Some superb work in this film that means you don't resent the slightly convenient and twee resolutions.

not in the same vein as loach's previous work, looking for eric is a much more accessible, feel good kind of movie. the transformation theme is good but side plots involving family troubles makes the movie into a tv series episode. some good acting, and a nice little critique of modern football industry in between.

Loach has not shown such empathy since Kes, his 1970 film about a boy's relationship to a falcon.

Eric Cantona is not a man, he is Cantona.

This British kitchen sink realism is really not my thing. Of course there is Cantona to brighten the day, but I found his precepts for life shallow and, well, too obvious.

Considering its fairly original premises, "Looking for Eric" ends up disappointingly predictable. That said, the performances even from Cantona are solid, and it has moments of genuine warmth and humour. Worth a watch, but sadly as a whole quite forgettable.

"Ken Loach worms beneath sooty surroundings to examine the dreamy undercurrent of idealism that facilitates conflict in his Thatcher-ized milieu." - Joseph Jon Lanthier

Really enjoyed the first half of the film. Witty, original and quite heartwarming. Then, for some reason, it does a complete U-turn halfway through and turns into something altogether different. Once the sub-plot with the gun was introduced I completely lost interest - it just left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. The ending was pretty horrible, too.

Hmpf. The movie could have been much better - it starts really well, but the tempo is kind of lost in the middle, and the ending came to me completely out of the blue. Seriously, if you're portraying a social drama, why make an end so cliche. I must approve the main actor though - brilliant performance! All in all, I didn't find the movie to be comedy at all, and I think it could have been done better. It's still a solid Britain social drama though.

Looking for Eric tries to appeal to two different crowds: those that are looking too see a modern iteration of British social realism and those that are interested in English football. Unfortunately it doesn't really deliver enough to any of those two crowds to be a truly good movie. And while it seems like an original idea behind the movie, it ends up being pretty predictable, even cliched. Fortunately the movie is still enjoyable despite this. And Eric Cantona is not a man. He's Cantona.

the worst thing in this movie was the role playing of Eric Cantona as himself. but after around half time of the film, i got even used to him.

- What was the sweetest moment in your life? It has to be a goal, isn't it? + It was a pass.

The magnificently-named Steve Evets, playing at first glance an unambitious loser, turns into one of the most likeable and sympathetic characters in this year's releases - someone you can root for just as passionately as he roots for his beloved football team. A masterful drama of complex human emotions by Ken Loach.

Good film.

A phantom image of someone's idol mentors him with corny life advice, such time-tested pearls of wisdom as "take more risks" and "learn to say no". Where have I seen this concept before? Oh yeah, "Play it Again Sam", "No Retreat, No Surrender", "True Romance", "High Fidelity" and of course "Wayne's World 2" spoofing the cliché. A new low in Loach and Laverty's fast descent into mediocrity.

10 aralik 09.

oooh ahh, can-to-na!

Disappointingly average. Well-acted but thoroughly forgettable, clicheed and predictable plot that recycles kitchen sink realism themes both old and new. It's Loach - whom I otherwise love - playing it a bit too safe. Also: Not nearly enough Cantona.

25/7/9 - Second Viewing. Funny, touching, really well shot and involving story. Cantona is superb.

That's a kind of movie that you feel happy at the end, I wasn't expecting that from a Ken Loach movie:) It is fun to watch and have some very bright moments for a football fan. I couldn't help remembering the old Turkish movies: A lot of bad things happen... And in the end they turn up to unite the family ties. The main difference, of course, there's no Cantona in Turkey.

Very good, it's great to see a comedy with such an involving story and such well-written and well-acted characters, that also manages to pack a solid dramatic punch. Cantona and Evets are both absolutely excellent. I was positively surprised by this, even when I expected it to be good.

A good and fun movie. Cantona is really fun :). All about friendship and family and that kind of stuff.

Great acting and direction in this enjoyable social realist tale of lost love, frienship and football with some Cantona philosophy and humour thrown in.

Funny, touching, and sweet; but, not Ken's best.

Combine a personal hero with a film that's at once gritty, comic, redemptive, inspiring and surreal, and there's not a lot left to not like. An engaging story, deftly paced by a master director and with a cast who could have been born to the roles (and in one exceptional case, were).

Realistic and involving comedy-drama with the added bonus of Le Dieu in a supporting role. Genuine, believable performances by all on show, Evets is the obvious stand-out while Cantona acquits himself well. There is certainly room for improvement but the issues shown are authentic and handled in a restrained manner. Methinks you have to be a (proper) football fan - and even better a Red like myself - to truly appreciate this one.

Ken Loach probes the middle class once again, this time through a football fan whose biggest idol appears from out of nowhere to guide him through hard times. Steve Evets is brilliant.

A little to feel good for me. Reminded me mostly of Calendar Girls, a solid indicator for the lack of grittyness. Also there is way to little Cantona.