What About Bob? (1991) is a comedy film directed by Frank Oz and starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. The film is about Dr. Leo Marvin, a successful psychotherapist, who is found by his obsessive-compulsive patient Bob Wiley while on vacation and subsequently loses his sanity. Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) becomes very attached to Leo (Richard Dreyfuss) after a therapy session and follows him on a month-long vacation with Leo's family. Bob's witty personality and good sense of humor are annoying to Leo, but amusing to Leo's wife Faye, daughter Anna and son Siggy. The film humorously depicts Leo's efforts to get rid of Bob and his gradual descent into madness in the process. The movie is 1 hour and 39 minutes long.

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Plot

What About Bob? is the story of Dr. Leo Marvin, a successful psychotherapist who is found by his obsessive-compulsive patient Bob Wiley while on vacation and subsequently loses his sanity. While Dr. Leo Marvin is waiting to appear on a television show to promote his new book "Baby Steps", his new patient, Bob Wiley, becomes extremely attached to him. When Leo goes on vacation with his family in New Hampshire, he thinks he has gotten rid of Bob, but Bob learns his location and takes the bus there despite his phobia.

Leo's vacation ends with Bob's arrival. Bob's witty personality and manipulative nature are frustrating for Leo, but Leo's wife Faye, daughter Anna and son Siggy find him amusing. Afraid of losing his family because of Bob, Leo tries to send Bob back to New York, but it is not easy. Leo resorts to illegal means to keep Bob away from his family and slowly begins to go mad, plotting to kill him.

Bob helps Siggy overcome her diving phobia and overshadows Leo's TV interview. Leo's attempt to send Bob to a mental institution also fails as Bob befriends everyone there. The situation worsens and Leo explodes in anger at his wife's surprise birthday party. Leo tries to detonate Bob by tying him up and wrapping gunpowder around his neck, but Bob escapes using the technique from Leo's book and returns to Leo's house to celebrate his birthday. Bob leaves the gunpowder at home, causing the house to explode. Leo is paralyzed with rage and is committed to a mental hospital. He returns in mental pain and anguish after Bob marries his sister Lily. Bob later publishes a best-selling book called “Death Therapy” and Leo sues him for the rights to the book.

Theme

The main theme of the movie is the loss of sanity of a successful psychotherapist who is disturbed in both his personal and professional life by an obsessive-compulsive patient who is extremely dependent on him. The film humorously explores the blurring of boundaries between doctor and patient and the chaos that ensues when the patient follows the doctor on vacation with his family and turns his life upside down. In addition, the theme of the movie is based on the character Bob's manipulative and annoying personality, which slowly drives the character Leo insane. The adoption of Bob's humorous personality by Leo's family makes Leo's efforts to get rid of Bob even more difficult, and this conflict and dynamic between the characters forms the theme throughout the film.

Cast and Characters

Bill Murray - Bob Wiley: An obsessive-compulsive patient who is afraid to leave his own home. He becomes extremely attached to his new psychotherapist Dr. Leo Marvin and follows him to his family's vacation. He has a humorous, manipulative but endearing personality.

Richard Dreyfuss - Dr. Leo Marvin: A successful, egotistical psychotherapist who likes to brag about his new book "Baby Steps". His sanity is shaken by Bob's arrival and he desperately searches for ways to get rid of Bob.

Julie Hagerty - Faye Marvin: She is the wife of Dr. Leo Marvin. While she finds Bob funny and pleasant, she finds it difficult to understand her husband's attitude towards Bob.

Charlie Korsmo - Siggy Marvin: He is the son of Dr. Leo Marvin. He has a phobia of diving and overcomes it with Bob's help. He likes Bob for his cuteness and sense of humor.

Kathryn Erbe - Anna Marvin: She is the daughter of Dr. Leo Marvin. She too sees Bob as a fun figure for her family.

Box Office

The film was made on an estimated budget of $39,000,000. The film grossed a total of $63,707,829 in the US and Canada. In its opening weekend (May 19, 1991), the film grossed $9,216,334 in the U.S. and Canada for a worldwide gross of $63,707,829.

Awards and Nominations

Awards

• BMI Film and TV Awards: In 1992, Miles Goodman received the BMI Film Music Award.
• Young Artist Awards: In 1992, he won the Young Artist Award in the category "Best Family Movie - Comedy".

Nominations

• MTV Movie + TV Awards: In 1992, Bill Murray was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for "Best Comedy Performance".
• Awards Circuit Community Awards: In 1991, Tom Schulman (screenplay), Alvin Sargent (story) and Laura Ziskin (story) were nominated for an ACCA for "Best Original Screenplay".