This is a movie I immediately gravitated towards based on the title alone. The film draws inspiration from the personal experiences of its writer/director Tracie Laymon. It opens with Lily (Barbie Ferreira) crying over a recent breakup, but her dad (French Stewart) practically ignores her. She turns to Facebook in the hope of connecting with him there and ends up sending a friend request to a stranger who happens to share her father’s name, Bob Trevino. ‘Bob’ starts engaging with her posts, and even though Lily quickly realizes he’s not her actual dad, their unexpected friendship takes a twist that ends up positively impacting her life.

Lily works as a caretaker to Daphne (Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spencer) who’s confined to a wheelchair and she astutely says ‘Your dad must be a real piece of work that you went looking for a fake dad.’ Well, he most certainly is. There’s a scene that shows what piece of work he is (I won’t spoil it for you but it made me gasp). It effectively shows the level of emotional abandonment Lily has suffered all her life.

Casting is especially crucial in character-driven stories like this one. Ferreira is immediately likable, there’s a sweet countenance and layer of vulnerability about her that’s compelling. Nice to see John Leguizamo in a role I don’t often see him play—a loving husband who’s a bit of a loner and doesn’t drink. While he’s typically known for his quirky, comedic, and lively roles, I love that we get to see his gentle, sensitive side here. The scenes between Bob and his wife Jeanie (Rachel Bay Jones) are tender and sweet. At first, her passion for scrapbooking seems somewhat random, but it actually turns out to be a key part of the story later on.

Laymon captures the essence of our social media-driven world, all while highlighting the enduring power of human relationships. The budding connection between Lily and Bob is wonderful to watch, even when it sometimes descends into mawkishness. The scenes with the puppies just make my heart melt. It’s heartwarming to see that Lily and Bob have formed a deep connection in just a few weeks, he’s become the father figure she’s been craving all her life. Speaking from my own experience, ‘family’ often includes those who aren’t blood relatives.

The one moment that hits pretty hard is when Lily can’t get a hold of Bob and she’s distressed thinking he’s ghosting her. It makes me think of those in my own life that I can’t imagine living without. In a world where there are plenty of scary stories about people meeting online, it’s nice to watch a true story that highlights a positive and uplifting connection like this one. I’m really glad that Laymon chose to share her amazing story. It leaves me feeling optimistic about humanity and the power of found friendship.

I saw Bob Trevino Likes It at TCFF last year, and it’s in my top 10 favorite movies by women of 2024. The movie has since been acquired by Roadside Attractions for US Distributions. It’s currently playing in select theaters.

Have you seen Bob Trevino Likes It? I’d love to hear what you think!