Looking for Eric
by Warren Curry
5/12/10
I have stated, in reviews of previous Ken Loach films, that even the director’s less impressive work still has more worthwhile qualities to offer than most movies. But judged by just about any standards, the veteran British director’s “Looking for Eric,” which premiered in competition at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, is a trivial, forgettable film. Though certainly well intended and with a pleasant enough spirit, it lacks anything in the way of urgency, usually the defining trait of a Ken Loach movie. It’s generally easy enough to find at least one aspect of the director’s films worth praising, but any sincere accolades I could offer “Looking for Eric” would require an equal abundance of strain and creativity.
Perhaps one problem is that, prior to seeing this film, I had never heard the name Eric Cantona. Cantona, as some may know, was a French soccer player who achieved fame in Europe while starring for Manchester United in the 1990s. And in “Looking for Eric,” he plays himself; however, he’s only a figment of lead character Eric Bishop’s (Steve Evets) imagination. Eric, a sad sack British postman whose life is steadily unraveling, is in need of any guidance to help him deal with his ungrateful stepsons, the return of his first wife, Lily (Stephanie Bishop), whom he walked out on decades earlier, and just general doldrums. This guidance comes in the form of the imaginary Cantona, who (humorously?) begins to visit and advise Eric.
Cantona’s words of wisdom motivate Eric, and in short order the man starts putting his foot down at home and appears to be succeeding in his attempt to rekindle a relationship with Lily. But when one of his stepsons runs afoul of a local hoodlum, it seems that trouble had only fleetingly exited Eric’s life. Even the fighting spirit of Cantona might not be enough to save the day.
Loach, who typically traffics in the cinematic world of tough, gritty realism, has made affable films in the past, yet what’s peculiar about “Looking for Eric” is the extent to which it lacks any substantive drama. Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty, a frequent collaborator, are never able to establish a distinct mood, as the narrative just kind of bounces around, often absent of any clear purpose. Main character Eric is only sympathetic to a point because, quite simply, he isn’t all too interesting. And due to my lack of familiarity with Cantona, the soccer star’s pow-wows with our mundane protagonist regrettably inspire shrugs instead of smiles.
This isn’t to say the film is devoid of small pleasures, as Loach elicits typically strong performances from his cast, and there are moments, especially in the interaction between Eric and Lily, when the movie finds firm footing. But it’s unable to sustain any momentum it generates, and when I’m reduced to searching for “small pleasures” in Ken Loach films, then something is definitely wrong.
Loach doesn’t change his style or technique here, and maybe that’s the biggest problem. A different approach to this material — something more buoyant, less matter-of-fact — likely would’ve served it better. My disappointment in “Looking for Eric” will do nothing to change the fact that Loach is one of my favorite filmmakers, but, like any artist, he has limitations. In this particular case, he simply doesn’t feel like the right man for the job.
contact: wcurry718@yahoo.com
Looking for Eric (UK/2009)
Director: Ken Loach
Cast: Steve Evets, Eric Cantona, Stephanie Bishop, John Henshaw
Not rated, 117 minutes
(IFC Films; opens in New York City and on demand May 14, 2010; opens in Los Angeles and additional cities May 21, 2010)