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Director: Frank Oz
Writers: Alvin Sargent (story), Laura Ziskin (story),
Stars: Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty,Tom Aldredge
Transcript of What About Bob? AP Psychology
By: Ann Clark, Jeff Riddle, Jonathan Park, Thomas Gingell, Logan Federico, Ahmed
Youssef Why Bob? What About Bob caught our eye as comedy among a sea of
dramas and tragedies. We initially thought about The Sixth Sense, but like his
character, Bob kept nagging us to choose him and see whats inside. We had no option
but to oblige and thus watched the movie. Turns out we were quite happy with our
decision. Film Summary In the film, Bill Murray plays a man named Bob with many
disorders. He gets a new psychiatrist named Dr. Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss). When
Dr. Marvin goes on vacation, Bob follows him, requesting help. Dr. Marvin's family
adores him upon first arrival. Bob learns many things and makes new friends with the
family. When Good Morning America comes to interview Dr. Marvin, both the family
and crew insist upon Bob joining the interview. Dr. Marvin hates it, but indirectly
gives him the help he needs. This culminates in Bob being cured via "Death Therapy"
by Dr. Marvin where an attempt is made on Bob's life. That turns out poorly, for the
film closes with a role reversal of Bob and Dr. Marvin with Bob pursuing a degree in
psychology and Dr. Marvin becoming a patient. Relation To Psychology Analysis of
Film Accuracy Close-ish Conclusion In summary, the movie does not properly
represent the disorders that were intended; however, the movie was created to be a
comedy and provide a good laugh to the audience. After referring to the DSM,
virtually all the main characters showed some medical disorder but the symptoms
were blown out of distortion. Thus making it seem that the characters showing these
symptoms were unable to live satisfactory lives. Although these characters would
have difficulty living ordinary lives with these disorders, the film producers pushed it
over the top. With that in mind, the movie was intended to be a comedy and provided
our group with a good laugh and an evening of entertainment. Bib American
Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.

Print.
Bellenir, Karen. Mental Health Information for Teens: Health Tips about
Mental Wellness and Mental Illness. 2nd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2006. Print.
Metcalf, Tom, and Gina Metcalf.Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders:
Phobias. 1st ed. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven, 2009. Print.
Youtube... ? Accurate Bob spends years in Psychotherapy
o Phobias can be easily treated
o His therapist did not try using desensitization or any other techniques
Bob seems to be afraid of everything
o Most phobias are specific Bob always offers to leave his therapists house, but
never follows through
o People with Dependent Personality Disorder focus on the needs of those they
depend on to supersede their own needs
Bob wont leave his therapists vacation house, but is sad when his therapist is upset
o People with Dependent Personality Disorder are afraid of offending people they
need
Bob is afraid to leave his house or get on a bus, but is confident in his decision
o People with Dependent Personality Disorder lack much self-confidence P.S.: You
may get dizzy during presentation, but it is normal and not due to a disorder- even we
got a bit dazed making this In this movie, Bob is a patient of Dr. Marvin, a
psychiatrist, who becomes so attached to him that he follows Dr. Marvin on his family
vacation. Bob most clearly has a case of Dependent Personality Disorder, making it a
perfect choice for this assignment.
Bob has all of the following symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder.
Has difficulty making everyday decisions
oBob has trouble leaving his house to even go outside
Has difficulty expressing disagreement with others
oWhen Dr. Marvin disagrees with Bob and sends him outside, Bob never argues,
simply sits and waits by the door.
Has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his own
oBob participates in all the activities that Dr. Marvins family is doing, instead of
making his own plans for vacation
Goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others
oBob constantly tries to do things that Dr. Marvins family is doing to gain support,
such as learning to sail or learning to dive
Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone
oBob is always at Dr. Marvins house or with a member of Dr. Marvins family
Urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support
oWhen Bobs first therapist leaves him, he becomes extremely attached to Dr. Marvin
extremely quickly
Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself
oWhen Dr. Marvin is on vacation, Bob pretends he has committed suicide so that he
can find Dr. Marvins address and therefore not be on his own As Dr. Marvin spends
more and more time with Bob, his mental state also starts to atrophy. He ends up
showing symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder, brought on by the acute stress of
Bob in his life.
Dr. Marvin shows all of the following symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder.
Suspects that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him
oDr. Marvin is worried about Bob ruining his interview
Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends

