Movie Review: ‘Bob Trevino Likes It’

by | Mar 20, 2025 | Featured Post, Movie Reviews, Movies | 0 comments


Greetings again from the darkness. Bob Trevino is the kind of father we all wish we had. He’s the kind of father that would raise kids who would grow into good citizens, resulting in an improved society. Only that Bob Trevino is not Lily Trevino’s dad. Her dad is a raging narcissist, or more accurately, a self-centered jerk. This feature film debut from writer-director Tracie Laymon is ‘inspired’ by her true-life story, albeit with enough elements changed to avoid a lawsuit from her dad. That part doesn’t make for such a warm-fuzzy story, but the film she delivers wraps us in a coat of kindness and niceness and feel-goodness (not really a word, but it fits).

Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira, NOPE, 2022) is a twenty-something live-in aid for a woman who uses a wheelchair. Lily is the level of niceness where people notice immediately, including her therapist who ends their session by sobbing profusely after hearing Lily’s story. We get a couple of doses of Lily interacting with her father, Bob Trevino (a perfectly obnoxious and venomous French Stewart), before their big blowup then ends with his telling her daughter he wants nothing else to do with her. As viewers, we believe she is better off, but Lily’s niceness doesn’t allow her to give up on her dream of having a good relationship with him.

In Lily’s efforts to reconnect, she searches on Facebook for ‘Bob Trevino’ and somehow ends up with a Bob Trevino who aligns with her idea of the perfect dad. Bob #2 (a terrific John Leguizamo) quickly embraces the opportunity to be a friend … and a father figure (despite having no kids of his own). His wife (Rachel Bay Jones) is obsessed with scrapbooking, and we have a difficult time deciphering their communication and unorthodox relationship. She doesn’t seem to have the same concerns most wives would have if their husband started spending an inordinate amount of time with a young woman. Regardless, the friendship between Lily and this Bob evolves into something special. Beyond the friendship, he becomes the father figure she dreams of, and she becomes the daughter figure that he always hoped for.

Laymon’s story includes dad jokes, a rage room (monetizing the OFFICE SPACE idea), health issues, and a creepy look at dating options in a senior citizen trailer park. Most importantly it makes the point that “chosen family” is often more important and impactful than blood family, and a supportive friend is invaluable. French Stewart and John Leguizamo have had long careers as dependable actors, and both are excellent here. The film has won a stream of festival awards (deservedly so) and Laymon chooses to include a dose of reality over the closing credits.

Opens on March 21, 2025

David Ferguson
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