Que se Passa com Bob? (1991)

A successful psychotherapist loses his mind after one of his most dependent patients, an obsessive-compulsive neurotic, tracks him down during his family vacation.

Director:

Frank Oz

Writers:

Alvin Sargent (story), Laura Ziskin (story)

Stars:

Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Murray	...	Bob Wiley
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Dr. Leo Marvin
Julie Hagerty	...	Fay Marvin
Charlie Korsmo	...	Siggy Marvin
Kathryn Erbe	...	Anna Marvin
Tom Aldredge	...	Mr. Guttman
Susan Willis	...	Mrs. Guttman
Roger Bowen	...	Phil
Fran Brill	...	Lily
Brian Reddy	...	Carswell Fensterwald
Doris Belack	...	Dr. Tomsky
Melinda Mullins	...	Marie Grady
Marcella Lowery	...	Betty / Switchboard Operator
Margot Welch	...	Gwen / Switchboard Operator
Barbara Andres	...	Claire / Dr. Marvin's Secretary

Storyline

Doctor Leo Marvin, an egotistical psychotherapist in New York City, is looking forward to his forthcoming 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 Bob is pawned off on Leo by a psychotherapist colleague, Bob becomes attached to Leo. Leo finds Bob extremely annoying. When Leo accompanies his wife Fay, his daughter Anna, and his son Siggy to a peaceful New Hampshire lakeside cottage for a month-long vacation, Leo 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 his wife and raising his kids. But Bob isn't going to let Leo enjoy a quiet summer by the lake. By ...

---

Plot Keywords:

obsessive compulsive disorder | vacation | patient | psychotherapist | neurotic | 

---

Taglines:

Bob's a special kind of friend. The kind that drives you crazy!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

M/12

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ranked at #43 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies" list.

---

Goofs

After Dr. Marvin throws Bob out of the car, he drives away. The boom is reflected in the windshield.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Bob Wiley: I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful... I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful... I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful...

---

Alternate Versions

The television version has replaced footage of several scenes wherein Bob and Siggy exchange insults while faking Tourette's Syndrome. In the replaced footage, they are faking "Buddy's Disease," and the insults are significantly toned down. The television version also removed all direct references to "Good Morning America" in dialogue, referring to it as a "television crew," despite retaining the "Good Morning America" insignia on the vehicles and the show's theme.

---

Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince/(500) Days of Summer/Homecoming (2009)

---

Soundtracks

Good Morning America Theme
from "Good Morning America (1975)"
Written by Marvin Hamlisch and Richard Hazard
Courtesy of Capitol Cities ABC, Inc.

User Reviews

a riot

Why don't they make movies like this anymore as a norm? Today's comedy is so low-brow and vulgar, in my opinion. "Date Night" was a film that seemed like a throwback. "What About Bob" was made in 1991, and it's super-funny.

Bill Murray plays a completely neurotic, dysfunctional personality who appears to have driven his first psychiatrist out of the business. In the opening frames, we see the doctor frantically packing as he calls psychiatrist Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), whose book, Baby Steps, has just come out to excellent reviews. Leo's at the top of the world. He won't be for long.

The former doc has passed on a patient, Bob Wiley (Bill Murray), to Dr. Marvin. Dr. Marvin patiently listens to Bill and all his many, many problems, finally stating that he can help Bill, but he's going on vacation with his family and will see Bob upon his return. That's what he thinks.

Bob manages to find out where the good doctor and his family are staying, at a lake, and, after several days of trying to board the bus to the location, manages to swallow his fears and get on. Dr. Marvin is shocked and a little disturbed to see him, especially because he's due to appear on Good Morning, America and has been practicing what he will say and doesn't want any problems.

Unfortunately, Bob is embraced by Leo's wife and children (Julie Hagerty, Charlie Korsmo, and Kathryn Erbe), who are nuts about him. Bob even manages to charm the crew of Good Morning America and gets to be on the show with Dr. Marvin, who is thrilled - not. Dr. Marvin himself becomes increasingly dysfunctional as time goes on and Bob just won't go away.

Absolutely hilarious comedy, made all the better by the fact that everyone plays it totally straight, not going for laughs. Normally I am not a huge fan of Richard Dreyfuss, but he is perfectly cast as Leo Marvin. Bill Murray is wonderful as a likable, manipulative, obsessive-compulsive, dependent neurotic who just won't take 'no' for an answer.

Lots of laughs, including Murray's opening scene, Dreyfuss trying to convince himself that Bob can leave because the rain is "letting up" while it's a monsoon, and many other scenes. If you want to laugh, don't miss this.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1992 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Que se Passa com Bob?

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,216,334, 19 May 1991

Gross USA:

$63,707,829

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$63,707,829

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1