What About Bob?
Men will do anything to go to therapy
I recently was afforded the opportunity to see What About Bob in the cinema thanks to my friends PJ and Scott we all went on a Sunday afternoon at The Museum Of Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. If you’re in the New York area, should see this place!
They have Muppets!! It’s incredible!
I’ve seen What About Bob, or as it’s known in Italy “Whatsamatter Roberto,” once before when I was still living with my parents in Minnesota. This second viewing didn’t disappoint.
This film is about two insane men trying to get everyone to listen to them.
So, what about Bob?
Bob Wiley, played by Bill Murray, is an anxious mess whose psychiatrist stops his practice (due to Bob’s behavior) and begins treatment with Leo Marven, played by Richard Dreyfuss, who is about to head on vacation to New Hampshire for a month during which time he will be interviewed for his wildly successful book by Good Morning Ameria.
Bob constantly pushes against the boundaries of doctor/patient relationships by following the Marvens to New Hamshire through chicanery and deceit. Once in New Hampshire, Bob charms the pants off of everyone by being boyishly funny in a Bill Murray kind of way.
This drives Leo to the brink and he attempts to murder Bob.
I think almost everything about this movie works for me. The acting is terrific, specifically from the supporting cast. Murray and Dreyfuss are incredible as usual, but the supporting cast shines. The kids in particular feel like fully realized people, the boy is so funny as he’s fixated on death and has some incredible line deliveries on the subject.
A strong supportive cast is a hallmark of Frank Oz’s directing. The whole town feels full of life, to the point that you start to wonder, “What’s the big deal with these two dudes?” Surely other things are going on in this place.
Dreyfuss and Murray are at their full capacities in this film. Dreyfuss is smarmy, cajoling, but not unkind. Murray is an absolute child and a live-action Dennis The Menace or Bugs Bunny. Perfect casting for two people who couldn’t possibly get on.
Dreyfuss deploys one of my favorite acting moves he has in his arsenal: his manic laugh throughout the film. Chef’s Kiss.
The music in this picture is fun and lively, but also stirring at times. I recommend you have a listen.
The opening to the film is centered around Bob’s fish, Gil, and is done in such an artful and playful way. One of the things I appreciate most about Oz’s direction is that it’s often elevated but never unjustified in doing so.
The only things that don’t work about this film for me are these:
If Bob is so anxious shouldn’t he just live somewhere besides New York? Surely it is the city that is compounding his anxieties. He should move to Chicago or Minneapolis! Maybe even White South Dakota and be the local weirdo. (Something he does in New Hampshire.)
Leo isn’t a big enough asshole to justify the torture he goes through. Yeah, he gives Bob his book and then charges him for it. Sure, he’s stressed out about being on TV and obsessed with it. But, there are a lot of small moments, even with Bob at the beginning, where you see Leo as a kind man. I just don’t think he needs his house blown up or whatever. He is a dink though, so whatever.
Per those two gripes! I KNOW. I hear you saying, “But Tristan why don’t you move?”MAYBE I WILL. “But, Tristan the dramatic irony!” WHATEVER MAYBE I JUST LIKE RICHARD DREYFUSS AND HIS LITTLE SHORTS AND THAT MAKES ME NOT WANT HIS HOUSE BLOWN UP.
This movie is a classic farse and if you like that sort of thing, as I do, you’ll love it.
The runtime is 99 minutes.
It's definitely underrated. I thought Julie Haggerty was really good in it too.