Critic Reviews

• Tom Huddlestone, Time Out

  Rothwell does a superb job outlining the personalities within the band, and how much they conform, ironically, to well-worn rock-musician clichés.

• Derek Malcolm, This is London

  There are times when you don't know whether to laugh or cry but Rothwell avoids any charge of patronising them.

• , Sun Online

  But director Jerry Rothwell ruins all that by stealing the limelight with his annoying self-analysis and philosophising.

• Tom Dawson, Total Film

  The film demolishes stereotypes of the mentally challenged, celebrating the energy, desires and ambitions of its protags.

• Rob Daniel, Sky Movies

  Contender for best documentary of the year, Heavy Load contains a classic moment of Spinal Tap-ism as Paul, when Heavy Load is at its lowest ebb, ponders why Michael says he hates him.

• David Gritten, Daily Telegraph

  This is intriguing, though it gives Rothwell another excuse to appear on camera, which he does with irritating frequency.

• Cath Clarke, Guardian [UK]

  The only difference is that three of the five have a learning disability - but in this documentary, which is very funny in places, it's not disabilities that define them.

• James Christopher, Times [UK]

  It's a shade too earnest for comfort, but there's a tribal exhilaration about the band's brave and tuneless journey from a grubby pub to their first festival.

• Leigh Singer, Film4

  The music's so-so, the film is decent if limited but the band themselves are inspiring.

• Patrick Peters, Empire Magazine

  An engaging documentary.

Read all 10 critic reviews