Looking for Eric *** (2009, Steve Evets, Eric Cantona, Stephanie Bishop) – Classic Movie Review 3832

Packed with great, salty dialogue, director Ken Loach’s 2009 movie tells an enjoyable tall tale of two Erics – one of them the ex-soccer genius Eric Cantona, the other a sad old British postman (Steve Evets), who has messed up his life.

Taking his cue from a buddy’s self-help book, he imagines he is getting life lessons from his hero Cantona. That is just as well, since having to look after his granddaughter’s baby brings his old love from 30 years ago back into his life and then he finds one of his stepsons is mixed up with guns and gangsters.

It takes a while to warm to Evets (though, when the going gets tough for him, you do) but the old hard man Cantona is surprisingly soft-hearted, quirky, wise and charming, giving the film’s most appealing performance.

The realistic thriller stuff at the end sits very uncomfortably with the fantasy and comedy elements of the film, and director Ken Loach and writer Paul Laverty are having a difficulty pulling them all together. Nevertheless, the movie stays mostly likeable and involving. And, when it’s funny, it’s very funny – particularly the stuff with the other postmen and the masked attack on the baddies at the end – with one and all looking like Eric Cantona!

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3832

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