My nephew and I went to the Broadway last night for Bob Trevino Likes It and it is one of the most heartwarming movies I've seen in a long time! Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira) had a traumatic childhood with an absent mother and her father Bob (French Stewart) continues to be narcissistic and manipulative. She is desperate for a relationship with him, so after he cuts off contact with her, she tries to reach out to him by searching for him on Facebook. She finds a profile without a picture for a Bob Trevino and sends him a friend request. Even though he doesn't know her, this Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo) accepts it, starts liking her posts, and begins communicating with her. They eventually meet and, because Bob had a tragedy in his past that has left him feeling just as alone as Lily, their interactions help both of them heal. The story about a young woman who is so isolated and starved for affection that she seeks a connection anywhere she can find it is incredibly moving and there were several scenes that reduced me to tears, particularly one that takes place at an animal shelter. The message about the importance of found families to fill the void left by dysfunctional or absent biological families is also really powerful and I found it very hopeful. Ferreira gives a raw and emotional performance and it is easy to root for her character as she finally learns how to put herself first in her dealings with her abusive father. She has wonderful chemistry with Leguizamo, who gives one of the best performances of his career, and I absolutely loved his character because he is so kind, gentle, and caring (everyone needs someone like Bob in their lives). The cathartic ending is earned rather than manipulative, in my opinion, and it left me a blubbering mess (several people walking out of the theater were also wiping their eyes). I cannot recommend this enough!
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