If you're a little discerning, you wont make the distance.
What About Bob? (1991)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:37
Fresh:30
Rotten:7
Average Rating:6.4/10
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: The day he leaves on a month's vacation, best-selling author and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) acquires a new patient, the multiphobic Bob Wiley (Bill Murray). Consumed by... The day he leaves on a month's vacation, best-selling author and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) acquires a new patient, the multiphobic Bob Wiley (Bill Murray). Consumed by his fears of germs, enclosed spaces, and other people, Bob tracks Dr. Marvin to his New Hampshire retreat and arrives on his doorstep for treatment. Dr. Marvin's professional but strained advice to "take a vacation from your phobias" is translated by Bob to mean "take a vacation in New Hampshire," and he starts to become a fixture in their home, to Marvin's growing incredulity and rage--especially when his wife and children, charmed by Bob's childlike enthusiasm, start to think Bob is more fun than Marvin. There seems to be only one way to get rid of Bob, and that's to do it permanently. Murray and Dreyfuss balance each other perfectly, one growing more sane as the other stumbles toward madness. A quirky family comedy, Frank Oz's WHAT ABOUT BOB? encourages viewers to stop being so straight-laced and start having fun. [More]
Starring: Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty, Charlie Korsmo
Starring: Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty, Charlie Korsmo, Kathryn Erbe, Tom Aldredge, Roger Bowen, Fran Brill, Aida Turturro
Director: Frank Oz
Director: Frank Oz
Screenwriter: Alvin Sargent, Laura Ziskin, Tom Schulman
Producer: Laura Ziskin
Composer: Miles Goodman
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Release:
Jul 11, 2000
Reviews for What About Bob?
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.
Bill Murray finds a real showcase for his oft-shackled talent in this manic comedy.
A modern-day comedy in the grand tradition of the best screwball comedies of the late 1930s and early 40s.
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.
One of the most snicker-worthy movies ever made. Great, great fun for the demented.
There's no question that the engaging performances of Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss manage to breathe a great deal of life into the proceedings, and before it starts to run out of steam toward the end, the film provides an awful lot of laughs.
A delightful annoying-person comedy made even more amusing by the fact that Murray and Dreyfuss couldn't stand one another in real life.
With his twisted lower lip, doleful eyes and trademark deadpan, [Murray] exudes an awkward -- and funny -- vulnerability.
Somehow, Mr. Dreyfuss maintains his sound comic timing even when Frank Oz's antic direction calls for hand-waving hysteria.
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.
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 "Morgan's Summit," a drama/thriller that looks like it will star Bruce Willis... More...
May 19, 2005:
Universal Gets Into a "Worst Case" Scenario
Veteran screenwriters Tom Schulman and Rafael Yglesias have sold their first collaborative effort, "Worst Case," to Universal Pictures following a rather heated... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- What About Bob? at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Hollywood.com ponders whether or not an animated film could win Best Picture.

Richard Corliss previews the season's best offerings and hottest tickets.

The AV Club's Mike D'Angelo airs his beefs with Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



