Looking for Eric

Looking for Eric (2009)

  • 84% of critics liked it
    (95 reviews)

  • 78% of users liked it
    (9,171 ratings)

A man trying to put his life back on track gets some advice from an unexpected benefactor in this comedy drama from acclaimed British director Ken Loach. Eric Bishop (Steve Evets) is a postman living in Manchester whose life has been slowly going off the rails ever since his wife, Lily (Stephanie… More

Play Trailer

Unrated,
Directed By
Written By
Paul Laverty
Genres
Drama, Art House & International, Sports & Fitness, Comedy
In Theaters
May 14, 2010 Wide
IFC Films

Critic Reviews

  • J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

    [A] well-meaning misfire.

  • Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

    The film feels a little slow at times, but its characters always seem real, and the final scene is genuinely heartwarming...

  • Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

    In a rousing change of pace, England's master of dramatized poverty, marginalization and despair dabbles in comedy, fantasy, soccer and wish-fulfillment, with charming, audience-pleasing results.

  • Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

    The motley crew of buddies, played by a passel of Manchester stand-up comedians, is a distinctive and amusing lot, and Evets does a great job in the lead

  • Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

    Loach strains hard for fun in Looking for Eric, but he's like a jokester who doesn't know how to tell a joke.

Read all 17 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Joel K


    Looking for Eric is a gritty and realistic comedy-drama, which doesn't sacrifice laughter in-spite of all the glumness. Eric Bishop is a typical miserable northener on the surface, and we follow him through his juggling act of a life, as he's helped along by Eric Cantona.… More

  • Anthony L


    Ken Loach is a great director and doesn't make enough films for my liking. You can harp on about your Danny Boyles all you like, Loach is the best of British (along side Mike Leigh of course). Looking for Eric manages to reach that perfect balance of light humour and gripping… More

  • Carlos M


    A delightful, outstanding tragicomedy that is amazingly involving, blending sadness, tenderness and humor in a heart-warming story with a great deal of amazing performances - especially by a hilarious Éric Cantona at his most philosophical.

  • Alireza M


    An undeniable amusing feel good movie and Ken Loach's most entertaining one.Most of Loach's greatness is due to his screenwriter,who once again did a great job and wrote an another diffrent screenplay,which was flawed but atleast audience's interests were considered in… More

  • Mark W


    The master of British working class cinema Ken Loach offers up a more light-hearted little film in the wake of his hard hitting Irish revolutionary film "The Wind that Shakes the Barley". Eric Bishop (Steve Evets) is a 50 something postman who's life has taken a… More

Read all 15 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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Trailers & Clips