Review of What About Bob? (1991) by Mike S — 19 Apr 2011
I suspect this movie was funnier 20 years ago when it was released. It's now politically incorrect to mock the mentally ill, and the disdain that Richard Dreyfuss's psychiatrist character, Dr. Leo Marvin, has for his new patient Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) seems more cruel than funny.
Still, the performances are sharp and there's some real chemistry between Murray and Dreyfuss as one becomes more sane and the other less, as if there were a limited about of sanity to go around. I love Dreyfuss's cackle as Dr.
Marvin plots how to get the intrusive Bob out of his life. The climax and ending are a bit over the top and abrupt as well. Still an enjoyable film, but you have to be aware of the cultural context when it was made.
This review of What About Bob? (1991) was written by Mike S on 19 Apr 2011.
What About Bob? has generally received positive reviews.
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