Eric Cantona (left, as himself) stars alongside Steve Evets in Ken Loach's Looking for Eric.

Looking for Eric

Studio: IFC Films
Directed by Ken Loach; Starring: Steve Evets and Eric Cantona

May 13, 2010 By Chris Tinkham Web Exclusive
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Improbably, esteemed English director Ken Loach has made a film that fuses his own mastery of the British kitchen-sink drama with the whimsy of Woody Allen's Play It Again, Sam and the underdog sentimentality of '80s John Hughes teen films. It's almost the kind of odball amalgamation of styles that SCTV used to imagine, like Jerry Lewis starring in a Bergman film or Steven Spielberg directing The Merv Griffin Show.

Steve Evets is endearingly entertaining as single dad Eric Bishop, a middle-aged postman living with the burden of love lost and in-home stepsons who give him no respect. With philosophical guidance from his hero, retired Manchester United star Eric Cantona (playing himself), Eric takes steps toward piecing his life back together. Cantona, whose exploits on the field are highlighted through archival clips, is an amusingly eccentric mentor, and his famously cryptic press conference after karate-kicking a fan in the stands is included during the end credits. Suspension of disbelief is required for this touching yet mischievously fun film. (www.ifcfilms.com/films/looking-for-eric)

Author rating: 8/10

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Average reader rating: 6/10

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IAmCantona
May 19th 2010
10:32am

2010 must be the year of Loach. Just as “Looking For Eric” is being released into the U.S. market and receiving rave reviews, over in Europe his new film “Route Irish” is premiering over in Cannes, France. According to Rene Rodriguez of the Miami Herald, Loach’s “Eric” still uses his “signature political commentary and socio-economic critique,” this time “mixed in with a dash of fantasy and some bits of surprisingly funny business that render the film squarely into the comedy genre.” Her review is one reason why I plan to see the picture when it releases in Detroit, MI, two days from now. Matter of fact, I think I might purchase a ticket on the Landmark’s Maple Art Cinema website right now. http://tinyurl.com/ybmn4km

orangemochafrappichino
May 24th 2010
10:07am

I accidentally came across this film on facebook, it looks ridiculously funny. Anybody know where it’s playing?