What About Bob?

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

The concept itself is so strong - particularly as a revenge fantasy for anyone who's ever resented hypocritical exploitative shrinks - that it winds up working pretty well anyway.

Variety Staff (Not Credited)

Bill Murray finds a real showcase for his oft-shackled talent in this manic comedy.

Washington Post Desson Howe

Bob rests entirely on Murray's shoulders. But he more than takes the weight.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss star in this hilarious brain-teaser about a patient who suffers acute separation anxiety when his psychiatrist goes on vacation.

Time Richard Schickel

Murray, with his curious blend of pathos and aggressiveness, is terrific, and so is an acutely uptight Dreyfuss, never once copping a plea for our sympathy.

TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)

Actors Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss provide the frenzied fun that highlights What About Bob? a wacky slapstick comedy.

Austin Chronicle Steve Davis

What About Bob? is a one-joke movie, but what a funny joke!

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

What About Bob? is just funny enough to make you wish it had been wilder and less predictable.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Bill Murray's manic performance is the main selling point of this mildly amusing farce about a psychiatrist with a patient who literally drives him crazy

Empire Jo Berry

What makes the film work is the double act between the two actors, and some great one-liners that pepper the script and cover up the fact there isn’t a great deal of originality in the plot.

The New York Times Janet Maslin

What About Bob? does work as comedy for a while, thanks to the fortuitous teaming of Mr. Dreyfuss and Mr. Murray.

Baltimore Sun Stephen Hunter

Murray is very funny in the early going when his irritation-shtick is allowed full play; when he turns doughily benign in the late going, he's much less interesting. [17 May 1991]

Chicago Tribune Clifford Terry

A broadly played, by-the-numbers comedy that pits your consummate classic nut case against your quintessential screwed-up shrink. [17 May 1991]

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

But there's still Murray, who drives the idea further than it has any right to go. He energizes the loony schtick of the opening scenes. [17 May 1991]

USA Today Mike Clark

A sentimental comedy about mental illness (complete with a sitcom family), wobbly Bob offers further evidence that Disney itself may be afflicted with encroaching schizophrenia. [17 May 1991]

Portland Oregonian Ted Mahar

It recalls a kind of French farce that assumes its audiences want to see the rich suffer. [18 May 1991]

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

It's a bomb - not the usual bomb, but a time bomb, despite a 20-minute stretch at the beginning that goes along nicely. [17 May 1991]