Bob Trevino Likes It

Ah, look at all the lonely people.

As I watched the new film, Bob Trevino Likes It, I was reminded of that Beatles classic about loneliness and depression. Almost every character in the film is experiencing some form of sadness. Yet, it's not a depressing film because the characters are particularly likeable, even at their lowest points. You connect with them on a personal level. You want them to be happy.

The film is based on the life of Writer/Director/Producer Tracie Laymon and the friendship she accidentally strikes up with a stranger on the internet. Yes, the idea sounds creepy, but the relationship Lily Trevino has with her actual father is far more disturbing. Turning in a beautiful, hopeful performance, actress Barbie Ferreira is always reminded that she's not the child her father wanted. Robert Trevino (French Stewart) seems to have little use for her. He's far more interested in her savings account to pay for his bills and uses her to butter up his stream of online hookups.

Dragging her along to dinners and events, he tells her to make him look good. Robert wants a relationship because he's 'tired of paying to watch women eat'. Yes, he's a very unlikeable person who doesn't realize how awful he sounds. Even when he's the one chintzing out at mealtime, forgetting his wallet, suggesting his dinner dates order something cheaper. He doesn't understand what he's doing wrong and Lily doesn't have the heart to tell him how bad he makes himself look. Instead, she takes the blame for all his dating failures.

When Robert angrily cuts her out of his life for a mishap at a dinner date, Lily still attempts to reconcile with him, but is faced with his indifference. A few weeks later, she again decides to try to reach him, this time through social media. She friends a 'Bob Trevino' on Facebook. However, it's the wrong Bob Trevino - it's not her dad, Robert.

This Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo) is a kind, hardworking man, married to Jeanie (Rachel Bay Jones), the scrapbooking Queen of the state. Though they live in the same home, it's apparent that they have difficulty communicating with each other. There's a pervasive sadness in the home. Jeanie tries to get him to socialize with friends, he doesn't see the use in it. Then, out of the blue, Bob sees a notification on his Facebook page that someone wants to friend him, has 'liked' one of his rare posts. He accepts, begins 'liking' Lily's posts, and eventually he and Lily strike up a social media friendship.

At Lily's suggestion, they eventually meet and pursue the friendship, in real life. Though they are both emotionally blunted, they find a warm companionship with each other. There are no expectations. They have no past trauma with each other to dwell on, little to forgive and forget.

There's nothing creepy about it. Just two lonely people, filling in the holes that life has hollowed out in their souls. Lily enjoys taking care of people and Bob allows her to get close to him. And then, Bob drops out of sight. She feels ghosted and goes searching for an explanation.

Many times, social media divides and isolates; in the case of Bob Trevino Likes It, social media allows two lonely strangers a means to connect, if only for a brief time.

One of those you don't except anything and you're going out from the movie theatre with such a mixed feeling. But not a mix of positive and negative but mix of laughter and emotional crying. It started almost ridiculously funny and ended with such A burst of emotions.

It's not so common old story of a girl with daddy issues. She has no mother and with that kind of father she has, she probably would have better without. She is the Politest young woman you can think of and seems like nothing is bothering her, towards her environment, but inside, she is a volcano Waiting to erupt.

Once Lilly, the protagonist and movie's main character, finds herself an internet friend, that becomes kind of substitute dad, it seems a little bit odd. But both Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo makes it feel so authentic and real, that it is like the story slides into the audience hearts so easily and naturally.

This story is based on a true story of Tracie Laymon, the director of this movie. It is well shown when the movie is directed in an intimate and very personal way. It seems that Laymon really put her heart in this project. It is her debut as a director with a full featured movie and if this is her first milestone in the industry, we can except great things and future from this marvelous creator.

The chemistry between Leguizamo and Ferreira is special. It is something that we don't usually see in other movies. Its not perfect, but both actors do such a good job to patch things up and make it work. Its all authentic and so moving when both actors meet and just enjoy their time together. It easily breaks walls or cinematic curtains and leaks to the audience.

I'm not watching "Euphoria" and don't really remember Barbie Ferreira from "Nope" (she actually had a small part in this movie), but in this current movie, she is has just melted my heart. Leguizamo is at one of his best parts ever and both, as mentioned earlier, make this story sell and work almost perfectly, to create one of the surprising movies lately.

When I describe the plot of Bob Trevino Like It, I feel like I'm describing a proverbial Hallmark movie. However, there's zero cheese and no romance which is great.

The movie is based on the writer and director's real life experience. During a period when her father refused to talk to her, the protagonist searches for her father on Facebook. Send ends up sending a friend request to another man with the same name as her father. He begins to like her posts. Though she quickly realizes he is not her actual father, he innocently befriends her and this friendship ends up transforming her life.

As mentioned, there's no romance in this movie. This turns out to be great for this film. Romance is obviously one of the most emotional aspects of most of our lives which is why so many films include it. But a large part of our lives doesn't involve romance. So, it's great to see a film which doesn't feel compelled to go that route. It's also great for a film to depict a deep and meaningful friendship between and man and woman without it being sexual.

I'm not an expert, but I couldn't find anything to criticize about the movie. I thought it so good that it is only the 4th film I've ever rated 10/10.

A sweet, genuinely funny movie about the impact a friendship can have on lives. Tracie Laymon's film, inspired by her own experiences, is the kind of story indie movies were made to tell: character-driven, rooted in real emotion, and life-affirming. And again, it's really funny!

The cast is phenomenal. Barbie Ferreira is the standout, an extraordinary, layered performance, but John Leguizamo is pitch perfect as a kind man making an unexpected friend. French Stewart shows a side many haven't seen from him before, as a narcissistic, neglectful dad, but even within that role, his comic instincts mine hilarious moments. Rachel Bay Jones and Lauren 'Lolo' Spencer round the film out with really excellent turns.

I saw this at Seattle International Film Festival, and the packed crowd laughed and sniffled through tears, then gave Laymon a standing ovation. I hope it finds distribution soon!

Bob Trevino Likes It deservedly won Best Narrative at SXSW, had full houses going on five showings. This film was one of the most life affirming I've seen in a while what with honest performances, a nuanced script that balanced laughs with sobbing (yep, the good kind). Diretor Laymon brings us a story steeped in the modern world of social media yet at the same time providing the audience the unrelenting power of human connection. Gloriously graceful and smart, Bob Trevino Likes It is a refreshing character study that rewards the audience by eschewing cheap gags and crass dialogue in service of masterful storytelling. A trumph!!!