| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A+ |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A+ |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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"He's not psychotic is he?"
by Blanche (movies profile)
May 27, 2009
3
of
3 people found this review helpful
Egomaniac psychatrist Dr. Marvin(Richard Dreyfuss) has reached the high point of his career:
He's successful, he's famous, and -as the movie opens- he's telling his wife about his upcoming interview by Good Morning America,all while rocking back and forth on an outrageously expensive swivel chair.
"Faye? Are we sitting down?"
Just then there's a call on the other line.
His receptionist informs him that a Dr. Fensterwald would like to speak to him.
Annoyed Dr. Marvin takes the call,remarking to Faye that "they sure come flocking...when you're famous."
Little does Marvin know that this call is going to change his life.
Fensterwald has apparently had a nervous breakdown, and is clearing out his desk having quit the business.
There's only one problem: Fensterwald has a patient to refer to Leo, and although Marvin doesn't seem too keen on accepting, his colleague argues that "he just needs someone brilliant.
"I know you hate flattery," says Fensterwald but if there's anybody who could win the nobel prize it's you."
"Well," Dr. Marvin concedes "I suppose I could squeeze him in an for hour after Labor Day."
Enter Bob Wiley (Bill Murray)who -without Marvin's knowledge- is at that moment arriving at his office.
A neurotic and deeply lonely man, he works at home, is terrified of diseases, and has a gold fish named Gil.
After a first session during which Bob sits on a little straight back chair in Marvin's office (apparently it did not occur to the doctor to provide comfortable seating for his patients, only for himself), he is given a copy of Baby Steps, Marvin's "ground-breaking" new book.
"This will give you a lot to think about
while I'm on vacation."
"Vacation?" Bob asks. And a moment later: "But what if I need you? What if I need to talk?"
Leo, not very sympathetic, says that his associate Dr.Weitzman would be happy to talk.
"And Bob...I'll be back."
But Bob, (who's just climbed 44 flights of stairs to get to Marvin's office, all because he's terrified of elevators) isn't about to settle for that.
After subsequently being snubbed by Marvin, (three times) over the phone, Bob fakes suicide, pretends to be a Detective, and gets his Doctor's address, at Lake Winnipesauke where the ladder is vacationing and obsessing about his interview:
"It's probably going to be a short interview anyway." he says to the store clerk "Just me and the family and...my book."
"Faye? What do you think? Rifle or Bust?" he says, posing in front of the fireplace in his house.
But all of that goes to hell, when Bob arrives, and wins over Marvin's whole family:
He brings flowers to Marvin's wife Faye. Goes sailing sailing with Anna (Marvin's daughter), and finally gets his son Siggy to go diving (something which Leo has been unsuccessful in achieving).
After pushing Bob into the water for this, Marvin turns his whole family against himself, while Bob gets invited to dinner.
The next morning, Marvin freezes up at his own TV show while Bob succeeds with flying colors, and gets complimented by people on the street none of whom even recognize Dr. Marvin
After that Marvin, becomes ruthless in his quest to get rid of him.
He has Bob committed,is euphoric for about an hour, then finds the ladder has won over the hospital's entire staff, and is being released.
Later (after firebombing his own birthday party because of Bob), Dr Marvin decides that the only solution is to wipe his patient of the face of the earth.
"Death Therapy Bob. It's a guaranteed cure..."
"But if you shoot me," Bob says "Then our therapy will be over."
"I'm not going to SHOOT you Bob! I don't think I could shoot anybody...I am going to BLOW you up."
Bob, oblivious to the Doctor's insanity is convinced this is all part of his therapy.
"You'll take care of Gil for me?" he asks, playing along.
"Sure! I fed him til he's good and fat, and then I'll eat him Bob!"
"You sure are convincing Doctor M."
Two minutes later, having lit the fuse that'll kill his patient,a deliriously happy Dr. Marvin is dancing around the board-walk yelling "FREE!"
with a flash-light in his hand.
What he doesn't realize is Bob is at that very moment saying the same thing, as he's undoing his restraints (now finally cured of all his problems).
Thanks to Dr. Marvin's "genius" he, Bob, is now free also: Free of all his fobias and obsessions.
To say thank you, Bob buys Marvin a big birthday cake, not realizing that the bombs he left in the house aren't actually fake.
When the house blows up, and Marvin winds up in a catatonic state, the whole family goes to visit him.
After they implore him to come back to them, his son remarks innocently:
"The house burned down. What else can happen?"
There's always something else that can happen, in this terrific and unpredictable comedy. |
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