insurance And I love Andie's interaction w/Ned. "Let's not spoil it"
BTW: don't worry about Kurt Fuller. He's done just fine, probably as many or more roles as Stephen Toblowsky. It says he has a $3 million net worth compared to $4 million for Stephen; not much difference.
I cannot picture Kurt Fuller as Ned Ryerson. He's almost the polar opposite of that character. Especially during that period when he was known for roles like No Holds Barred and Ghostbusters II. If Ramis was gonna write any role for him in Groundhog Day, Larry the cameraman would've made more sense. Chris Elliott was still a better choice, but I could at least see Fuller as that character.
Bless Kurt, but casting absoLUTEly got this one right. Toblowsky was sooooo f&ck$ng annoying in that movie, which means he was spot on for that role.👌🏾
