1991.159 Minutes. Rated PG
Quote: Leo, I see salt and pepper… is there a salt substitute?
Bill Murray moves right up the list of my favorite comedians more and more every year. The guy just knows his business. Constantly he can just say and do whatever the role requires. This will not be the last Bill Murray film to make its way onto The Big Brown Chair. Also my favorite Richard Dreyfuss film not named Jaws ever. These guys work so well together, it’s a wonder they didn’t do a couple more movies with one another.
WHAT ABOUT BOB? – Touchstone Pictures
Murray plays Bob Wiley, a super manipulative patient with a raging obsessive compulsive disorder. The film begins with Bob’s previous physician referring him over to his old pal Leo Marvin (Dreyfuss) as he has decided to close up his practice (muahahaha). Leo is enjoying some recent success on a new book and about to head to Lake Winnipesaukee, NH for a vacation with his family. Little does he know, his new patient is a special kind of guy. The special kind of guy who won’t be waiting a month to get treatment from his new doctor.
The portrayal of this Bob Wiley is legendary and it was an instant classic. Murray is one of only a handful of comedians to ever be equally as funny through the words he is speaking, as what he is doing with his body or the look on his face. In the industry they call that “Physical Comedy.” Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Jerry Lewis and The Marx Brothers are all other great comedians who rocked that style of physical comedy. Bill Murray is just different though. Nobody does it like him.
When I think about Bill Murray, a flood of movies comes into my brain. I usually have to catalog his roles into one of three categories that I like to call… “The Three Bills”
First, there’s old “making his way in the world” Bill Murray (Saturday Night Live, Caddy Shack, Stripes). Second, there’s more established “its the 1990s and standards are low” Bill Murray (Groundhog Day, What About Bob, Kingpin). Then lastly, there’s “I’m a rock star and can get away with anything” Bill Murray (The Royal Tenenbaums, Lost In Translation, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou). I like all of The Three Bills, but am most partial to the later part of his career.
What About Bob is my favorite of the 1990s Bill Murray films. I could watch that dinner table scene every day for a month and never be able to stop myself from laughing.
THE LIST: Oh,The Transitions…
- Bob is getting less crazy
At the beginning of the movie Bob is helpless, totally neurotic, afraid of everything and unable to cope with any of the tiniest day to day struggles. Dude is legit, face down, crawling on the sidewalks in New York City. Just a mess. Once he meets Leo, everything starts (very slowly) to change. Even just finding the courage to endure the bus ride to New Hampshire seems like a huge victory for him, in and of itself. He jumps off the bus and the other passengers start laughing and yelling and clapping because he’s gone, and I start spitting beer onto the floor joking with laugher. Too much? Once around the family he’s more and more involved with Leo and seems to have less issues while also showing more confidence. By the end, he is suggesting prescriptions to a Doctor to prescribe to a patient.
- Leo is getting more crazy
At the beginning, of the movie Leo is on top of the world. Very successful, very sure of himself and able to take a month long vacation with little to no worry about his patients or his practice. Dude is legit preparing from a visit in his home from Good Morning America. Just great. Once he meets Bob, everything starts (very quickly) to change. Even just having this new patient present in the town seems like a major intrusion and disturbance in his life. Once Bob is around his family and in his home Leo seems to have more and more issues while becoming rapidly neurotic and insecure. By the end, he is damn near committed and doped up on pills.
- The more Leo hates Bob… the more everyone else likes him.
Leo begins treating Bob like a patient and shows a genuine interest in treating him. As the film progresses his patience becomes shorter and shorter. All the while everyone in his life begins to LOVE Bob. His family certainly, but even people from the town (some of whom hate Leo), the staff of a local psychiatric ward, and the staff from Good Morning America. (end of THE LIST)
A scene that just gets me every time is Bob and Leo’s son acting nine years old at a sleepover. Keep an eye out for The Gutmans and a particularly awesome line uttered out of a car window to Leo. A great film overall director by Yoda himself Frank Oz. He of course earned his fame with the Muppets mostly, but directed a few other great comedies along the way like Bowfinger and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
This is just skimming the surface on my love for this man, he’s just the best. Actually screw it. I’m going to write a Spotlight on Bill, that’s all there is too it. Hmm… gonna need to get some Muppets on here STAT too.
