Looking for Eric

Name: Looking for Eric
Genre: Drama, Sport, Fantasy, Comedy
Released: May 14, 2010
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 66

2010

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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Looking For Eric

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: May 14, 2010

Summary: Cannes crowd-pleaser Looking for Eric is a tender, life-affirming, and hilarious nod to the possibility of second chances. When down-and-out postal worker Eric Bishop reaches the end of his rope - his two layabout stepsons are set on driving him to an early grave, his second marriage is in ruins, and that's just the start of his troubles -Cannes crowd-pleaser Looking for Eric is a tender, life-affirming, and hilarious nod to the possibility of second chances. When down-and-out postal worker Eric Bishop reaches the end of his rope - his two layabout stepsons are set on driving him to an early grave, his second marriage is in ruins, and that's just the start of his troubles - he finds some unexpected motivation to turn his life around and win back the love of his life from none other than his idol, the legendary footballer Eric Cantona of Manchester United. (IFC Films)… Expand

Director: Ken Loach

Genre(s): Drama, Sport, Fantasy, Comedy

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

Ray Bennett

Very funny and a bit sentimental, it's naturalistic comedy of the highest order, with Evets and Henshaw standouts among a terrific cast. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

A daring and unstable mélange of styles--working-class realism, deadpan fantasy, shameless buffoonery. At times it falls flat, or fails to rise. More often than not, though, it's a heartbreaker. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Richard Mowe

Veteran British director Ken Loach fields one of his most accessible and lightly-toned offerings to date with this comedy about a football fanatic trying to sort out his life. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Along the way, Looking for Eric emerges as a portrait of a world and a way of life. You will probably not want to live in Manchester after seeing this film, but you'll like and respect the people. Read full review

Derek Elley

As in many of Laverty's scripts, problems of overall tone and character development aren't solved by Loach's easygoing direction, though when it works, "Eric" has many incidental pleasures. Read full review

Shawn Levy

iI’s a film more content to amuse than truly to probe or feel. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

The British director Ken Loach can be a master of working-class realism, but not in this cranky, rudderless shambles. Read full review

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User Reviews

joelmpa

Dec 27, 2010

This is a wonderful film. You don't have to be a Ken Loach fan to enjoy it. Loach, who has made a long and varied cache of usually trenchant portraits of British working class life, with sidetrips to the Spanish Civil War, janitor organizing in America, and the pain of the Irish RebellionThis is a wonderful film. You don't have to be a Ken Loach fan to enjoy it. Loach, who has made a long and varied cache of usually trenchant portraits of British working class life, with sidetrips to the Spanish Civil War, janitor organizing in America, and the pain of the Irish Rebellion circa WWI, departs here with a serio-comedic approach that should expose him to new fans. I watched with someone who never heard of him, and is usually drawn to more popular entertainments, and they loved it. Stick with it through the early slow going.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Paxster

Oct 11, 2010

To keep both sports fans and cinema lovers interested during a sports drama film can't be easy but this is well achieved by director Ken Loach in this poignant and interesting British realism film. Cantona is exactly where he wants to be and thrives off of, a vision,a god of the other Eric'sTo keep both sports fans and cinema lovers interested during a sports drama film can't be easy but this is well achieved by director Ken Loach in this poignant and interesting British realism film. Cantona is exactly where he wants to be and thrives off of, a vision,a god of the other Eric's imagination. The scene nearing the end of 100+ Eric's marching towards a house is both strange and yet real at the same time. This film is unlikely to reduce Cantona's large ego, but maybe thats just what the public want. Football on the big screen isn't too bad after all.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Mar 23, 2022

First off, this is not a film entirely about football, in case people think it is. Its very much a Ken Loach film - a piece of British social commentary, showing the life of a working class man, someone who sees themselves very much as a 'down and out' type. Its a sobering watch. Its classedFirst off, this is not a film entirely about football, in case people think it is. Its very much a Ken Loach film - a piece of British social commentary, showing the life of a working class man, someone who sees themselves very much as a 'down and out' type. Its a sobering watch. Its classed as a comedy and I suppose there are some comedy type moments in it but suffice to say its not what I'd regard a very amusing film as such, for obvious reasons. The comedy is mainly present in the scenes showing Eric at ease, laidback with his mates at work and in his house, not with the adolescents he seemingly begrudgingly lives with. This is a quirky film - I liked the morals behind it and I thought the main character, Eric Bishop, was played well by Steve Evets. There's even some poignant moments present and it does feel quite realistic (from what little I know), so I'd recommend it on that basis, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Diezmartinez

Sep 26, 2010

Una especie de versiÃ³n pambolera de SueÃ±os de un Seductor (Ross, 1972). El fracasado cartero Eric Bishop (Steve Evets) se imagina la presencia contantes del centro-delantero del Manchester United Eric Cantona (lui-mÃªme, como dicen losUna especie de versiÃ³n pambolera de SueÃ±os de un Seductor (Ross, 1972). El fracasado cartero Eric Bishop (Steve Evets) se imagina la presencia contantes del centro-delantero del Manchester United Eric Cantona (lui-mÃªme, como dicen los crÃ©ditos finales), quien funge como su consejero/entrenador fÃsico/existencial. Una encantadora fÃ¡bula de un Loach de muy buen humor.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Trailesque

May 21, 2020

This film has its good points, but also quite a few annoyances, too many for me to praise it highly. It tells the tale of a regular Mancunian named Eric Bishop, a postal worker who is struggling with a bunch of issues, like a drunk driving arrest and a couple of sons (from 2 differentThis film has its good points, but also quite a few annoyances, too many for me to praise it highly. It tells the tale of a regular Mancunian named Eric Bishop, a postal worker who is struggling with a bunch of issues, like a drunk driving arrest and a couple of sons (from 2 different mothers) who are not on the ball, and is still carrying a torch for his ex. One of his sons is Black and looks nothing like his father, but this is not delved into at all. The main character (well played by Steve Evets) finds himself under the guidance of Manchester United's star striker, who appears to him in his bedroom and offers masculine wisdom and guidance. Among the annoyances are the gloomy cinematography, the constant nervous energy displayed by the hero, and the overly dramatized occurrences like the blooming post-marriage romance and the run-ins with local gangsters, led by a character named Meatball.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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