Looking For Eric

Finally.

Lovely little piece, this. Eric Bishop is a downtrodden man. A 50 year old
postman, who lives with two stepsons who don't respect him, and is borderline
suicidal. Seeing him in an appalling state, his mates at work rally round, and
get him to try some self-help book by Paul McKenna. As part of this, he's
encouraged to visualise someone he admires, and try to emulate their
confidence. Obviously, he chooses Eric Cantona. Soon enough, he begins to see
Eric Cantona whenever he's alone, and begins to take advice from him.

As a result, he begins to try make changes to his life, and those of his
family.

It's witty and amusing, and has that Ken Loach Ring Of Authenticity(tm), which
really makes the film. You could probably point to a hundred Hollywood comedies
with the same sort of "Loser turns his life around" plot, but this film has the
kind of writing and performance which lifts it way above that. If anything, the
film is let down by the Imaginary Cantona schtick; Cantona is, after all, just
his inner voice, this film is more about a man taking control of his own life,
than being encouraged by some magical, mystical life coach.

It all comes to a slightly over the top conclusion, which doesn't quite chime
with the gritty goings on of the rest of the film, but when the dust settles,
the message is not so much that you can solve all your problems by being like
Cantona, so much as that it's possible to get yourself out of a rut and
pointing in the right direction, with a little confidence.