or associates
oDr. Marvin begins to believe that his family is all on Bobs side, against him
Is reluctant to confide in others
oDr. Marvin begins plotting against Bob, without telling anyone else in his family
Reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events
oWhen Bob steps in on the interview with Dr. Marvin, everything he says is very
praiseworthy and sweet about Dr. Marvin. However, Dr. Marvin perceives this as Bob
ruining his interview.
Persistently bears grudges
oAfter Bob ruins the interview, Dr. Marvin holds such a grudge that he tries to kill
Bob
Perceives attacks on his character or reputation
oDr. Marvin constantly wants Bob out of the house, including wanting him to walk
home in the rain, because hes afraid that Bob will ruin his reputation on national
television
Is quick to react angrily or counterattack
oThroughout the entire movie, Dr. Marvin is constantly yelling at Bob to leave, get
out, or sending him away from his family. Bob also has various phobias that are
presented throughout the movie. For example, he is terrified of germs, so everywhere
he goes, he uses a tissue to touch things instead of his hands. This phobia is so
extreme that he spends hours pacing back and forth before finally taking the courage
to step onto a bus. The only reason he agrees to get on the bus in the first place is
because of his Dependent Personality Disorder. Fail (not accurate) Kind of Close Dr.
Marvin has a wife and a loving family
o People with Paranoid Personality Disorder have trouble making close relationships
because they wont confide in others
Dr. Marvin is somewhat patient for Bob to leave when he makes concessions for his
family
o People with Paranoid Personality Disorder are quick to react angrily or
counterattack without waiting
Dr. Marvin never betrays the Doctor/Patient Confidentiality between Bob and
himself
o People with Paranoid Personality Disorder justify exploiting others in order to
uncover their motives Bob believes that Dr. Marvin is more capable to do anything
than he is
Bob is insecure about taking care of himself
Bob has been in therapy for years
o Treatment for Personality Disorders take a long time
Dr. Marvin is extremely sensitive to criticism, failure, and defeat
Dr. Marvin is convinced that everyone is out to get him
o In the end, Dr. Marvin begins plotting against Bob

What About Bob?

Movies that have characters with Psychological disorders are either of the
comedic, or the horrifying in genre. Some movies do a better job than
others at depicting the negative aspects of the disorders and putting them
in a comedic light at the same time. The movie What About Bob?, Directed
Frank Oz, shows a plethora of psychological disorders in a comedic light.

From Agoraphobia, or the fear of open spaces, to Paranoid Personality

Disorder, which causes people to suffer paranoia, which is a relentless
mistrust and suspicion of anybody other than themselves, usually when
there is no reason to fear, or be suspicious of anybody at all. Most of the
characters in the movie express at least one major psychological disorder,
and some even express two or more.
The movie What About Bob? Is about a successful psychiatrist (Richard
Dreyfuss)
who goes on vacation for a month for an interview on national television
for his book. He is expecting a peaceful, worry free vacation with his wife
and kids until his newest patient Bob (Bill Murray), who suffers from severe
OCD, multiple phobias, and dependent personality disorder, tries to get
into contact with Dr. Marvin several times over the phone, and then finally
goes to Marvin's vacation house, disturbing the doctor's peace. The doctor
tries to get rid of him over and over again, but is unsuccessful, and
becomes the antagonist of the movie. He becomes so obsessed with trying
to get rid of Bob that he starts to lose both his mind, and his family, who
find Bob to be a great person, though a bit weird. The rest of the movie
continues with Dr. Marvin trying to get Bob to go home and be successful
in his interview to gain world wide fame. The movie ends with Bob being
successfully cured of all of his phobias, and Dr. Marvin going into shock
after he indirectly blows up his vacation house while trying to kill Bob.
In the movie most of the main characters have a major Psychological
disorder, and other secondary ones. Though the movie centers around Bob
Wiley, each and every one of the characters' disorders are shown. Bob's
major disorder is his dependent personality disorder. The disorder is the
disorder where a long-term (chronic) condition in which people depend
too much on others to meet their emotional and physical
needs(Dependent personality disorder- PubMed Health). Bob is
dependent on Dr. Marvin, he tries to desperately call him after only about
a day after Dr. Marvin goes on vacation, and then fakes his own suicide to
find out where the doctor was. Dr. Marvin's disorder in the movie is
Paranoid Personality Disorder. People with this disorder have a relentless
mistrust of anybody other than themselves, usually when there is no
reason to fear, or be suspicious of anybody at all. Even though this
disorder is not a full-blown psychological disorder(Paranoid Personality
Disorder- PubMed Health), it becomes worse when, in Dr. Marvin's case,
you have an acute stress reaction, which is when one is stressed even by
the tiniest thing. Dr. Marvin's son, Sigmund Marvin, has Avoidant
Personality Disorder. The disorder is a mental health condition in which a
person has a lifelong pattern of feeling very shy, inadequate, and sensitive
to rejection(Avoidant Personality Disorder- PubMed Health). This is shown
when he fails to dive off of their deck into the lake below, and his father's
disapproval. The disapproval he feels from his father makes him both mad
and sad, he feel as if his father will love him only if he dives into the water.
The movie does a good job depicting the Dependent Personality Disorder.
However out of the eight major symptoms the one that was not shown
was the avoiding of personal responsibility, however that does not mean
that Bob did not have that problem, it just simply was not shown.
However, the movie is spot on in showing all of the symptoms of paranoid
personality disorder, including concern that other people have hidden
motives, the expectation that they will be exploited by others, the inability
to work with others, social isolation, detachment, and of course
hostility(Paranoid Personality Disorder- PubMed Health). In representing

