Rating: Summary: Psychoanalysis has never been so funny... Review: To prominant psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), there is nothing more annoying and inappropriate than having new patient Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) disrupt the Marvin family's vacation. To the rest of the Marvin family, Bob is a welcome guest who brings a much needed level of fun into the household. Murray and Dreyfuss are priceless in the film although the story does eventually become formulaic and predicatble. The subplots with the misunderstood children have recently become a tired staple ever since Winona Ryder made her ghoulish appearance in BEETLEJUICE. Director Frank Oz works well with the performers allowing them to run with their talents, something he did well later on with Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin in BOWFINGER. A very early DVD release, the film is transfered well but, there are no special features included. Mindless escapist comedy that might offend obsessive compulsive people.
Rating: Summary: A funny and charming movie Review: In this movie, "Bob" is a psychiatric patient with debilitating phobias that cause him to latch on to his psychiatrist in exteme ways. To make things worse, Bob's good heart wins over everyone else around, making the psychiatrist seem like the crazy one for even minding!This is one of the few movies that I've enjoyed Bill Murray's rather over-the-top performances. Richard Dreyfuss is also in top form as the up-tight (and eventually psychotic) psychiatrist. The DVD format doesn't add much other than preserving the widescreen format for those of us who care about that. Not much in the way of bonus materials.
Rating: Summary: One of the funniest movies I've seen in years.... Review: This is one of the funniest comedy movies I've seen in a long time. Bill Murray is classic as the wacky Bob Wiley, but what really makes this movie work is the chemistry with Richard Dreyfuss, who plays Dr. Leo Marvin. Dr. Marvin's character carries an arrogance which feeds well with the innocent antics of Bob. Julie Haggerty is also well cast as Faye Marvin, Leo's wife. I highly recommend this movie. It's one that you can watch again - anytime you need a good laugh.
Rating: Summary: Laugh-Out-Loud Funny Review: Bill Murray is always, always funny, and this film may represent his peak. The structure is a fairly traditional one: comic playing off a straight man, topically updated with psychotherapy, family tensions, and modern celebrityhood. The huge success in this case comes from the manic pace and the brilliant teamwork of Murray/Dreyfuss. Bill Murray is the problem patient fobbed off on the egotistical doctor, Richard Dreyfuss, who is ultimately seen to be the more pathetic and needful of the two. As wonderful as Murray is, the film rises to the top because of the contribution of Richard Dreyfuss. Like all great comedy, there is a wonderful lode of humor to be mined out of Dreyfuss' pain. I suspect if this was the '30's or '40's, they would have become a great comic pair. I have watched this movie many times, sometimes because I know that I will feel refreshed from laughing out loud -- the certain result at every watching.
Rating: Summary: The Greatest Movie Ever Made!!! Review: What About Bob is no ordinary film that afterwards you say, "It was good, but I don't think I will buy it." With What About Bob you'll say just the opposite!! It is very funny. The first time I saw it on T.V., I said that was hilarious, and I got it as a gift!!
Rating: Summary: A Prescription for Better Health? You Bet! Review: Instead of visiting your shrink, take one movie without a bowl of popcorn (could be dangerous) and laugh yourself silly! You never know what Bob (Bill Murray) is going to be up to next. There is one line about food in this movie that makes me laugh until I cry! Literally. It is perhaps the facial expressions right before the line.... and the wittiness with which it is executed. The first time I saw this movie, my husband and I were just dating, after being married for almost six years now, I finally watched this again...having missed that one line twice already...and finally I knew why my husband and his friend at the time were almost crying they were laughing so much. Now that I just sat and watched the whole entire movie all at once...I felt like this is absolutely the funniest comedy ever! Bob's first shrink leaves town and is finally free. Little does his second shrink know that he is going to be followed to the end of the earth, even while on vacation. Bob is obsessive compulsive to say the least. He is afraid to leave the house and could be considered these days to have Panic Disorder or social anxiety. The funny thing is, when he really wants something...he can get it! In his efforts to cure himself, he about drives his shrink insane. The funny part is, he is clueless to what how he is affecting his psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (Dreyfuss). Like a clown from out of town, Bob brightens up the families life while Dr. Leo turns quite sadistic. His family loves Bob and his silly ways. They all seem a lot like Bob in a way, while Dr. Leo seems to have everything under control. While my minor was in psychology, I think we can solve most of our problems by learning to laugh at ourselves. ;) The only movie I have seen that was close to being as funny is "Some Like It Hot." And even that comedy can't top this one! TheRebeccaReview.com
Rating: Summary: Bill Murray at his best! Review: When I saw What About Bob? for the first time a couple of years ago, I almost fell out of my seat! The hilarious comedy stars Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. Dr. Leo Marvin (Dreyfuss) has everything going for him: a great job, a best-selling new book, a wonderful family, but all of that is about to change when new patient Bob Wiley (Murray) arrives at his door. After one visit with Bob, Dr. Marvin explains to him that he is leaving to go on vacation for the month. Bob does everything in his power to find out where his vacation will bring him. He finds his new "shrink" on vacation in New Hampshire and spends some quality time with the doctor's family. In the process, he drives Leo absolutely crazy. The laughs are non stop and the ending is a classic. Great to see Letterboxed on DVD!
Rating: Summary: "Gimme, gimme, gimme, I need, I need, I need!!!" Review: "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.
Rating: Summary: Great Comedy Review: This is a great film - Dreyfuss and Murray are two comedic geniuses. Funny from start to finish.
Rating: Summary: The Man Came Back! Review: This movie is funny. Bill Murray knows how to really bother Richard Dreyfuss in this one. He also knows how to make him jealous. This movie is the kind of movie that the whole family will enjoy. Rent it and see tonight. You'll be happy you got it. Guaranteed.
|