Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Is this a radical new form of therapy?", June 25, 2006
Masterfully directed by Frank Oz, this comedy is one of the brightest spots in a long line of tasteless 90's comedies. In an era where comedies are dominated by sex, crudity, and horrid language, "What About Bob?" is a breath of fresh air. The comedy is a harmless and sinless masterpiece of irony with chuckles. The head-scratching, laugh-at-loud compulsive mannerisms combined with symptoms of paranoia from patient Bob Wiley (B. Murray) pushes this film to the top of clean comedies. Bob has issues. Bob is afraid to touch things without a handkerchief. Bob is afraid of crowds. Bob has fears of his bladder exploding. Bob is afraid of anything and everything outside his apartment. But Bob finds hope in a new and famous psychiatrist named Dr. Leo Marvin (R. Dreyfuss). Dr. Marvin is at the pinacole of his career with his new best selling help-book that has earned him fame. When Dr. Marvin takes Bob on as his client, he has no idea what he's getting himself into.
Bob goes bananas when his new doctor, Leo Marvin, decides to go on vacation and will not be available to treat Bob for a whole month. Desperate for his doctor, Bob tracks Dr. Marvin down. The relaxing Leo Marvin has his vacation interrupted and imposed upon by a friend-seeking Bob Wiley, who wants to enjoy Dr. Marvin's vacation time with him. Dr. Marvin, shocked by Bob's behavior, is unable to convince Bob to leave. Before Dr. Marvin can begin to realize that Bob has latched onto him, Bob is aleady befriending Dr. Marvin's entire household; which includes his wife (J. Hagerty) and son (C. Korsmo) and daughter. Resentment and jealousy become evident in Dr. Marvin as his growing frustration with Bob intensifies. As Bob grows more popular with everyone, Dr. Marvin sinks into a state of irrational hatred toward his new patient. Eventually Bob shows evidence of progress as Dr. Marvin displays signs of regress.
Even though the movie is a great comedy, it is truly a psychology film. It takes a neurotic, crazy man--Bob Wiley--and puts him into a setting he doesn't belong in, and he improves. On the flip side it takes a successful, sane man--Dr. Marvin--and places him into situations he doesn't want, and he deteriorates. The irony is the patient becomes sane as the doctor turns insane. It's a very clever concept by Oz and it should be applauded, because it makes the movie very funny.
No doubt that the film succeeds in its comic aim and ironic formulas, while sending a distinct message that it's all right not to be entirely sane and serious. Bob Wiley is the perfect, likeable looney while Dr. Marvin is the serious stiff that we all want to see lighten up a tad.
The movie is rated "PG," with hardly any offensive elements. There is no sex, no nudity, no violence (although hints of killing is mentioned), and mild language. A joke that Bob tells has a crude reference, but it's nothing to shutter from. The film is quite clean in an age of film-making that has been anything but.
In summary, "What About Bob?" is the perfect family comedy. It is light-hearted, genuine, and funny for everyone. If any criticism could be applied is that it is simply not long enough and goes by too fast. To say the least, it's a gem worthy of praise and laughs.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What About Bob, January 12, 2000
Funny, funny,funny! I laughed all the way through this movie! The chemistry between annoying but lovable patient "Bob," (Bill Murray), and the extremely uptight Dr. Leo Marvin, (Richard Dryfuss), is pure perfection! The writing is excellent, as is the casting. This movie is a classic; one you can watch over and over and over - and still find the line: "There are two types of people in the world - those who LIKE Neil Diamond, and those who don't" as hysterical as the very first time you heard it! (I just wish this movie would come out on DVD)!
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Gimme, gimme, gimme, I need, I need, I need!!!", July 21, 2001
"Hello, I'm Bob. Would you knock me out, please?" To paraphrase Bob on Neil Diamond, there are two types of people in this world -- those who like What About Bob and those who don't. It's such a shame comedies never really win oscars -- especially for absolutely priceless Richard Dreyfuss here. (It's a toss up between this and Groundhog Day for Bill Murray's best.) Human crazy glue patient Murray and "Baby Steps" author/psychoanalyst Dreyfuss and his "fam" trying to take a vacation -- "just me and the family and my book" -- years since its release, I still sometimes leave What About Bob running as background priceless comic relief and it's still Dreyfuss who leaves me sore and speechless. (It does get a little bit weak at the end, but the flying bust of Freud pretty much makes up for that.) The memorable quotes are nonstop. "That patient Bob committed suicide. Oh, well, let's not let it spoil our vacation." Perfect "who's the crazy one?" writing, beyond perfect comic timing and acting, perfect silly soundtrack -- near perfect casting including Julie Hagerty as the dangerously naive wife whose blouse is the same fabric as the couch and the bus driver "Wing" ("You think you can do it today, Bob? We have a baby schedule to keep."). "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful." There should be midnight showings ala Rocky Horror of What About Bob. Not to be missed, sometimes not to be taken out of the VCR.
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