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''What About Bob?'' is a 1991 American
comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...
directed by
Frank Oz Frank Richard Oznowicz (born May 25, 1944), known professionally as Frank Oz, is an American puppeteer, filmmaker and actor. He is best known for his involvement with Jim Henson and George Lucas through ''The Muppets'', ''Sesame Street'', and '' ...
and starring
Bill Murray William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian, known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies to independent dramas. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Bill Murra ...
and
Richard Dreyfuss Richard Stephen Dreyfuss ( ; Dreyfus; born October 29, 1947) is an American actor. He emerged from the New Hollywood wave of American cinema, finding fame with a succession of leading man parts in the 1970s. He has received an Academy Award, a ...
. Murray plays Bob Wiley, a mentally unstable patient who follows his egotistical
psychotherapist Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of Psychology, psychological methods, particularly when based on regular Conversation, personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase hap ...
, Dr. Leo Marvin (Dreyfuss), on vacation. When Bob befriends the members of Leo's family and they help each other overcome their problems, the patient's continued presence pushes the doctor over the edge. The film received positive reviews and grossed $63.7 million in the US.


Plot

In New York City, neurotic and multiphobic Bob Wiley spends his life in a near-constant state of distress. Exasperated by Bob's high-maintenance needs, his therapist closes his practice and refers Bob to the egotistical and controlling Dr. Leo Marvin, who believes his new therapy book, ''Baby Steps'' will make him famous. Leo gifts Bob a copy of ''Baby Steps'' and makes an appointment to see him in a month following the Marvin family's vacation. Unable to cope without regular reassurance, Bob repeatedly calls Leo's telephone exchange in failed attempts to deduce where he is staying. Bob then visits the exchange while posing as a detective investigating Bob's suicide and learns that the Marvins are at
Lake Winnipesaukee Lake Winnipesaukee () is the largest lake in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, located in the Lakes Region at the foothills of the White Mountains. It is approximately long (northwest-southeast) and from wide (northeast-southwest), covering & ...
,
New Hampshire New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
. Bob travels to Lake Winnipesaukee by bus, irritating the other passengers with his habits. He encounters Leo, who agrees to call Bob at a local coffee shop if he then returns home. Out of spite, the shop owners, the Guttmans—whom Leo outbid for their dream lake house—take Bob directly to Leo. Bob is introduced to Leo's wife Fay, their teenage daughter Anna, and young son Siggy, who are charmed by his eccentric personality, much to the uptight Leo's chagrin. Eager to get rid of Bob, Leo tells him to return to the city and take a vacation from his problems. Having never been on vacation, Bob takes the advice literally, remaining in Lake Winnipesaukee. Bob unintentionally bonds with Leo's family: he faces his fear of sailing after Anna ties him to a boat's mast, inadvertently gives Siggy the confidence to dive into the lake—which Leo had failed to instill for years—and overcomes his germophobia. After Leo pushes Bob into the lake, Fay forces him to apologize and invites Bob to dinner. Oblivious to Leo's hostility, Bob accepts as he believes the events are part of Leo's radical therapy techniques. A thunderstorm forces Bob to spend the night, but Leo demands that he leave the following morning before ''
Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'', often abbreviated as ''GMA'', is an American breakfast television, morning television program that is broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends wit ...
'' arrives to interview him about ''Baby Steps''. The TV crew arrives early and, despite Leo's reluctance, features Bob in the interview as an example of his book's success. Leo humiliates himself during the interview by giving stilted and nervous responses while Bob speaks highly of the Marvins and the book, unwittingly stealing the spotlight. Infuriated, Leo attempts to have Bob institutionalized, but he quickly befriends the hospital staff, who are convinced he is sane. Leo then abandons Bob in a remote location, but Bob hitches a ride back to the lake house while various mishaps delay Leo. A disheveled Leo returns after nightfall, but is happily surprised by a crowd awaiting him for his birthday, including his sister Lily. When Bob appears and puts his arm around Lily, Leo snaps and tackles him. Leo is sedated and his family reluctantly asks Bob to leave due to Leo's seemingly irrational anger towards him. A manic Leo sneaks out and steals a large amount of explosives from the general store. He abducts Bob, straps him to the explosives, and abandons him in the woods, dubbing the experience "death therapy". Believing the explosives are a metaphor for his problems, Bob frees himself of his restraints and remaining fears. He reunites with the Marvins and praises Leo for curing him. Leo worriedly enquires about the whereabouts of the explosives, which Bob states he stored under the lake house. The house explodes, to the observing Guttmans' delight; shocked, Leo is rendered catatonic and institutionalized. Some time later, Bob marries Lily and, upon their pronouncement as husband and wife, Leo snaps out of his catatonic state and screams, "No!", but the sentiment is lost in the family's excitement at his recovery. A closing text reveals that Bob went back to school and became a
psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and explanation, interpretatio ...
, then wrote a best-selling book titled ''Death Therapy'', for which Leo is suing him for the rights.


