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What About Bob? streaming

1991 Movie United States Comedy 100 min Ages 8+
By: Frank Oz With: Bill Murray, Kathryn Erbe, Tom Aldredge, Charlie Korsmo, Richard Dreyfuss

Dr. Leo Marvin, an egotistical psychotherapist in New York City, is looking forward to his upcoming appearance on a "Good Morning America" telecast, during which he plans to brag about "Baby Steps," his new book about emotional disorder theories in which he details his philosophy of treating patients and their phobias. Meanwhile, Bob Wiley is a recluse who is so afraid to leave his own apartment that he has to talk himself out the door. When he is pawned off on Leo by a psychotherapist colleague, he becomes attached to him. Leo finds Bob extremely annoying. When Leo accompanies his wife, Faye, his daughter, Anna, and his son, Sigmund, to a peaceful New Hampshire lakeside cottage for a month-long vacation, he thinks he's been freed from Bob. Leo expects to mesmerize his family with his prowess as a brilliant husband and remarkable father who knows all there is to know about instructing Faye and raising Anna and Sigmund. But Bob isn't going to let him enjoy a quiet summer by the lake. By cleverly tricking the telephone operator at Leo's exchange, Bob discovers the whereabouts of him and his family. Despite his phobia about traveling alone, Bob somehow manages to talk himself onto a bus, and he arrives in New Hampshire. Leo's vacation comes to a screeching halt the moment he sees him. With his witty personality, his ability to manipulate people, and his good sense of humor, he quickly becomes an annoyance to Leo, but not to Faye, Anna, and Sigmund, because they think he is fun while Leo is dull. Fearing that he's losing his family to him, Leo frantically tries to find a way to make him go back to New York City, and it's not as easy as he had hoped. He finds himself stepping outside the law to try to get Bob to stay away from Faye, Anna, and Sigmund--he slowly goes berserk, and makes plans to kill Bob.

Filmium rating
70%

Mood

Absurd
Comedic
Light-Hearted
Lighthearted
Quirky

Cast & Crew

Frank Oz
Laura Ziskin
Tom Schulman
Alvin Sargent
Richard Dreyfuss
Susan Willis
Julie Hagerty
Bill Murray
Kathryn Erbe
Tom Aldredge
Charlie Korsmo

Budget

Mid-Budget

Cinematic Technique

City And Lake Settings
Close-Ups
Comedic Timing
Filmed In Virginia
Improvised Scenes
Situational Framing

Narrative Structure

Character-Focused
Episodic

Pace

Comedy Timing
Energetic
Episodic
Fast-Paced
Quick-Witted

Style

90S Comedy
Black Comedy
Brisk Pacing
Character-Driven
Linear Narrative
Live-Action

Time-Period

1990S

Central Conflict

Boundary Invasion
Mental Health Crisis
Patient Vs. Psychiatrist

Characters

Egotistical Psychiatrist
Family Members
Mentally Unstable Patient

Ending

Happy Ending
Marriage
Reconciliation

Historical Context

Early 1990S

Key Plot Points

Bob'S Therapy Progress
Explosive Finale
Lake Vacation Chaos

Plot

Comedic Chaos
Family Dynamics
Mental Health Comedy
Psychotherapy Satire
Quirky Patient-Doctor Relationship
Therapist-Patient Relationship

Setting

Lake Winnipesaukee
New Hampshire
New York City
Vacation Setting
Virginia Countryside

Shooting Location

New York City
Virginia

Theme

Boundary Crossing
Mental Health
Personal Growth
Relationships

Genre

Black Comedy
Buddy Comedy
Character Comedy
Comedy
Satire

Audiences

Adult Audience
Adults
Comedy Fans
Comedy Lovers
Family Viewers
Family-Friendly

Titles

A co Bob
Hur mår Bob?
Hvad med Bob?
Quoi de neuf, Bob ?
Was ist mit Bob?
What About Bob?
¿Qué pasa con Bob?

Box Office Success

$64 Million Gross

Critical Reception

Ebert Thumbs Up
Positive Critic Reviews
Rotten Tomatoes 82%

Popularity

90S Comedy
Cult Favorite

Ratings

82% Approval

Reception

Box Office Success
Critical Acclaim
Cult Comedy
Positive Reviews

Production Countries

United States

Release Year

1991
mowizz ID: 56ed72e0-962e-4877-9422-cfd071a7339b
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