Avoidant Personality Disorder on the other hand, the movie only hit two of
the seven major symptoms, these include being easily hurt when people
criticize or disapprove of them, and making potential difficulties seem
worse than they are(Avoidant Personality Disorder- PubMed Health).
However an argument can be made for the symptom of holding back in a
relationship because Sigmund was only about ten, so naturally he was not
in any type of intimate relationship.
Though the movie had some flaws in the representation of some of the
major disorders shown, it is one of the closest in representing the
disorders in a comedic light. Given the plot and setting, and some of the
limitations of some of the characters it is acceptable to miss a few
symptoms here and there. But in the end did a successful job in showing
the severity of the disorders in a comic way.
Avoidant Personality Disorder- PubMed Health U.S. National Library of
Medicine, November 23, 2010. Web. February 22, 2012
Dependent personality disorder- PubMed Health U.S. National Library of
Medicine, November 23, 2010. Web. February 22, 2012
Paranoid Personality Disorder- PubMed Health U.S. National Library of
Medicine, November 14, 2010. Web. February 22, 2012

Bob Wiley is a good-natured man who suffers from multiple phobias. He feels good
about the results of an initial session with Dr. Leo Marvin, a New York psychiatrist
with a huge ego, but is immediately left on his own with a copy of Leos new book,
Baby Steps, when the doctor goes on vacation to Lake Winnipesaukee, New
Hampshire. Unable to cope, Bob follows Leo to his vacation home. Leo is annoyed
because he doesn't see patients on vacation. Seeing how desperate Bob is, Leo gives
Bob a prescription telling him to take a vacation from his problems. Bob seems to
have made a breakthrough, but the next morning shows up and says that he decided to
take a vacation both in spirit and in fact, and that he is a guest of the Guttmans, a
couple who own a coffee shop and hold a grudge against Leo because he purchased
the home they had been scrimping and saving for years to buy, and as such are more
than happy to have Bob as their guest and encourage him to be around Leo.
Bob suggests that they start a friendship, although Leo thinks being friends with a
patient is beneath him and attempts to avoid any further contact, but Bob gets along
fine with the rest of Leos family, who think Bob may have some foibles but is
otherwise a balanced, sociable man. Leos children Anna and Sigmund find that Bob
relates well to their problems, in contrast with their fathers clinical approach, while
Bob begins to gain an enjoyment of life from his association with them. Bob goes
sailing with Anna and helps Sigmund to dive into the lake, which Leo was unable to
help him with. Leo then angrily pushes Bob into the lake and Leos wife, Fae, insists
on inviting Bob to dinner to apologize, which Bob accepts (because he chalks up
Leo's slights against him as accidental). At dinner, Bob's comment on Baby Steps
causes Leo to choke, and Bob saves his life by repeatedly and violently landing his
full weight on the doctor's prostrated form. A thunderstorm then forces Bob to spend
the night. Leo wants Bob out of the house by 6:30. But the crew of Good Morning
America shows up early and suggest that having Bob on the show would publicize
Baby Steps. Leo stumbles during the interview while Bob is relaxed, speaking
glowingly of Leo and the book and steals the limelight.