Cast

*
Bill Murray William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian, known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies to independent dramas. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Bill Murra ...
as Bob Wiley, a neurotic, phobia-ridden, and overly dependent man *
Richard Dreyfuss Richard Stephen Dreyfuss ( ; Dreyfus; born October 29, 1947) is an American actor. He emerged from the New Hollywood wave of American cinema, finding fame with a succession of leading man parts in the 1970s. He has received an Academy Award, a ...
as Dr. Leo Marvin, a pompous, uptight psychotherapist *
Julie Hagerty Julie Beth Hagerty (born June 15, 1955) is an American actress. She starred as Elaine Dickinson in the films ''Airplane!'' (1980) and '' Airplane II: The Sequel'' (1982). Her other film roles include ''A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy'' (1982), '' ...
as Fay Marvin, Leo's kind-hearted and supportive wife * Charlie Korsmo as Sigmund "Siggy" Marvin, Leo & Fay's depressed, introspective son * Kathryn Erbe as Anna Marvin, Leo and Fay's teenage daughter * Fran Brill as Lily Marvin, Leo's cheerful sister * Tom Aldredge as Mr. Guttman, an elderly town resident and coffee shop owner who despises Leo * Susan Willis as Mrs. Guttman, Mr. Guttman's wife *
Roger Bowen Roger Wendell Bowen (May 25, 1932 – February 16, 1996) was an American comedic actor and novelist, best known for his portrayal of Lt. Col. Henry Blake in the 1970 film '' M*A*S*H''. Bowen considered himself a writer who only moonlighted as a ...
as Phil * Doris Belack as Dr. Catherine Tomsky * Marcella Lowery as Betty * Reg E. Cathey as Howie * Joan Lunden as Herself, cohost of ''
Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'', often abbreviated as ''GMA'', is an American breakfast television, morning television program that is broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends wit ...
''


