Bob Trevino Likes It gives the vibe of an indie comedy-drama that was supposed to be released in the late 2000s or early 2010s but was instead released in the 2020s. I mean that as a compliment because it feels like we just don’t get too many movies like this anymore. Written and directed by Tracie Laymon as well as starring Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo, Bob Trevino Likes It is a semi-autobiographical film based on Laymon’s own experiences.
The film won the Grand Jury Award as well as the Audience Award at South by Southwest last year, and it centers around a young woman abandoned by her narcissistic father, who searches for said father, Bob Trevino, on social media, but ends up forming a bond with a different man of the same name, instead.
When you dig deeper, though, Bob Trevino Likes It is at its core really about two lonely people-pleasers who are struggling to stand up for themselves in their respective lives and find comfort in each other’s presence, creating this unlikely, yet endearing found family dynamic.
Even though it has a bit of a shaky start as well as some schmaltzy and clunky dialogue here and there, the more I watched the film, the more it won me over with its unabashed ability to wear its heart on its sleeve. This turned out to be a beautifully bittersweet movie about finding connection in the digital age with feel-good moments that made me smile as well as profoundly sad moments that impacted me emotionally, and the cast does a great job of bringing a genuine weight to it all.
Barbie Ferreira delivers a heartbreakingly vulnerable lead performance, John Leguizamo provides strong supporting work with care behind it, and French Stewart is so unbelievably good at playing such an unlikable movie Dad.
Final Thoughts
Bob Trevino Likes It is a nice feature-length debut from Laymon that’s well-acted and successfully hit me in the feels. I look forward to seeing more movies from her in the future.
3.5/5
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For as far back as I can remember, I have loved movies and the escapism they provide. From when I was a child until I was a teenager, my family moved around a few times, and while that wasn't always easy, movies were there for me to provide comfort, entertainment, understanding, and so much more. They transported me to worlds beyond my imagination, and I became fascinated with filmmaking as a medium. Since high school, I have enjoyed making movie reviews, but finding an audience was a constant struggle. That was until I joined TikTok in 2021, and since then I have been able to join a community that loves talking about and discussing movies as much as I do. My cinematic philosophy is to enjoy what you enjoy. I'm always trying to expand my tastes and to watch as many movies as I can, no matter the genre, time of release, or country of origin.
Outside of watching movies, I enjoy spending time with my wife and my dog. I also love to ski and collect physical media. I graduated college with a degree in Marketing & Communications in 2018.
My favorite movies: Dazed and Confused, The Thing, Heat, Spider-Man, The Empire Strikes Back, Goodfellas, Mulholland Drive, Aftersun, The Batman, The Big Lebowski, Barry Lyndon, The Fellowship of the Ring, In The Mood For Love, Inception, Arrival.