Movie: What About Bob?

rainbow8 · Jul 03, 2015, 08:45 AM

I recently watched the movie on YouTube for the first time. I thought it was great, but didn't think it was funny. I know it's a comedy, and I read the online reviews about how hilarious it is. Instead, I found myself thinking about all the issues it raised, such as boundaries, transference, relationships between client and T, and T competence. I wonder if anyone else had this reaction to What About Bob? I wonder if people in therapy react differently from those who are not. I thought it was a wonderful movie, and I know it's "just a movie", but maybe Bob struck too close to home for me. Idk.

unaluna · Jul 03, 2015, 08:51 AM

Hmm. Maybe thats why my brother "made" me watch it? He was all like, oh and after (holiday) dinner lets watch a movie he rented. Usually the family just watched tv. Too bad subtlety is usually lost on me

.

Jul 03, 2015, 08:59 AM

I liked it. Bob ended up being the "sane" one. LOL. Lots of truth right there.

nervous puppy · 09:16 AM

I saw the movie a long time ago, long before I ever started therapy. I thought it was funny. It did give me a somewhat "bad" idea or perception of professionals in that field.
I have often thought of that movie when thinking about my therapist(s). I snicker a little and think, well, I'm not like Bob, right??

It's Hollywood...it should be used for entertainment purposes only

Jul 03, 2015, 09:10 AM

Hilarious movie. I try not to take comedies seriously. Life's too short.

junkDNA · Jul 03, 2015, 11:02 AM

love that movie

feralkittymom · Jul 03, 2015, 11:05 AM

I think it's genius, largely due to Bill Murray, and one of few movies that at moments make me laugh to the point of not being able to breathe. I found the ending lame, but otherwise, hilarious.

justdesserts · Jul 03, 2015, 11:25 AM

I love the movie. My t compares himself to the Psychologist in the movie. I think it's hilarious. I saw it the first time in my ethics class for my licensing as a therapist. I think it brings up a ton of important issues.

Jul 03, 2015, 12:34 PM

When my husband finished school and got his therapist licensure I bought that movie for him and said look this is what you have to look forward to now

We love that movie. Even after seeing it many times it still makes us laugh

stopdog · Jul 03, 2015, 01:05 PM

I like Richard Dreyfus but am just so-so on Bill Murray. I disliked both characters in the movie.
I found the movie okay but not very funny or one I would watch more than once.

divine1966 · Jul 03, 2015, 01:17 PM

I watched it long ago. Don't remember much besides it was a comedy and there was a therapist and a client. I don't know anyone in real life obsessed with therapists so it didn't struck close to home. It was just a movie

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rainbow8 · Jul 03, 2015, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stopdog

I like Richard Dreyfus but am just so-so on Bill Murray. I disliked both characters in the movie.
I found the movie okay but not very funny or one I would watch more than once.

Stopdog, we finally agree on something! I didn't find the movie funny. In fact, it was sad to me that both characters were exaggerated stereotypes. I might watch it again and maybe I will laugh next time.

stopdog · Jul 03, 2015, 02:29 PM

If it helps, we don't find it funny for different reasons.

nottrustin · Jul 03, 2015, 02:49 PM

T recommended I watch it as she loves it. When she heard I had never seem it she was surprised and lent me her copy. It was funny but not as funny as most people thought

divine1966 · Jul 03, 2015, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolagrace

Hilarious movie. I try not to take comedies seriously. Life's too short.

Amen to that. Some people take life too seriously. It is too short so might as well chill and relax a bit

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precaryous · Jul 03, 2015, 04:42 PM

I like the movie..one thing I liked> when PrevT and I were talking about it she commented, "Richard Dreyfus was perfect as the tight...." She stopped herself...

Lol..I almost got to hear her slip and say, "tightas*"

Restin · Jul 03, 2015, 06:02 PM

When I was more ill and didn't know what was wrong with me, the movie scared me deeply. Then when I learned about transference, I felt so sorry for him (Bob) and also frightened of how the transference can irritate the therapist. Yet, Bob Murray is so funny the way he presented it. I loved the "Baby Steps" part.
Then, when I finally got a good therapist and feeling safe to work with my own transference, the movie wasn't so disturbing. It is an interesting movie in many ways, but I wish it didn't end up with T going berserk.

Jul 03, 2015, 07:20 PM

Whenever my husband or sister is running late and i am trying to get them to hurry up i tell them "baby steps on the bus, Bob...we have a baby schedule to keep!"

BonnieJean · Jul 03, 2015, 08:24 PM

I didn't find the movie at all funny or amusing but I tend to enjoy subtle humor.

Lauliza · Jul 03, 2015, 08:58 PM

One of my favorites, mostly because of Bill Murray. I think he is genius in the way he portrays Bob as so neurotic yet so lovable without overdoing it. I think a lot of people see themselves in Bob, and is one reason why the movie is so well liked. It's best to take lightly since both characters are caricatures.

stopdog · 09:57 PM

Really? People liked the Bill Murray character and identified with him?
I am serious - is that true? I never would have thought that and it boggles me.
Once more an alien. Not because I did not do it, but because I never imagined anyone doing it.

The thing I remember after thinking about it, is that Murray's character did the stupid things the therapist told him to do and that were in the therapist's book and because of his childlike literal following of the instructions and belief in them despite how ridiculous they were - it helped him = It would not have mattered what the therapist told him - it was all like holding dumbo's feather to fly. Which was the reason it was a comedy I thought.

Lauliza · 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stopdog

Really? People liked the Bill Murray character and identified with him?
I am serious - is that true? I never would have thought that and it boggles me.
Once more an alien. Not because I did not do it, but because I never imagined anyone doing it.

The thing I remember after thinking about it, is that Murray's character did the stupid things the therapist told him to do and because of his childlike literal following of the instructions and belief in them despite how ridiculous they were - it helped him = It would not have mattered what the therapist told him - it was all like holding dumbo's feather to fly. Which was the reason it was a comedy I thought.

Maybe that's too strong a statement to say a lot of people identified with Bob in the movie. But I think people in therapy who are very anxious might see small similarities in relation to transference and what it might feel like - even though most clients would never do what Bob does (at least not without having a restraining order filed against them). Bob also accepts his therapist's theories as truth even though there's nothing very very profound in anything he says (which I think is a jab at all the pop psychology books out there that so the same thing).

divine1966 · Jul 04, 2015, 12:22 PM

Well I sure hope no one actually seriously identifies with Bob. Do people take it that seriously? It's just a comedy not a deep one or any kind of masterpiece but sometimes mindless laugh is what we need. I laugh at deep subtle stuff and a dumb slapstick just as well. Heck there is very little I don't find funny in this world. I truly hope no one is as obsessed with their Ts as Bob!

The exaggeration of his obsession what makes it funny. If it was real it wouldn't be funny but deeply disturbing

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Tearinyourhand · Jul 04, 2015, 01:16 PM

Bob reminds me of many posters in this forum who oddly enough didn't find the film particularly amusing. when I find myself irritated with postings made by certain forum members I think of Bob and I can just shrug it off.

divine1966 · Jul 04, 2015, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tearinyourhand

Bob reminds me of many posters in this forum who oddly enough didn't find the film particularly amusing. when I find myself irritated with postings made by certain forum members I think of Bob and I can just shrug it off.

Lol

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Movie: What About Bob?

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