KSL Movie Show review: ‘Bob Trevino Likes It’ is gut-wrenching

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SALT LAKE CITY — I can’t speak for the Biblical Job, but I imagine if he’d seen this movie, he’d be thinking, “Wow, I thought I had it rough.”

It almost reaches a point where you can’t take much more JUST WATCHING IT.  Certainly can’t imagine LIVING it. 

Say hello to kindhearted, 20-something Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira) and get ready to release some righteous indignation, as she might have the absolute worst father in the history of fatherhood. 

Robert Trevino (French Stewart) is the most self-absorbed, creep town, jerk-face dad that I’ve experienced in cinema in quite a while.  

He’s intensely proud of his lady-lovin’ skills at the Shady Rest Retirement Home (where he’s the youngest resident), especially since he just recently won the in-house pickleball championship (oh my!).

Yet, he has no time or interest in his daughter Lily, and when he does make time to see her, it’s usually to hit her up for money. 

I’m just scratching the surface of the level of his unconscionable behavior, where you’ll be tempted to fire many angry words in his direction.  

I sadly wrote many of mine down and I’m not proud of that, but he really got under my skin, so I guess good job, French Stewart?

Lily is such a sweetheart, but she’s unlucky at love, a career, pretty much everything and could use a supportive shoulder to cry on every once in a while, but she can forget about getting anything but grief from dear ol’ dad.

How bad does she have it?  

Let’s just say, when she unloads all her life-long woes onto a young therapist, it’s Lily who’s handing the box of tissues to the poor shrink lady, who is beset with this wave of emotional trauma.  

“It’s gonna be okay,” says Lily. 

On a whim, she goes online and discovers another “Bob Trevino” (John Leguizamo), hoping they’re somehow related, but he responds kindly to her posts, so relax, this doesn’t turn into some kind of internet stalker nightmare.  

This Bob is cool, unlike her cloven-hoofed daddy dearest. 

Lilly and New Bob actually become friends, as this poor Bob is reeling from a devastating loss that has fractured his own family, while Lily could actually use some supportive, fatherly help and guidance from time to time. They are helping each other through difficult times, while also coming up with ways to deal with their own struggles.

And if you’re thinking, gosh, it’s been a long time since I shed a tear or two in a movie — well, get ready for the water works, because the dam is breeched and here comes flood city.

It’s so gut-wrenching that I thought surely some of this is made up, but it is based on the life of writer and director Tracie Laymon, so when you see her, give her a big ol’ hug, because wow.

BOB TREVINO LIKES IT (A-) Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, and thematic elements. Starring Barbie Ferriera, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spencer and Rachel Bay Jones. Written and directed by Tracie Laymon (“Girls! Girls! Girls!” “Mixed Signals”) – filmed in Louisville, Kentucky. Running time: 102 minutes.

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.