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What About Bob? (1991)

tomatometer

86

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

audience

74

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 105,663

My Rating

Movie Info

In this comedy about a doctor-patient relationship pushed way beyond the office, Bill Murray plays Bob Wiley, a neurotic New Yorker struggling with a whirlwind of paralyzing phobias. When an exasperated colleague pawns the handful off on Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), the psychologist has no idea his last appointment will follow him north to New Hampshire on a month's vacation. Bob takes to Dr. Marvin's latest book like no therapy before it, so the well-meaning pest tracks Marvin down at his

PG, 1 hr. 39 min.

Drama, Comedy

Alvin Sargent, Laura Ziskin, Tom Schulman

Jul 11, 2000

Touchstone Home Entertainment

Cast

All Critics (39) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (7) | DVD (8)

Murray, with his curious blend of pathos and aggressiveness, is terrific, and so is an acutely uptight Dreyfuss, never once copping a plea for our sympathy.

October 5, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment
TIME Magazine
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This cruel but effective black comedy violates credibility at almost every turn, but the concept itself is so strong hat it winds up working pretty well anyway.

March 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
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Bill Murray finds a real showcase for his oft-shackled talent in this manic comedy.

March 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
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Somehow, Mr. Dreyfuss maintains his sound comic timing even when Frank Oz's antic direction calls for hand-waving hysteria.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
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With his twisted lower lip, doleful eyes and trademark deadpan, [Murray] exudes an awkward -- and funny -- vulnerability.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
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Above all else, What About Bob? addresses the way many a patient feels when his psychiatrist has the nerve to go away without giving a thought to his problems. Perhaps it is just one desperate cosmic cry for help. Then again, maybe it's a threat.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Appealingly silly romp for kids and adults.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Its less is more approach makes for a brilliantly constructed plot in which Murray becomes more and more obnoxious and Dreyfuss is gradually driven to distraction by his eccentric little ways.

October 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

A modern-day comedy in the grand tradition of the best screwball comedies of the late 1930s and early 40s.

March 13, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Murray nicely shelves his wise-guy persona in a winning comedy.

March 1, 2007 Comment
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

A delightful annoying-person comedy made even more amusing by the fact that Murray and Dreyfuss couldn't stand one another in real life.

February 18, 2006 Comment
FulvueDrive-in.com

With Dreyfuss and Murray on top form, not even the familiar plotline -- uptight rich person meets free-wheeling poor person and learns about life -- can prevent this lunatic comedy from being funny.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Dreyfuss e Murray estabelecem uma boa dinâmica nesta comédia irregular, mas agradável.

November 3, 2004 Comment
Cinema em Cena

Quirky, wild comedy doings with Bill Murray over the top.

October 16, 2004 Comment

Boomers being really charming and funny.

October 1, 2004 Comment
New Times

Pleasant comedy with droll Murray

September 20, 2004 Comment
Film Journal International

A forerunner to movies like Analyze This (and That), What About Bob? is just the prescription for anyone in need of a laugh or several hundred.

June 4, 2004 Comment
Reel.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for What About Bob?

Murray and Dreyfuss are great.

November 20, 2011
Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

What About Bob? is one of those little comic gems that sort of came and went, and you don't really hear people talking very much about it these days. It was a staple for me when it first came out and I saw it often. There are some hilarious performances from both Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss housed inside a very

March 25, 2007
FilmFanatik
Tim Salmons

Super Reviewer

    1. Bob Wiley: Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm a schizophrenic... and so am I!
    – Submitted by Michael D (5 months ago)

Latest News for What About Bob?

December 20, 2005:
Willis to Climb Schulman's "Summit"
From the writer of "Dead Poet's Society" and "What About Bob?" comes...

May 19, 2005:
Universal Gets Into a "Worst Case" Scenario
Veteran screenwriters Tom Schulman and Rafael Yglesias have sold their first collaborative effort,...

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Foreign Titles

  • What About Bob (DE)
  • What About Bob (UK)
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