Why It Ranks
What About Bob? is the definitive Murray-as-annoying-genius performance. The Murray-Dreyfuss feud produced real on-screen tension. 'Baby steps' entered the therapeutic lexicon. The film is a masterclass in escalation comedy — every scene pushes Dreyfuss one step closer to madness.
The Film
What About Bob? is the most psychologically astute comedy ever made — a film about a neurotic patient who follows his psychiatrist on vacation and slowly drives him insane. Bill Murray's Bob Wiley is pathologically needy, and Richard Dreyfuss' Dr. Leo Marvin is pathologically controlling. The genius is that Bob is the healthier person. His neediness is honest; Leo's composure is a facade. Murray and Dreyfuss famously hated each other during filming, and that genuine antagonism makes every scene crackle.
Fun Facts
Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss genuinely did not get along — Dreyfuss has called the experience 'the worst of my career.'
The phrase 'baby steps' became so associated with therapy that actual therapists have reported patients using it unironically.
Murray improvised the scene where Bob ties himself to the mast of the sailboat — the crew was not prepared for the stunt.
Frank Oz directed without intervening in the Murray-Dreyfuss tension, believing the genuine irritation improved the performances.
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