I’m a big fan of slice of life or little films that take place in one location or a small town. That’s the case with Bob Trevino Likes It. Little indie films can sometimes have a big impact. That’s what happened to me while watching this film. Some may call it very manipulative, but I felt a genuine connection to this movie. Hopefully, those who see will as well.

Lily (Barbie Ferriera, Euphoria) is a live-in-aid in Kentucky. She has a father named Bob Trevino (French Stewart) who is single and ready to mingle. He takes his daughter on a date with him to meet a woman he’s trying to get to know better. After she inadvertently says something, the date goes south for her father. This causes a rift between father and daughter. After a while of not talking, the daughter befriends an account on Facebook, thinking it’s her father, but it’s not. It’s another man in Indiana with the same name as her father. They start talking and become friends. These discussions make a huge impact on this young lady’s life and Bob Trevino as well.

As someone who has had issues with my father in the past, this movie and story hit me hard. I got into coaching and got a job and went out drinking at a young age. The men I met while coaching, working, and hanging out at the bar became a father figure for me. They gave me advice and helped me in my life more than I could say. They even gave me a kick in the backside when I needed it. Having someone in your life you can talk to and get advice from can make a big impact on your life. That’s what happened to me.  I’m very grateful for these men even though we’ve grown apart over the years. 

Barbie Ferreira is a young actress who came to know from the great HBO television show Euphoria. She was just one in a great cast on that show, but in the midst of Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Hunter Schafer, she stood on her own. I can see how she got the starring role in this film. She carries the movie quite nicely. I genuinely cared about her and the journey she was on as a young woman navigating life’s challenges. Finding a friend who could help her and give her great advice was also a good thing for her since her father wasn’t doing his job. I really like Ferreira in this role.

John Leguizamo has been shoehorned as the sidekick in John Wick, or villain, Spawn, in most of the roles he’s had in his career. It is rare that he gets a quality supporting role, such as the one in this film. He showed a lot of emotional heft in this character. I want to see him more in dramatic roles such as this one. Leguizamo is a quality actor of Latino descent. He deserves better roles in films and television/streaming series. I loved him in this role.

Tracie Laymon is the writer/director of this movie. It’s a semi-autobiographical depiction of events in her life. Which inspired the film. I can see why she made this movie. Not having a father figure to confess your feelings to had to be hard. It’s a crazy coincidence that she found a man on Facebook with the same name as her father. It turned out for the good, but you never know this could have turned out bad for her or him. Regarding the whole catfishing thing going on these days. You can’t be too safe. This story was written very well, and it got me to an emotional place I rarely get to in movies these days. Good for her!

Bob Trevino Likes It is a surprisingly good little indie film. It has good performances from Ferreira and Leguizamo along with a good supporting cast. The story and direction were both solid from Laymon. This movie hit me very hard, though. I was genuinely moved by what I saw. Having dealt with my own father issues in my life, I loved this story about finding another father figure who could be somebody special in a person’s life. It moved me to tears, and that hardly ever happens these days.

4 stars

Dan Skip Allen