After her pleas for validation and seeking real-life ‘likes’ from her dad Robert remain unrequited, Lily Trevino ‘friends’ his namesake Bob Trevino via Facebook. Initially pen pals, the duo instantly strikes a unique offline bond due to their common desire for friendship and inadvertently Lily discovers a stand-in parent in the ‘other Bob’ who helps her pick up the remnants of a long-lost childhood. Subsequently, the latter also begins to reconnect with his paternal side, which he’d long repressed after the death of his only son.
While the concept of two strangers with an age gap sharing a complex bond has been executed previously in works such as “Ghost World” (2001), unlike its predecessors “Bob Trevino Likes It” differs in its presentation. It steers clear of any sexual/suggestive undertones or ‘the Lolita effect’ (aside from Bob’s wife Jeanie briefly warning her naive husband about catfishing and the dangers of being swayed by a young woman online). Instead, it emphasises the strictly mutually platonic facets of the unlikely yet wholesome bond between the two leads.
An Ode to a True Story
The film serves as a semi-autobiographical and heartfelt ode to Filmmaker Tracie Laymon’s real-life pen pal Bob and to the kindness of a selfless stranger who played a pivotal role in Laymon’s life when she needed a comforting figure. Note: the real Bob’s obituary reads: “In the end, he loved so much, his heart gave out.” However, the film is simultaneously an intricate examination of ‘daddy issues’ as well as the after effects of victim-shaming from a female perspective. The latter of is showcased through scenes of Lily’s father guilt-tripping her by presenting his daughter with an itemised price list, expecting her to pay him back for raising her. He’s particularly bitter and hung up about his own bad upbringing, yet never acknowledges nor apologises for passing on generational trauma to his only daughter. He instead constantly shifts the blame to his ex-wife, who struggled with her own demons.
Aside from covering generational trauma, “Bob Trevino Likes It” also subtly tackles another complex issue: self-abandonment. Lily suffers from this. She’s been gaslit into forgiving her emotionally-manipulative dad at the drop of a hat since childhood (as well as silently accepting the blame for his actions), and now immediately brushes off her boyfriend’s infidelity earlier in the movie. Similarly, the ‘other Bob’ is shown neglecting his own material desires as he awaits a pay raise that never comes and is forced to put up with a manipulative business partner at his construction company.
Leguizamo and Ferreira are Lovable
Furthermore, the movie excels in drawing parallels between the poles apart personalities of two men who share a name. Lily’s absentee dad immaturely plays the victim card to score undeserved pity, is unapproachable, and treats the women he dates as props. However, the other Bob is an affectionate girl-dad, as well as a complete opposite of Lily’s angry dad. He offers a shoulder to Lily to cry on, helping her to stand on her own two feet by offering to shop for emergency kits and essentials, and even grabs her a cup of coffee out of sheer courtesy despite dreading the taste of the beverage himself. Subtle gestures—such as the other Bob noticing the lack of likes and comments on Lily’s social media feed and feeling for the neglected young lady—also offer insight into his compassion for a stranger who isn’t even related to him.
The performances enhance the movie too. Barbie Ferreira, who showed promise in her debut feature “Unpregnant,” once again impresses as she strikes a fine balance between chirpy and vulnerable in the role of the baby-faced Lily. She plays a young woman forced to walk on eggshells so as to not ‘offend’ the neglectful men in her life. Co-star John Leguizamo stands out too, delivering a genuinely charming act as the middle-aged titular character, and adds a dash of humour with quintessential dad jokes as well as physical gags. For example, a scene depicts him struggling to dribble a basketball as well as a comical freak out over whether Lily is his illegitimate daughter.
A Warm, Healing Hug
The natural camaraderie between Ferreira and Leguizamo acts as a cherry atop this sweet offering. An emotional scene featuring the pair visiting an animal shelter so Lily can fix her inner-child with puppy love especially tugs at one’s heartstrings. Rachel Bay Jones as Bob’s wife and scrap-book aficionado Jeanie, French Stewart as Lily’s cold and spiteful dad, and Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spencer as Lily’s disabled employer Daphne deliver memorable supporting performances too.
Overall, “Bob Trevino Likes It” isn’t just a movie but an entire feeling, as it envelops viewers in a warm, healing hug, simultaneously serving up life lessons on being a more present and pleasant parent.
“Bob Trevino Likes It” will be available on digital platforms from 26th May, and can be preordered here.
