Bob Trevino Likes It Review: Portrait of Sincerity and Kindness
Theatrical Movie Review - Drama
Despite the presence of social media, more people than ever feel lonely. Between busyness and the loss of third spaces, people are feeling the sting of loneliness more than ever, particularly young people and older people. In her debut feature film, Bob Trevino Likes It, writer and director Tracie Laymon looks at how small acts of kindness can help break through that sense of isolation.
Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira) has spent her whole life making excuses for the bad things that happen to her. When her father, Bob (French Stewart), cuts her out of his life, she tries everything she can think of to reconnect with him, eventually turning to Facebook to see if she can find him there. She sees a Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo) and adds him as a friend, but it turns out that he is not her father but rather a kind man who is also a little bit lonely. After some liked posts and shared messages, the two agree to meet for coffee, forming a friendship that changes both of their lives.
Bob Trevino Likes It is an incredibly earnest film. Some movies that have such a wholesome message can turn saccharine to the point of inauthentic, but this film manages to have the kind of sincerity that makes it an absolute joy to watch.
Much of that sincerity comes from the two leads. Ferreira plays the co-dependent daughter of an abusive father in a way that feels wildly true. The way that she blows off numerous wrongs that she experienced, shouldering the blame like someone who has had to carry that for her entire life, strikes an emotional chord that is amplified when she finally begins to realize that she is not the one at fault. And Leguizamo, who has played a wide variety of roles, but rarely someone who is just a father looking for a child to love, absolutely shines in his performance. The way the two of them portray the awkwardness of their situation while never bordering on something inappropriate or creepy is incredibly admirable.
The script for Bob Trevino Likes It is loosely based on an experience that Laymon had when she was trying to connect with her estranged father, and no doubt plays a part in just how well this works. Between the script, her direction, and the editing from Anisha Acharya, we see just how much the relationship means to these characters and how they look forward to something as simple as a like or a comment on a Facebook post.
We all need connection. Connection can help us heal, it can help us grow, it can help us become better versions of ourselves. We are built to be a part of a community, and without it, we can feel isolated and depressed. Bob Trevino Likes It is a gorgeous exploration of how a little bit of vulnerability and a whole lot of kindness can create a better world for everyone.
Rating: 4.5/5
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on March 30, 2025.