This low-budget, low-key comedy-drama is a little saccharine at times, especially in the final stretch, but it’s hard to fully resist its charm offensive. It wages an aggressive lovebombing campaign led by very likable lead Barbie Ferreira who shines as put-upon but good-hearted Lily, a home-help assistant first met bawling her eyes out when a misaddressed text reveals that the guy she’s been dating has cheated on her. Instead of following her (natural) first instinct to chew him out, she just chokes down her anger and texts “no problem!” in response to his feeble apology. Soon, it becomes clear that this is poor Lily’s usual modus operandi, especially when it comes to her louse of a father, Bob Trevino (French Stewart), who drags her along on his dates in order to make himself look more parental and nurturing than he actually is.
When one such date goes badly, Bob shuns Lily, going so far as to effectively ban her from visiting the trailer park where he lives. (The story unfolds around the Kentucky-Indiana border, and precisely evokes the midwestern vibe without either patronising or pandering to the region.) While trying to reach him through Facebook, Lily ends up befriending an entirely different Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo), a construction industry manager who at first is just being polite but who comes to enjoy chatting with lonely Lily via the app messaging platform; this Bob Trevino “likes” some of her corny memes and posts, hence the title. The two develop a genuine but strictly platonic friendship that moves eventually to the real world, somewhat to the baffled bemusement of Bob’s wife Jeanie (Rachel Bay Jones).
Writer-director Tracie Laymon lays on the message thickly about the value of chosen family members as opposed to allegiance to the cruddy ones you get stuck with at birth. Therefore it’s no surprise this has gone around the festival circuit pleasing crowds and winning audience awards. With quirky plot details, a patina of authenticity evoked by its handheld cinematography, and likable peripheral characters like Lily’s feisty wheelchair-using employer Daphne (Lauren “Lolo” Spencer), it is pure catnip for festival audiences. To knock its sentimental failings would be like kicking a puppy – and there are actual puppies in the film just to ensure it snags the heartstrings. Resistance is futile.
• Bob Trevino Likes It is on digital platforms from 23 May.