Production

Before Frank Oz was hired to direct,
Garry Marshall Garry Kent Marshall (November 13, 1934 – July 19, 2016) was an American screenwriter, director, producer and actor. Marshall began his career in the 1960s as a writer for ''The Lucy Show'' and ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' until he developed the T ...
was considered, and
Woody Allen Heywood Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades. Allen has received many List of awards and nominations received by Woody Allen, accolade ...
was approached to play Dr. Marvin. Allen was also considered to direct and possibly co-write the script with Tom Schulman. However, because Allen had always generated his own projects rather than getting handed an existing property to make his own, Oz was hired to direct. Allen also declined the role of Dr. Marvin, thus Richard Dreyfuss was ultimately cast.
Patrick Stewart Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is an English actor. With a career spanning over seven decades of Patrick Stewart on stage and screen, stage and screen, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Patrick Stewart, variou ...
was also considered for the role. Early in development,
Robin Williams Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and comedie ...
was attached to the project. Other directors considered to helm the film included Milos Forman, Steve Kloves,
Arthur Hiller Arthur Hiller, (November 22, 1923 – August 17, 2016) was a Canadian television and film director with over 33 films to his credit during a 50-year career. He began his career directing television in Canada and later in the U.S. By the late ...
,
Danny DeVito Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. (born November 17, 1944) is an American actor and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series ''Taxi (TV series), Taxi'' (1978–1983), which won him ...
and
Carl Reiner Carl Reiner (March 20, 1922 – June 29, 2020) was an American actor, author, comedian, director and screenwriter whose career spanned seven decades. He was the List of awards and nominations received by Carl Reiner, recipient of many awards and ...
.
Jack Nicholson John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American retired actor and filmmaker. Nicholson is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, often playing rebels fighting against the social structure. Over his five-de ...
and
Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 March 1933) is a retired English actor. Known for his distinct Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over Michael Caine filmography, a career that spanned eight decades an ...
were also considered for the role of Dr. Leo Marvin. According to Tom Schulman,
Alan Arkin Alan Wolf Arkin (March 26, 1934 – June 29, 2023) was an American actor, filmmaker and musician. In a career spanning seven decades, he received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony A ...
was also considered for Dr. Marvin. According to Frank Oz,
Bob Newhart George Robert Newhart (September 5, 1929 – July 18, 2024) was an American comedian and actor. Newhart was known for his deadpan and stammering delivery style. Beginning his career as a stand-up comedian, he transitioned his career to acting in ...
and
Richard Benjamin Richard Samuel Benjamin (born May 22, 1938) is an American actor and film director. He has starred in a number of well-known films, including '' Goodbye, Columbus'' (1969), '' Catch-22'' (1970), '' Portnoy's Complaint'' (1972), '' Westworld'', ...
were also considered for Dr. Marvin.
Gwyneth Paltrow Gwyneth Kate Paltrow ( ; born September 27, 1972) is an American actress and businesswoman. The daughter of filmmaker Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, she established herself as a leading lady appearing in mainly mid-budget and perio ...
was considered for the role of Anna Marvin.


Filming

''What About Bob?'' was filmed in and around the town of
Moneta, Virginia Moneta (Help:IPA, /məniːtə/ or Help:IPA/English, /moʊniːtə/) is a census-designated place (CDP) in southern Bedford County, Virginia, Bedford County, Virginia, United States. The community is located along Virginia Route 122, Route 122 bet ...
, located on
Smith Mountain Lake Smith Mountain Lake is a large reservoir in the Roanoke Region of Virginia, United States, located southeast of the City of Roanoke and southwest of Lynchburg, Virginia, Lynchburg. The lake was created in 1963 by the Smith Mountain Dam impoundin ...
. For the scene in which Bob accidentally blows the house up, producers used a -sized model replica of the actual house that they detonated on a nearby lot. The scenes of Bob arriving in town on the bus with his goldfish were filmed in downtown
Moneta In Roman mythology, Moneta (Latin Monēta) was a title given to two separate goddesses: It was the name of the goddess of memory (identified with the Greek mythology, Greek goddess Mnemosyne), and it was an epithet of Juno (mythology), Juno, ca ...
, which was repainted for the movie. The local institute where Leo tries to commit Bob is actually the local
Elks National Home Spring Oak Senior Living Community - Elks Home (formerly The Elks National Home) is a retirement home and national historic district located at Bedford, Virginia. History The Elks National Home was built in 1916 by the Benevolent and Protecti ...
for retirees in the nearby town of
Bedford, Virginia Bedford is an incorporated town and former Independent city (United States)#Virginia, independent city located within Bedford County, Virginia, Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of the ...
. Scenes were also shot in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. According to Oz, Murray was "really frightened" about filming in the city. Murray said that he improvised a lot in the film.


