Bob Trevino Likes It
Bob Trevino Likes It is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated PG-13.
Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira) can’t seem to do anything right, especially in her father Bob’s (French Stewart) eyes. One day she mistakenly messages the wrong Bob Trevino on Facebook (John Leguizamo). Together, they find that small acts of kindness can add up to big impacts.
STORY: B+
A sweet celebration of human connection.
This story could have easily been too sweet, too sappy, and too sentimental. It’s not. While it is indeed sweet, sappy, and sentimental, its greatest strength lies in how powerful it is.
It reminds us that making someone’s life better doesn’t require grandiose, dramatic deeds. Life is complex, but the secret to a good one is found in the simple things.
PEOPLE: A-
Time for another Barbie to shine.
Barbie Ferreira’s performance is stunning. It reminds me of watching a new (to me, at the time) Mark Ruffalo in You Can Count On Me. She encapsulates her character so deeply, so completely, and so successfully that at times it’s hard to believe she’s actually acting.
Leguizamo delivers a subtle, yet confident performance. He’s got a few years on Ferreira, but he knows this is her film to run with and correctly steps out of her way.
And as if these two performances weren’t enough, French Stewart(?!?) drops in and gives us one of the most unforgettable portrayals of a bitter, jaded old man I’ve ever seen.
FILM NERD STUFF: A-
The movie loves its closeups.
The movie begins with a heart wrenching close up of Lily, bookended by another in the film’s final frame. Along the way, writer-director Tracie Laymon goes back to the shot again and again.
Directors use close ups to bring the audience’s attention to the characters’ emotions. By using so many of them, Laymon makes sure we don’t just notice their emotions. We feel them. It’s a big reason we walk away from this film feeling changed - having a better understanding of the human condition - than when we walked in.
ONE BIG LESSON: A+
You have value and worth. You matter.
Physical and emotional abuse has the insidious side effect of making a victim feel worthless and unimportant. When you feel that way, it’s hard to believe that anyone can help you. You feel like there’s no way out.
When I was a little kid, I got lost in a corn maze. The sun had just gone down, and the evening’s cold, autumn air crept in. To be clear, I realize now that I was never in any real danger. But at that moment, my little lizard brain legit believed I was spending the rest of my life in that cold, scary labyrinth.
Eventually someone - I was so young I honestly can’t remember if it was a parent, a stranger, or someone who worked there - helped me find my way out. Just like Bob helps Lily.
So again (because if you’re going through literal abuse you may not remember) : You have value and worth. You matter.
Stay open to the idea that someone out there can help you, even if all they do is take your hand and walk with you for a little bit. Sometimes that’s all it takes to lead you out of the dark.
FINAL COMMENTS:
This film is just the right amount of sweet. Like your favorite dessert. But the good news is, your waistline’s safe. The better news is, your heart will grow by leaps and bounds.