Outraged, Leo throws a tantrum and then attempts to have Bob committed, but Bob is
soon released after befriending the staff of the institution and demonstrating his sanity
by telling psychology themed jokes. Forced to retrieve him, Leo then abandons Bob
in the middle of nowhere, but Bob quickly gets a ride back to Leos house while a
variety of mishaps delay Leo until nightfall. Leo is then surprised by the birthday
party that Fae has been secretly planning for him, and he is delighted to see his
beloved sister Lily. But when Bob appears and puts his arm around Lily, Leo becomes
completely enraged and attacks him. Bob remains oblivious to Leos hostility, and Fae
explains that Leo has been acting unacceptably as a result of an inexplicable grudge
against Bob, and Bob agrees to leave. Meanwhile, Leo breaks into the town's general
store, stealing a shotgun and 20 pounds of explosives. Bob becomes terrified while
walking through the dark woods and is easily kidnapped at gunpoint by Leo, who
straps the explosives to Bob and ties him up, calling it "death therapy." Believing the
explosives to be props used as a metaphor for his problems, Bob applies Leos "Baby
Steps" approach and manages to free himself both of his physical restraints and his
fears; he reunites with Leo and his family, praising Leo for curing him with "death
therapy". A frantic Leo asks Bob where he put the black powder, to which Bob replies
"in the house" just before the Marvins' vacation home detonates. This leaves Leo in a
catatonic state.
Some time later, Leo is brought to Lily and Bobs wedding. Upon their
pronouncement as husband and wife, Leo regains his senses and screams, "No!" but
the sentiment is lost in the familys excitement at his recovery. Text at the end reveals
that Bob went back to school and became a psychologist, then wrote a best selling
novel titled 'Death Therapy'. Leo is suing him for the rights.

Cast
Bill Murray as Bob Wiley
Richard Dreyfuss as Dr. Leo Marvin
Julie Hagerty as Fae Marvin
Charlie Korsmo as Siggy Marvin
Kathryn Erbe as Anna Marvin
Tom Aldredge as Mr. Guttman
Susan Willis as Mrs. Guttman
Roger Bowen as Phil
Fran Brill as Lily Marvin
Brian Reddy as Carswell Fensterwald, M.D.
Doris Belack as Dr. Catherine Tomsky
Melinda Mullins as Marie Grady, Good Morning America Interviewer
Marcella Lowery as Betty, Switchboard Operator
Margot Welch as Gwen, Switchboard Operator
Barbara Andres as Claire, Dr. Marvin's Secretary
Aida Turturro as Prostitute
Stuart Rudin as Crazy Man in New York Street
Cortez Nance Jr. as Lobby Doorman
Lori Tan Chinn as Bus Driver
Dennis Scott as Motorcycle Cop (as Dennis R. Scott)
Charles Thomas Baxter as Nursing Home Guard
Donald J. Lee Jr. as Nursing Home Attendant
Reg E. Cathey as Howie, Good Morning America Director
Tom Stechschulte as Lennie, Good Morning America Producer

Russell Bobbitt as Good Morning America Crew Member

Richard Fancy as Minister
Joan Lunden as Herself
April Cantor - (uncredited)
Directed by
Frank Oz
Written by
Tom Schulman
Story by
Alvin Sargent, Laura Ziskin
Starring
Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss
Music by
Miles Goodman
Release dates
May 17, 1991
Running time
98 minutes
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.
It might be a little simplistic to call this "Bill Murray's Movie",because in
truth,this film works just as well because it has a fantastic support from
Richard Dreyfuss,Julie Haggerty,Charlie Korsmo,KAthryn Erbe and director
Frank Oz. Still,you cannot watch this film without feeling like Murray's
complete abandon in this film is what gives this film its pep,spark and life.
This might be one of the more energized performances of his long and
well-padded career.
Dr.Leo Marvin(Dreyfuss,who has settled into being the 'Uptight fuddydudd' roles from here,as opposed to the more restive,youthful roles of past
movies like "Jaws" and "Goodbye Girl")seems to have it all. Loving
wife,healthy,normal kids and a career that is on the verge of taking off:a
comfortable private practice in New York and a self-help book about to be
published nationwide. At the last minute,he accepts another colleague's
patient(for whom he does not wonder as to why his peer is so breathlessly
trying to pass this patient off to him):one Bob Wiley(Murray). Bob doesn't
have anything wrong with him;he has MANY things wrong with him.
Multiphobic,clingy and more than a little under-developed in his sense of
emotional attachment,Bob misreads the good doctor's brush off(As the
doctor gets ready for a Labor Day getaway with his famille)as being a
cure-all,and is immediately smitten with the doctor's
methods,approach,diagnosis and treatment. He decides he's going to
insinuate himself into Dr.Marvin's life(in somewhat of a mixture of
gratitude and need),and follows him to the rural,New England lakeside
vacation where the Marvins are staying.

