'Looking for Eric' a fun curiosity

Director: Ken Loach

Cast: Eric Cantona, Steve Evets, Stephanie Bishop

Cert: 15

The seagulls have landed … and, yes, Cantona’s famously obscure reference to the birds gets an honourable mention – as a snappy one-liner – in Loach’s off-centre film that manages to be both sombre and uplifting.

Evets plays one of life’s losers. A depressive on the brink of a breakdown, his second wife and sons departed, his job hardly earning any money, a drug habit and he’s a loner. Even worse, he’s a Manchester United fan.

One night he is visited by Cantona, his Man U hero, who offers sage advice about how life could be so much better … with or without the seagulls.

It’s a curious film but it’s great fun, even if some of it doesn’t make sense.

Star Rating: 3/5