Bob or Leo: Who did you have more empathy for?

Both in different ways, which is what makes this movie (and similar situations) really interesting.

I'd much rather be friends with Bob for that reason too, and I felt for him not having anyone close in his life socially, which you could tell he really craved. Despite being kinda needy and paranoid about things, he was a good-hearted, fun, innocent guy who only meant well. In fact, some of his social awkwardness and inability to read people, probably came FROM people not giving him enough of a chance, and him just not having family and good friends in his life.

Leo was uptight and full of himself, and had trouble relating to even his own family (wtf, who uses hand puppets to talk to his teenage daughter?), so that made him way less likable as a person.

That being said, I still felt for him, especially towards the end. Nobody was sympathetic to his side of things and all bonded with Bob no questions asked, even his female psychiatrist friend Katherine. He probably felt demeaned as a doctor and a husband/father, that his family was gravitating to a guy they'd only known a day or two (like, he helped encourage Siggy to dive, when Leo couldn't). I think when everyone loved Bob's GMA appearance and the hospital wouldn't keep him, and his birthday was ruined, that was just the end of the line for him.

Of course he was a jerk, overreacted alot and could've handled things better, but in some ways it's not hard to see why he flipped out on that last day.

I empathized more with Bob. Let me tell you why. Dr. Leo Marvin's help was too cold. He just gave him a book to read instead of really helping him get over the problem or to transfer him to another doctor. He left Bob out in the cold and that's why Bob was acting so strangely. I think that Bob deserved more a psychologist rather than a psychiatrist. You can trust me that I never had a good experience with psychiatrists. I prefer psychologists.

Leo.

He has every reason to be upset when some deranged stalker shows up at his vacation home.


When I'm gone I would like something to be named after me. A psychiatric disorder, for example.

Who did I like better? Bob
Who would I want to spend time with? Bob

Who was creepier? Bob
Who did I have more empathy for? Leo

I evolved through the film. At first I was on the doctor's side and agreed with him. About halfway through when Bob became so likeable and he was the family's best friend, helps Siggy dive, praises Marvin's book on air and Marvin got so angry and psycho I started to side with Bob.

Deutschland hat die Weltmeisterschaft zum vierten Mal gewonnen! 🇩🇪🇺🇸

Bob was annoying much of the time, but his actions were not that odd, given his mental problems. A good shrink should be prepared for how to deal with someone who "latches on" too much. Leo was not; he pushed Bob away too roughly and didn't really explain to his family why the separation between therapist and client was so important--rather, he just kept calling Bob crazy. That simply caused the Fam to empathize more with Bob, especially as Leo got more and more angry and distant.

So, though Leo deserves some sympathy, I have more empathy and liking for Bob. He's a much nicer person, and a LOT more fun, despite his various neuroses. Also, he's never been trained to deal with these as Leo has, so the fault lies with the shrink for not practicing what he was taught.



Don't get me wrong...
It might be unbelievable,
But let's not say so long

I have to say Bob. Leo was a jerk even from the start. Like another poster said he just gave Bob a book and told him to do what it said. When Bob shows up at the store Leo tells Bob he never gets upset or angry. That in itself is not a good thing. He basically kept his emotions inside until he exploded and that to me is the point of the movie. Bob maybe crazy somewhat but Leo is responsible for everything that happened. He admits at the beginning of the movie he would've rather seen Bob after his vacation was over. Plus there is also the scene where they call Leo and tell him that Bob died and his only response is, "Oh well. Let's not let it ruin our vacation." I watched this with a friend who hadn't seen it and when he watched that scene where he says that he decalred, "Oh my gosh! What a bastard!"

Green Goblin is great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1L4ZuaVvaw

Well, Leo is set up from his first scene all the way up to the last written line as an arrogant, narcissistic, unlikable prig, and Bob is basically a harmless, friendly, big child, so it's easy to sympathize with him. Within the confines of the movie, I'd much prefer Bob. He's friendly, easy going, and cheerful in spite of his problems.

However, if this were a realistic situation, Leo would be totally within his right to treat Bob the way he does (right up to the point where he becomes violent, of course). In fact, he's much more patient than he needs to be. Bob breaches the doctor-patient relationship several times over, invades his privacy, disrupts his time away from his work, jeopardizes his career, interferes in his family life... He's basically a stalker in need of a restraining order. And instead of siding with him, his family picks the side of the stalker. That would be tremendously frustrating. I know people who work with troubled individuals, and it's hard enough to have to do that without taking their issues home with you, especially when you're actually trying to relax, during a particularly stressful time.

I kind of wonder if the way Leo was written has anything to do with the prevalence of scientology in Hollywood, since it's a cult with an anti-psychiatry slant. But maybe that's just my paranoia talking.