But after a short meditation session with fellow postmen in his living room, and smoking cannabis stolen from his stepson, hallucinations bring forth his footballing hero, the famously philosophical Eric Cantona, who gives him advice.

It includes the full screenplay, extra scenes, colour photographs from the film and on set, and introductions from Paul Laverty, Ken Loach, Eric Cantona and production notes from the cast and crew.

The website's consensus reads: "Ken Loach's latest is an uplifting, entertaining and amusing socio-drama featuring a match-winning performance from Eric Cantona.

Bradshaw also commented, "Looking For Eric isn't a Loach masterpiece, but it's great fun and is set fair to be his first commercial smash since Kes.

"[9] Jason Solomons of The Observer opined that Looking For Eric "is a strange movie, a film of two halves, one where the bantering comedy of the male workplace mixes with the serious issues of inner-city gun crime.

"[10] Fionnuala Halligan of Screen Daily stated, "Eric runs the gamut from whimsy, social commentary, high drama and violence before moving into a crowd-pleasing, literally rabble-rousing finale" and "Performances are as crisp and seemingly-genuine as in any Loach film – Evets and Henshaw are the main finds, while Cantona does look ill at ease at times and the aphorisms can wear a little thin.

"[11] Derek Elley of Variety felt that the film "is a curious hybrid", and wrote, "As in many of Laverty's scripts, problems of overall tone and character development aren't solved by Loach's easygoing direction, though when it works, Eric has many incidental pleasures.

"[12] Ray Bennett of The Hollywood Reporter noted, "Very funny and a bit sentimental, it's naturalistic comedy of the highest order, with Evets and Henshaw standouts among a terrific cast.

Scott also opined, "The film's riotous climax deftly turns grim social realism into action-slapstick revenge farce.

"[14] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times stated, "Loach and Laverty have packed so many storylines and social themes into the film that the point is sometimes lost in all the complications.