d_art
In this British film directed by Ken Loach, Sreve Evets plays Eric Bishop, a middle aged postman, a single parent with two unruly stepsons by a wife who had left him, whose life seems to be going downhill. Eric recently bumped into his old flame, Lily, his first wife, whom he hadn't met since he left her nearly 30 years ago when she became pregnant. He wants to reconnect, but he is burdened with guilt and a low self-esteem. His friend, Meatballs, wanting to build up Eric's confidence, suggests to him to try to emulate his favorite person. One day, Eric's favorite footballer (soccer player) Eric Cantona from Manchester United, suddenly appears in his bedroom. The philosophical Eric Cantona becomes his life coach and persuades Eric to reconcile with Lily as well as connect with his two sons, one of whom is entangled in some deep trouble with a violent gang.This film was a surprise. It starts off slow with an uncomfortable, realistic, somber tone. We meet Eric, a depressed, and somewhat closed, individual who appears to have given up on life. He winds up in the hospital after driving on the wrong side of the road. One would not believe this film is actually more of a comedy (plus a mix of fantasy) going in. Director Ken Loach balances the extremes quite deftly and throws many surprises along the way.Much of the humor comes from the situations, characters, and dialogue, yet the characters feel real, and the emotions are true to life and relatable. Yes, there's also a fantasy element--Eric Cantona's sudden appearance. Thankfully, the film is not yet another "hero worship" fantasy film like let's say…Space Jam (starring Michael Jordan), or Sidekicks (starring Chuck Norris)… where the film's biggest asset is the celebrity. Cantona's appearance does enhance the humor, but the story stands on its own just fine without him as well. The film is really about Bishop trying to find himself (thus, the title). Bishop is timid, aging, prone to panic attacks, his stepsons treat him like a doormat, and he lacks confidence. Once Cantona becomes like a Yoda figure, of sorts, whom only Bishop can see, Bishop starts to take more chances, build confidence, and grow. Bishop's change is a natural progression, and one can't help but root for him.Steve Evets is particularly great as Eric Bishop, displaying a wide range of emotions, often unable to deal with obstacles that life throws at him. Eric Cantona feels natural playing himself and appears to have a French proverb (which he thankfully translates, although, in French-accented English) in reaction to every problem that Bishop has, while occasionally poking fun at his own celebrity status. Stephanie Bishop feels real and likable as Lily, Bishop's long-suffering first ex-wife.The supporting characters bring a lot of heart to the film. Meatballs (John Henshaw), is particularly hilarious as the gruff, yet big-hearted leader of the postmen that Bishop works with. Some of the amusing scenes involve him trying to get others at the post office to cheer the emotionally-closed Bishop up, making them tell jokes to Bishop which all fall flat, and getting everyone to participate with Bishop in group breathing and self-help exercises from a book he borrowed from the library. These post office friends all have distinctive personalities and are, consequently, die-hard fans of football as well.I loved the story and the way the plot progressed. Many things come up in a way that's unpredictable. There is an overriding theme in the film—if you have friends, you don't have to go about it alone. Throughout the story, Bishop finds that he can open up to people like Lily and his friends, and when he finds that one of his sons is embroiled in deep trouble, the eventual solution to the problem, which drives that theme home, is both hilarious, clever, and utterly rewarding.One of the problems many American viewers may have with this film will be the British accents, where unfamiliar words and inside jokes can zip by quickly. Now, when Cantona starts speaking French-accented English, it can get extra hard to understand at times, especially when he also mixes that with French. Nevertheless, many will find it a rewarding experience once they stick around. The pacing of the film is also noticeably slower in the first half of the film, while it picks up briskly in the second (I suppose not unlike an actual soccer game). To add, many American viewers won't fully appreciate the celebrity status of Cantona like the Brits or the French. Luckily, many flashbacks replay some of his memorable plays to help us better appreciate him.Overall, I found the film rewarding with its rich characters, stark reality, and funny situations. The film throws some great twists, which are dramatic and funny. I have an unsettling feeling, however, that it won't be too long until someone in Hollywood decides to make a remake of this film. Looking for Kobe, perhaps? I shudder thinking about it. I give Looking for Eric *** ½ out of **** stars.You can follow my articles on http://twitter.com/d_art
