In Bob Trevino Likes It, a lonely woman accidentally befriends a stranger online who shares the same name as her own self-centred father. Source: Australian Catholics.
This is a drama with touches of comedy that many young adults may identify with and find entertaining and challenging.
Who is Bob Trevino? In fact, in the film, there are two. The first is a rather embittered widower, living in aged care, continually trying to strike up relationships and ensure companionship and comfort for his future.
This Bob Trevino has a daughter, Lily (an impressive performance by Ferreira). Lily is something of an awkward young woman who cares for a chair-confined client and has difficulty relating to her demanding and emotionally abusive father.
She relies on social media for connection. One night, feeling frustrated, she searches for anybody else named Bob Trevino. She finds one. And he replies. Hence the title and the clicking of the “like” button when one receives a pleasing text.
The screenplay introduces viewers to the second Bob Trevino before the contact with Lily. This Bob (played with tenderness by John Leguizamo) and his wife have faced unimaginable tragedy. A builder, Bob is a loner, preferring to stay at home. His wife spends her time creating photo book mementos, even entering national competitions and winning.
When Lily and Bob first meet when there is a toilet crisis for the chair-confined woman, and Lily asks Bob to come to fix it. Conversations begin, revelations about the past are confronted and Lily is drawn to Bob as a surrogate father.
One of the phrases to describe this kind of film is that it is a “slow-burner”.
It begins rather quietly, and, when the audience surrenders to it, it touches the emotions and offers insights into human nature.
Review by Fr Peter Malone MSC, Jesuit Media
Bob Trevino Likes It: Starring Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spencer. Directed by Tracie Laymon. 102 minutes. Rated M (Mature themes and coarse language)
FULL REVIEW
Bob Trevino Likes It (Australian Catholics)