Production difficulties

Oz has confirmed in interviews that there was conflict on the set during the making of the film. In addition, both Murray and Dreyfuss have stated in separate interviews that they did not get along with each other during filming: Oz himself also verified that there was a feud between Murray and Dreyfuss: In subsequent interviews, Dreyfuss reiterated what he said of his experience working with Murray, notably when he appeared at
Fan Expo Canada Fan Expo Canada is an annual speculative fiction fan convention held in Toronto, Ontario. It was founded as the Canadian National Comic Book Expo in 1995intoxicated, telling him "Everyone hates you! You are tolerated!" and then threw an ashtray at him. When Murray appeared on ''
The Howard Stern Show ''The Howard Stern Show'' is an American radio show hosted by Howard Stern that gained wide recognition when it was radio syndication, nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from WINS-FM, WXRK in New York City, between 1986 and 2005. The sho ...
'' in 2014,
Howard Stern Howard Allan Stern (born January 12, 1954) is an American broadcaster and media personality. He is best known for his radio show, ''The Howard Stern Show'', which gained popularity when it was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1 ...
asked him if he intended to irritate Dreyfuss. Murray responded: "I really try to make the other actor look good whenever I can (...) In this particular film, annoying Dreyfuss, which I kind of got to enjoy I gotta confess—but I didn't try to annoy him off the screen." Murray also acknowledged in 2025 that he threw a glass at the ceiling and denied throwing it at Dreyfuss. Although neither of them have crossed paths since the release of the film, Dreyfuss confirmed in a 2020 interview that he has forgiven Murray. Producer
Laura Ziskin Laura Ellen ZiskinGale Research Company (2002). ''Contemporary theatre, film, and television,'' p. 388. Gale Research Co., (March 3, 1950 – June 12, 2011) was an American film producer. She was the executive producer of '' Pretty Woman'' (1990 ...
recalled having a disagreement with Murray that resulted in his tossing her into a lake. Ziskin confirmed in 2003: "Bill also threatened to throw me across the parking lot and then broke my sunglasses and threw them across the parking lot. I was furious and outraged at the time, but having produced a dozen movies, I can safely say it is not common behavior". In April 2022, Dreyfuss's son
Ben Ben is frequently used as a shortened version of the given names Benjamin, Benedict, Bennett, Benson or Ebenezer, and is also a given name in its own right. Ben meaning "son of" is also found in Arabic as ''Ben'' (dialectal Arabic) or ''bin ...
tweeted a recollection about Murray's on-set behavior towards his father and Ziskin: "Bill Murray had a meltdown during 'What About Bob?''because he wanted an extra day off and Laura said no and he ripped her glasses off her face and my dad complained about his behavior and Bill Murray threw an ashtray at him." Ben also added, "Everyone walked off the production and flew back to L.A. and it only resumed after
Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
hired some bodyguards to physically separate my dad and Bill Murray in between takes."


Profits lawsuit

In April 2015, Richard Dreyfuss sued
The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16 ...
over the film's profits. Dreyfuss has claimed that Disney refused to hire his chosen auditor, Robinson and Co. Christine Turner Wagner, widow of '' Turner & Hooch'' (1989) producer Raymond Wagner, was also involved with the lawsuit.


Reception


Box office

''What About Bob?'' was released in the United States and Canada on May 17, 1991. During its opening weekend it grossed a total of $9.2million from 1,463 theaters—an average of $6,299 per theater—making it the highest grossing film of the weekend, ahead of '' F/X2'' ($3.9million) and '' Madonna: Truth or Dare'' ($3.4million), both in their second weekend. In its second weekend—taking place over the extended 4-day
Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It i ...
holiday—''What About Bob?'' fell to the number2 position with an $11.2million gross, placing it behind ''
Backdraft A backdraft (North American English), backdraught (British English) or smoke explosion is the abrupt combustion, burning of superheated gases in a fire caused when oxygen rapidly enters a hot, oxygen-depleted environment; for example, when a windo ...
'' ($15.7million) and ahead of ''
Hudson Hawk ''Hudson Hawk'' is a 1991 American action comedy film directed by Michael Lehmann. Bruce Willis stars in the title role and also co-wrote the story. Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, David Caruso, Lorraine Toussaint, Frank Stallo ...
'' ($7.1million), both films making their debut. ''What About Bob?'' fell to the number3 position in its third weekend with a $6.4million gross, behind the debut of ''
Soapdish ''Soapdish'' is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Michael Hoffman (American director), Michael Hoffman, from a screenplay by Robert Harling (writer), Robert Harling and Andrew Bergman. The film was produced by Aaron Spelling and Alan Greis ...
'' ($6.7million) and ahead of ''
Thelma & Louise ''Thelma & Louise'' is a 1991 American crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri. The film stars Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as Louise and Thelma, two friends who embark on a road trip that ends up in unforese ...
'' ($4.2million), in its second weekend. ''What About Bob?'' remained in the top-ten highest-grossing films for seven weeks. In total, ''What About Bob?'' grossed $63.7million compared to its $39million budget, making it the 15th highest-grossing film of 1991. This also made it Buena Vista's second highest-grossing live action film of the year behind '' Father of the Bride''.


