Synopsis
What About Bob? follows Bob Wiley, a lovable but overwhelmingly needy psychiatric patient who tracks down his therapist, Dr. Leo Marvin, during a family vacation in New Hampshire. As Bob charms everyone around him, an increasingly frustrated Leo spirals toward a breakdown. The film is a hilarious clash of personalities between Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss at their comedic best.
Why Watch It
Bill Murray's manic energy perfectly clashes with Richard Dreyfuss's increasingly frazzled restraint in this comedy about a therapist's vacation hijacked by his neediest patient. Frank Oz mines genuine laughs from the escalating absurdity while keeping a surprisingly sharp edge about dependency and control. It's the rare comedy that works equally well as dark character study.
Did You Know?
- Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss reportedly had a tense relationship on set.
- Filming took place in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.
- Bill Murray improvised many of his funniest scenes.
- Richard Dreyfuss wanted his character to be more sympathetic.
- The film grossed over $63 million at the box office.
Iconic Quotes
- Baby steps, Bob.
- I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful.
- There are two types of people in this world: those who like Neil Diamond and those who don't.
- I'm sailing! I sail! I'm a sailor!
- Bob? Bob Wiley? What if he's dead? What if I'm on vacation and he's dead?