Alvin Sargent and Laura Ziskin's story and script make the actors' moves
and lines so easy you'd almost think there were elements of improvisation.
But Murray and Dreyfuss are(and not to belabor a point here but...)the key
here. Murray's socially oblivious and free sense of bonding clashes
DRAMATICALLY with the button-down professionalism of Dreyfuss'
doctor,and as Muray thinks himself "Better",Dreyfuss' shrink seems to be
getting worse,confounded by his unwanted patient's persistence and
loyalty. While the unabashed enthusiasm of Murray's character might drive
away some viewers who might see this as "annoying" or "too much",
Murray fans and,I think,fans of sort of odd,non-formula comedies will
DEFINITELY appreciate the whole story and rhythm of this film. Perhaps it's
a bit too early to state this(though this film,which I first caught in the
theaters in first release sixteen years ago,has had more than a decade to
simmer in the memories of moviegoers),I feel this is something of a
modern comedy classic. I've seen this film no less than three times and,to
chime in with an IMDb message board poster,this IS a truly re-watchable
movie.
Bob and Leo are the SAME PERSON !
The fifth time I watched this movie, I finally noticed something. When Leo
is standing in front of the fireplace, asking his family for their opinion on
his staging for his upcoming TV interview, his daughter Anna says
something that should have hit me over the head like a falling anvil the
first time I saw it. After saying she prefers the gun because its a sign of
virility, she says she has to get going because she is going sailing on her
friend George Stark's boat. So, here goes 1) George Stark is a charachter in a Stephen King story about a writer
who's pseudonym or pen name is George Stark. One day, his pen name
comes to life as the evil side of the writer, and has to kill the writer so that
he can live. So, at first, I thought that this line was just a clever allusion to
the fact that both Bob and Leo are battling their own psyche. But then I
thought it might be deeper than that, and maybe Bob and Leo represent
the two sides to one man, both battling for control. Now, I guess I mean
this figuratively, and not literally, as other charachters in the movie see
and interact with Bob independently, but the clues are compelling, if you'll
indulge me and read further...
2) In the aforementioned scene, when Leo is trying to decide how to stage
his interview in front of the fireplace, he offers two choices - one with a
gun on the wall, and one with a bust of Freud on the mantle - Duality :
hunter vs. intellectual
3) Leo is on vacation - Bob catches up and is on vacation too - they are
inseperable
4) Leo is trying to help Siggy learn to dive by holding on to his shirt and
letting him hand over the edge of the dock - he is supplanted by Bob - and
when Leo comes running out onto the dock, he pushes Bob off - they
cannot occupy the same space at the same time
5) At the dinner table, Bob and Leo want the same (their) piece of chicken
- Leo asks to be called Dr. Marvin here and Leo in his office (duality)-NOTE:

when Leo says this, there is a beautiful camera shot of him where his face
is half in and half out of the light (The title of that Stephen King story is
The Dark Half) - eventually, Leo almost chokes to death, but Bob saves his
life - symbolizing that if Leo dies, Bob would die
6) Leo can't find his toothbrush - Bob is using his (their) toothbrush
7) Bob spends the night, sleeping in Leo's (their) pajamas
8) Leo cannot wake Bob up in the morning, nor make Bob go away - he has
no control over this side of his psyche
9)When Leo comes home to his surprise party, his face is now totaly in the
dark, and he is looking through the glass at the others (symbolic of his
seperation from reality and/or friends and family) and when he sees his
sister and is elated (shouting LILY!) his fun side Bob springs back into the
picture putting his arm around his (their) sister
10) Leo leaves Bob tied up in the forest with the explosives around his
neck, but finds Bob (himself) back at the house (because they are
inseperable as the same person) and when he asks Bob what he did with
the explosives, Bob says that he (Bob/Leo) left them in the house. Leo may
have destroyed the house as a last desparate attempt to destroy this fun,
vacationing side of himself that he cannot reconcile with his professional
side.
Anyways, I wouldn't mind hearing what you think about it, even if you
wanna tell me its a pile of rubbish. It won't matter, the movie is still
hilarious. I find it funnier everytime I watch it.
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