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If you have not seen What About Bob (released in the theaters in 1991, now available on DVD), do yourself a favor and rent or buy this movie. It will give you a good laugh.
The Story:
Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), a renowned psychiatrist, has written a best selling book named ... Read review
Comic superstar Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Caddyshack) teams up with Academy Award-winner ... more
Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl, Best Actor, 1977) in the year's most outrageous comedy. Murray plays Bob Wiley, a neurotic but lovable New Yorker who shows up...
Bob a troubled but loveable therapy patient who fears everything calls upon a noted ... more
psychiatrist who helps him overcome his fears. When the doctor takes a quiet family holiday in New Hampshire Bob terrified of being alone keeps popping up unexpecte...
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Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Christopher Ettridge, Victor McGuire, Emma Amos, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Elizabeth Carling
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Advantages: Everyday type characters Disadvantages: none
...If you have not seen What About Bob (released in the theaters in 1991, now available on DVD), do yourself a favor and rent or buy this movie. It will give you a good laugh.
The Story:
Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), a renowned psychiatrist, has written a best selling book named Baby Steps. Dr. Marvin is a work-a-holic, between writing the book and treating his patients, he has taken little time to relax and enjoy ... ...Good Morning America schedule an interview with Dr. Marvin about his book, he coincides the interview with a well-earned vacation at his second (vacation) home in New Hampshire.
Dr. Marvin has his secretary reschedule all of his patients either after his vacation or with another doctor.
Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) is one of Dr. Marvin’s patients. Bob has many phobias about germs, death, his bladder exploding, etc. Dr. Marvin ... more
Frank Oz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Stepford Wives, Little Shop of Horrors) directed a masterpiece comedy which never got the recognition that I believe it deserved.
If you have not seen What About Bob (released in the theaters in 1991, now available on DVD), do yourself a favor and rent or buy this movie. It will give you a good laugh.
The Story:
Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), a renowned psychiatrist, has written a best selling book named Baby Steps. Dr. Marvin is a work-a-holic, between writing the book and treating his patients, he has taken little time to relax and enjoy life. When the producers of the show Good Morning America schedule an interview with Dr. Marvin about his book, he coincides the interview with a well-earned vacation at his second (vacation) home in New Hampshire.
Dr. Marvin has his secretary reschedule all of his patients either after his vacation or with another doctor.
Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) is one of Dr. Marvin’s patients. Bob has many phobias about germs, death, his bladder exploding, etc. Dr. Marvin has been trying to help Bob through his therapy. But with his vacation looming, and the stress about the interview with Good Morning America, Dr. Marvin slaps a copy of his book in Bob’s hands, tells him to read it while he is gone, and tells his secretary to schedule Bob to meet with another psychiatrist.
Dr. Marvin, his wife (Faye) and two children (Anna and Sigmund) retreat to their home in New Hampshire for a month of relaxation, sailing, cooking out, and spending time together as a family. One problem that Dr. Marvin had not seen, however, was that his long hours of work had distanced him from his family. He had difficulty communicating with 16 year old Anna, his 10 year old son has an unreasonable fear of death, and his wife has become more and more emotionally distant as Dr. Marvin’s popularity increased.
Back in the city, Bob decided that he cannot communicate with anyone except for Dr. Marvin. He must talk to him, he needed some help, and he could not wait for a month to get the help he needed.
Baby Steps…. With each of your fears you must take Baby Steps toward ridding yourself of them. Bob tricks the secretary into finding out where Dr. Marvin is vacationing (too funny) and uses his Baby Steps knowledge to arrive in New Hampshire in one piece (with his pet Goldfish in tow).
The madness ensues.
My Thoughts:
After watching this movie, you will understand why it is named “What About Bob?” Released in 1991, it was overshadowed by big movies such as Silence of the Lambs, LA Story, Cape Fear and Prince of Tides. It was not nominated for any Academy Awards, which is a shame because Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss were the perfect pair to play these two parts. The on-screen opposing chemistries between Murray and Dreyfuss could not have been any better.