Critical response

Review aggregation website
Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
gives ''What About Bob?'' an 82% approval rating based on reviews from 44 critics and an average rating of 6.50/10. The site's consensus reads: "Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss' chemistry helps make the most of a familiar yet durable premise, elevating ''What About Bob?'' into the upper ranks of '90s comedies". When the television program ''
Siskel and Ebert Gene Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) and Roger Ebert (June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013), collectively known as Siskel & Ebert, were an American film critic duo known for their partnership on television lasting from 1975 to Siske ...
'' reviewed the film,
Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert ( ; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American Film criticism, film critic, film historian, journalist, essayist, screenwriter and author. He wrote for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. Eber ...
gave the film a "thumbs up" rating praising the different performances of Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss onscreen together as well as most of the film's humor. He said it was Bill Murray's best film since ''
Ghostbusters ''Ghostbusters'' is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, three eccentric ...
'' in 1984.
Gene Siskel Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was an American film critic and journalist for the ''Chicago Tribune'' who co-hosted a movie review television series alongside colleague Roger Ebert. Siskel started writing for the '' ...
gave it a "thumbs down" rating and felt Murray gave a very funny and enjoyable performance in the film, but was rather upset by the Dreyfuss character and his angry and arrogant behaviors. He felt it would have been funnier if Dreyfuss had not given such an angry performance in the film and said that Dreyfuss ultimately ruined the film for him.
Leonard Maltin Leonard Michael Maltin (born December 18, 1950) is an American film critic, film historian, and author. He is known for his book of film capsule reviews, '' Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide'', published from 1969 to 2014. Maltin was the film criti ...
said it is "a very funny outing with Murray and Dreyfuss approaching the relationship of the road runner and the coyote". Maltin faulted the film only for its ending, which he found very abrupt and silly. Lou Cedrone from ''
The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local, regional, national, and international news. Founded in 1837, the newspaper was owned by Tribune Publi ...
'' criticized the film: "It is too predictable and deals with a situation that is more irritating than amusing".
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ranked it number 44 on their 2013 list of the "100 Funniest Movies", behind ''
Shampoo Shampoo () is a hair care product, typically in the form of a viscous liquid, that is formulated to be used for cleaning (scalp) hair. Less commonly, it is available in solid bar format. (" Dry shampoo" is a separate product.) Shampoo is use ...
'' and ''
Pee-wee's Big Adventure ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Tim Burton in his feature-film directing debut. The film stars Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, along with Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger and Judd O ...
''.
Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New Yor ...
named Bill Murray's role one the "15 Famous Movie Psychopaths".


References


External links

* * * {{Frank Oz 1991 black comedy films 1991 films American black comedy films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films English-language black comedy films Fiction about agoraphobia Films about codependency Films about dysfunctional families Films about obsessive–compulsive disorder Films about psychiatry Films about vacationing Films directed by Frank Oz Films produced by Laura Ziskin Films scored by Miles Goodman Films set in New Hampshire Films set in New York City Films set on lakes Films shot in Virginia Films with screenplays by Alvin Sargent Touchstone Pictures films