Review of Looking for Eric (2009) by Countess N — 16 Jun 2009

I just smoked a spliff and am awaiting Eric Cantona's arrival. He hasn't turned up...yet. In 'Looking for Eric', before you can say "Ooh la la, Cantona" he arrives in a puff of dope smoke, sitting on our protagonist's bed spouting philosophy as effortlessly as our Northern postie spouts expletives. Maybe I'm not depressed or stoned enough to conjour up the suave Frenchman which is my loss as Eric Cantona sends himself up superbly in this role and proves that he has a sense of humour. Throughout the film, he gives sage advice to a man who's trying to escape the clutches of depression; although a psychologist would probably diagnose him with schizophrenia, his delusion is therapeutic and he slowly gets his life back on track. Psycotherapy has never been so sexy.

Although this film could be a backdrop for 'The Secret Millionaire' in all its woodchip and grime, it has more heart and soul than a chip butty has brown sauce; it just oozes working-class charm. The story unfolds as a group of middle-aged men try to help their disturbed colleague and friend by exploring the modern trend of self-help books. The earthy interpretation of the psychobabble they read together makes for very amusing entertainment. In another scene, when the lads use hockey sticks and oars as weapons to fight off a rather nasty football hooligan, I was agog with glee and realised I was having a uniquely British experience. These middle-aged men are not exactly 'with it' but their down to earth candidness and loyalty is moving and comical at the same time.

Cantona adds some panache to this film and it's all the richer for it although his is more of a cameo role even though the film is clearly a tribute to him. It does show some old footage of his finest moments but his actual screen time is quite small even though he is the erm...trawler beneath... the pigeon's wings... so to speak. This film has feel good written all over it. Yes, it's gritty and it deals with modern day gangsters but juxtaposed with a group of rough diamonds who think that YouTube is a new name for Brylcream, it's a touching laughalong and makes me proud to be British. Think Full Monty meets Beautiful Mind with a splash of French sexiness to move the story along: not a bad combination if you ask me. Now where's that spliff? Maybe I need to talk in a northern accent? Maybe I need a poster? Now where to get a poster of Cantona in his heyday? E-bay? Bet if I mentioned E-Bay to the lads they would think it was short for "Eeh by gum". Love it.