The back-to-back humor in this movie kept me interested and awake (I have a tendency to fall asleep during movies). I found myself thinking “I am Bob” because I tend to take a paper towel with me when I leave a public restroom - use it to grab the door knob to exit the area (some folks leave the restroom without washing hands - I’ve seen it - and they grab that same doorknob that I must grab! Ack! Phobia time!) So I found myself relating to Bob.
And, I saw some other folks I know in Dr. Marvin (controlling, work-a-holics, can’t see the forest for the trees type person).
Julie Haggarty did a splendid job as Faye Marvin, the doctor’s wife. She played the gracious host and the supportive wife part perfectly. The only thing I felt was a bit unbelievable was that she seemed oblivious to the fact that her husband was annoyed that Bob showed up at their vacation. Most wives know their husbands well enough to sense that immediately. But then again, Dr. Marvin had been working such long hours maybe that was part of the plot -- they had lost that ability to be able to read each other.
Kathryn Erbe and Charlie Korsmo also did excellent jobs playing their parts as Dr. Marvin’s children. This speaks to me of a great director in Frank Oz.
I think each of us could relate to one of the characters in this film.
And be sure to note the beautiful scenery in this movie around their vacation home. For the movie, the home was located in New Hampshire, but I read somewhere that it was actually filmed in Virginia. Beautiful, beautiful scenes.
Rating:
The movie is rated PG. The only foul language (that I can remember) is when a Tourette’s syndrome patient has a brief appearance. There are no sexual scenes at all There is a bit of violence when Dr. Marvin decided to blow up Bob (unsuccessfully).
This movie is appealing to people of all ages. My children were 9 and 11 when this movie was released and they laughed right along with me at Bob and Leo’s antics. And no, they never tried to blow anybody up after watching the movie. Some of the psychology was a bit over their heads, but that part did not matter, they still found the movie hysterical.
Length:
The movie is one hour and forty minutes long.
Cast:
Dr. Leo Marvin - Richard Dreyfuss Bob Wiley - Bill Murray Fay Marvin - Julie Hagerty Anna Marvin - Kathryn Erbe Sigmund Marvin - Charlie Korsmo Mr. Guttmann - Tom Aldredge Ms. Guttmann - Susan Willis
Final Thought:
Whenever I see the movie, I see something funny that I missed on a prior viewing. It just seems to get better each time I see it.
Advantages: Bill Murray. Quite funny Disadvantages: Leo's annoying family
What About Bob? is a 1991 comedy film starring the great Bill Murray (well I like him). It tells the story of Bob (Bill Murray) who is a man with severe mental problems. He has a whole host phobias and is such a conundrum of a mental patient that his psychiatrist had a mental breakdown. He is then passed on to Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) a brilliant psychiatrist who has just published a new book called baby steps. He meets Bob and actually ... ...steps at everything. Bob takes this literally and starts taking very small steps everywhere and claims it helps. However, a twist in the tale occurs as Leo is going on holiday for awhile and has passed all his patients on to another doctor for the time being. Bob will see no-one else as he thinks Marvin is a genius. He then comes up with an ingenious plan himself to track down Leo and spend his vacation with him. The story then centres around Bob ...
Phelthew 29.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What About Bob? (DVD)
Advantages: light hearted funny suitable for all the family ... Disadvantages: none really
What about BoB?
If you like Bill Murray you will LOVE this..
There are definitely no shortage's on the silly humour front ! Bill Murray stars as Bob Wiley the 'newly acquired 'patient of Dr Leo Marvin who is played by Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl,Best Actor,1977).
Trouble is.. Bob is kind of anxious about being left out of reach and contact of his new Dr ,Dr Marvin, as on his initial meeting - Leo Marvin drops the bomb ... ...on his annual family vacation and advises Bob to go to the emergency room should any problems occur during his absence .
