Found Families Aren’t Just Fiction

Read Time:5 Minute, 5 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Bob Trevino Likes It
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Genre: Comedy, Drama
Year Released: 2024, 2025
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director(s): Tracie Laymon
Writer(s): Tracie Laymon
Cast: Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Lauren 'Lolo' Spencer, Rachel Bay Jones, Debra Stipe, Ashlyn Moore, Phil Elam, Tony Milder, Ted Welch, Mike Fallin
Where to Watch: coming to Digital and On Demand on May 6 from Lionsgate

RAVING REVIEW: There’s something magical about a film that doesn’t try to dazzle you with spectacle and still manages to leave a mark. This one quietly disarms you with its honesty. Without dramatic overtures or manipulative sentiment, it becomes a portrait of two people slowly discovering how deeply they needed each other. It’s not just effective storytelling—it’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful connections aren’t inherited, but chosen.

At the center of this journey is Lily (Barbie Ferreira), a young woman who’s spent far too long carrying everyone else’s shortcomings. Her experiences haven’t hardened her, but they’ve worn her down. When she reaches out to reconnect with someone, she stumbles across a stranger with a familiar name. This digital stepping stone begins something far more profound than she ever expected.

What makes this connection so moving is how naturally it develops. There’s no contrived twist or over-the-top misunderstanding. It’s all about the subtle shift in perspective that occurs when two people allow themselves to be vulnerable. Instead of forcing reconciliation with the past, the story celebrates the people who step in and help us rebuild. It’s never heavy-handed, never preachy, just beautifully human.

The film’s power lies in its restraint. It avoids spelling out every emotion and lets the audience experience it through space. A glance held too long, a hesitant laugh, the quiet offer of help—all become moments that resonate. This level of authenticity is rare, and the performances across the board elevate the script into something exceptional. A moment about two-thirds of the way through the film broke me down, in the best way possible. I thought that was the moment that would stick with me forever, and while it will, the film's ending hit me in a way I could have never expected!

Ferreira anchors the story with a complex performance without ever veering into melodrama. She captures the quiet ache of someone used to disappointment, someone not used to receiving kindness without a cost. Her presence commands attention even in silence. There’s a subtle bravery in how she portrays Lily, and it’s impossible not to be drawn in by her.

Paired with Ferreira is John Leguizamo, whose portrayal is warm, gentle, deeply affecting, and yet honest. He’s not here to play the hero, and that’s precisely what makes his character work. He meets Lily where she is and never tries to fix her—he just listens. Their dynamic is built on mutual respect and small acts of care, and it’s incredibly rewarding to watch that bond unfold with such care and depth.

Tracie Laymon’s direction is both intimate and intentional. She allows her characters to breathe, keeping the camera close when needed but never intrusive. The visual language supports the story instead of dominating it, using stillness and framing to reflect the characters' inner states.

BOB TREVINO LIKES IT succeeds by reframing what support and care can look like. It dismantles the notion that biological ties should always take precedence and suggests that real love comes from presence, effort, and emotional safety. The story never hurries its characters toward healing—it simply gives them the space to grow, together, on their terms.

There’s also a striking level of authenticity in how it captures grief, recovery, and joy without needing to pit those emotions against one another. The story allows for tears and laughter, sometimes in the same breath, and that emotional range feels refreshingly true to life.

What stands out most is how fully realized each performance is, not just in the leads but also in the supporting cast. Every interaction feels like it belongs, contributing to a thoughtfully built world. Even the smallest roles add texture, contributing to the story’s larger message about the importance of being seen and supported.

This isn’t a film that needs big moments to make a lasting impression. Its strength is in its sincerity. It doesn’t just tell us that people can change each other’s lives—it shows us, moment by moment, how that change happens. And it doesn’t feel like something you simply watched by the time it ends. It feels like something you lived through with its characters, and something that will linger long after.

#BobTrevinoLikesIt

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[photo courtesy of LIONSGATE, ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS]

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