Have you ever wished you could choose your own family? What if you just found family instead? Tracie Laymon’s debut feature Bob Trevino Likes It explores the idea of a stranger coming into your life and changing it in ways you would have never imagined. Inspired by her own life, Laymon’s comedic drama brings together two people in an unlikely friendship that gives them both a chance to heal from plagues of their past.
Lily (Barbie Ferreira) is a young girl in her twenties who, abandoned by her mother as a child, has now been rejected by her narcissistic father Bob (French Stewart). As Lily tries to reconnect with her dad, she sends a Facebook friend request to ‘Bob Trevino’, assuming it is her father. She eventually discovers this Bob is not her father, but a kindhearted man with the same name (John Leguizamo). Their first interactions are through ‘likes’ and messages via Facebook. Lily and her new Bob become close and learn about each other and form a bond through a friendship, or perhaps a father-daughter type love.
Audiences are introduced to Lily as her ex-boyfriend breaks up with her, and just as she has been in all her other roles, Barbie Ferreira brings the emotion to the forefront of her performance. Ferreira invites the viewer to sympathize with Lily as she is emotionally abused by her father, and she tackles traumas from her childhood in her 20s. We are invited into her life as she makes uncomfortable decisions, laughs, cries, and begins to understand her emotions. The bond Lily creates with her new Bob is the apex of the film and thrives with the chemistry Ferreira and Leguizamo create. Each character has their own baggage but as they become friends, they help each other unpack and move forward.
The character of Lily is there to remind audiences that everyone wants to be liked. As she continuously tries to please her father, among other people, she isn’t putting herself first and that takes a toll on one’s emotions. Through changing the closeness of the camera to Ferreira, audiences are shown little ticks, or anxiety induced moments in the character, reminding us that we are only human. Even though the true change comes from within, kindness from a total stranger, and bonds that can be formed, can break repetitions of trauma and negative emotions, allowing one to bloom.
Laymon even brings a comedic aspect to the film by adding in dad jokes, happiness brought by puppies, and much more. She reminds the viewer that even in our toughest moments, it is important to laugh, even important to scream. We all have our own right to feel what we keep buried inside to properly deal with them. And in Bob Trevino Likes It, Lily and Bob process their emotions together.
Bob Trevino Likes It is truly a film that follows Laymon’s meaningful examination into the healing power of friendship. It taps into the audiences’ emotions and pulls on our heartstrings. As important a film can become, the message behind Bob Trevino Likes It is one that will definitely stick with me for a long time to come.
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