Bob is thoroughly not liking this whole situation and will do anything in order to be able to track Dr Leo in order to put his anxieties to rest. He is a very needy patient ,kind hearted and harmless enough nonetheless, however Dr Leo is somewhat arrogant and pretentious and does not have any sympathy for Bobs predicament and ...
bobbetta 04.02.2009 (15.06.2009)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What About Bob? (DVD)
Advantages: really good family fun movie Disadvantages: none
Bob is a cupulsive dilusiond lovable charactor(played by bill murray)that everyone loves, apart from his doctor, doctor leo marvin(played by richard dreyfuss). Leo gives bob his new book called baby steps to help bob whilst the doctor goes on vacaction with his family. Bob finds this encouraging for the meantime then when he hits a brick wall he sets off on a journey to find doctor marvin for more guidance. He sets off with lugage in one hand and ... ...in a jar around his kneck. in the end the doctor becomes the one that need syco therapy. Really good feel family movie with brilliant performances from all the charactors involved. Truely a family movie worth watching over and over again.
This film is rated UK/PG
The runtime is 99min ...
englishtrog 04.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of What About Bob? (DVD)
Advantages: Bill Murray at his best Disadvantages: None, it was made before its time
Bill Murray as always is genius. Here is a rare example of genuine comedy, and it comes so natural to Murray playing the crazy mental patient, and Richard Dreyfus as his highly strung doctor.
If you haven't seen this you're missing out big style.
Murray is having counselling from Dreyfus who is a workaholic that hates his job. Deciding that a well deserved holiday is needed, he cancels all his patients for the duration of his vacation and gets ... ...telling anyone where he's going so he can't be disturbed. Thinking he is in for a relaxing getaway, he gets a nasty shock when one of his patients, Murray, turns up saying that he needs his doctor and can't go on with any other doctor, etc. Pretty much bluffs his way into the wifes heart who invites him to stay with them. Mush to doc's frustration. Within about 24 hours he's getting on better with the family than his shrink is. Everything just leads ...
haillie-jade 29.04.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of What About Bob? (DVD)
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Advantages: Will keep the children entertained Disadvantages: Extras are a bit of a let down
, as they will be able to help them sort it out. For example - Bob is having difficulty in telling his dad that he is the one who should be in charge. When he does tell his dad they manage to work through it and sort it out.
My son sat down and didn't move from the settee the entire time it was on, so it obviously kept him entertained, which is the most important thing. From the adult point of view, I must say I enjoyed it. It did have an interesting enough story to keep me sat with him watching it. I would happily watch it again with him.
~~ My opinion on the extras ~~
All I can say about these are what a disappointment. The extras on this DVD to me were clearly the worse out of all the Bob the Builder DVD's I have seen. This one had no story to read through with your child or anything. Considering that Bob is aimed ...
Advantages: excellent storyline, quality characterisations, positive messages, well done educational content snuck in Disadvantages: Extras nothing to write home about, English only
the movie, or use the scene selection option. You can also elect to have English subtitles (film is also only in English), which is ideal for children who wish to practice reading as well as those who are hard of hearing. The menu also presents the choice of selecting EXTRAS, which presents us with "Bob's parents character profiles", "Bob's Photo Album", or "Bob's Web Site Link". The character profile selection merely has up a photo of each parent, their name, and a very brief blurb about who they are. "Bob's Photo Album" is a selection of stills from the film, which my children liked, as we were able to discuss what the picture was about, making for a nice insightful discussion. "Bob's Website Link" is intended for use in a PC's DVD player, and shows a screen with a picture on it that contains instructions on how to open the website link file ...
Bob, a troubled but loveable therapy patient who fears everything, calls upon a noted psychiatrist who helps him overcome his fears. When the doctor takes a quiet family holiday in New Hampshire Bob, terrified of being alone, keeps popping up un-expectedly at the family's retreat. That's when the fun starts.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINM; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Release date
05/07/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
BED 881094
Barcode
5017188810944
Languages
Main Language
English
DVD Description
Bob, a troubled but loveable therapy patient who fears everything, calls upon a noted psychiatrist who helps him overcome his fears. When the doctor takes a quiet family holiday in New Hampshire Bob, terrified of being alone, keeps popping up un-expectedly at the family's retreat. That's when the fun starts.
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