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The Martins [2001]
![The Martins [2001]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V1JNBZQVL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £13.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Martins is a very dark, but also very funny tale of the urban underclass in modern Britain. Lee Evans is Robert Martin, an unemployed dreamer who tries to provide for his family the only way he knows how--by entering every competition he can. When the prize of a holiday is snatched away from him he embarks on a Falling Down-style wave of retribution, first on the local newspaper, then his son's school and finally the middle-class suburban couple who have "stolen" his prize. As he's shown in films such as Funny Bones and There's Something About Mary, Evans is an accomplished actor as well as a physical comedian, but the real revelation here is Kathy Burke, who imbues her character with a warm emotion and pathos as well as exhibiting the deftness of comic touch that we have come to expect from her. The simple but effective plot loses its way on a couple of occasions, but where the film really succeeds is in giving depth to a collection of characters who, while they may appear quite repulsive on the surface, are in reality just as human as the rest of us. Although it's worlds away from glib Hollywood feel-good comedy, in the end The Martins does suggest that a little glimmer of hope can go a long way, something that makes this particular film all the more endearing. --Phil Udell
Fantastic
Review date: 2007-04-28 Rating: 10 out of 10
This film is a must for everyone. I enjoy Lee Evans' stand up, but was a little sceptical about how he would appear on the big screen. He was an absolute revelation, brilliantly acted and his timing is pure perfection.
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Reviews
truly awful
Review date: 2007-01-11 Rating: 2 out of 10
this is an awful film featuring an overly stereotyped, loathsome family with whom it is impossible to empathise - it doesn't matter whether this is supposed to be comedy or not, they're awful whichever view you take. because of this the film fails, because you just don't care about any of the characters, even if you're not taking the film seriously.
admittedly, i'm probably biased because i can't stand lee evans, who may or may not be a good comedian (depending on your point of view) but whose acting ability is limited to the same character in everything i've ever seen him in. kathy burke is wasted in this, though she puts in a typically good performance. the supporting cast seems to be made up of extras who acted like they were straight out of stage school, delivering cringe-worthy exposition instead of dialogue, a technique which should have been left behind in school drama lessons, where it belongs.
the only good thing about this film was the cameo from ray winstone, which is the only thing that made me laugh.
"The Martins" or "The Martyns"?
Review date: 2004-05-28 Rating: 4 out of 10
I recall going to see this movie when it came out in 2001.
I had time to waste and decided to waste it on this film.
The film itself is worth a single viewing if purely for the scenes in and around Hatfield. The storyline itself has enough humour for one viewing, although having sympathy for the character played by Lee Evans is, at times, difficult.
However, I have one major gripe with this film...
When it came out at the cinema, it was called "The Martyns"
Today, it is called "The Martins". Only a solitary "Bob Martyn" appearance in the cast list confirmed to me that I wasn't losing my memory.
Maybe it is for American audiences, who most likely also have the film subtitled?
absolutely hilarious!
Review date: 2002-10-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
this video is fab! lee evans is hilarious in this! kathy burke is a great actress! it's a fab dark comedy with side splitting consequences! once an angry man doesn't win a dream holiday but he's gonna make sure he gets it! you just know lee evans is gonna pull off another of his fantastic performances!
Fantastic
Review date: 2002-03-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
The first attempt at cinema by the talented Tony Grounds - a BAFTA nominated writer for Birth Marriages and Deaths. This film gave me every emotion imaginable as Lee Evans makes you both laugh and cry. A poor but true image of Hatfield!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Linda Bassett
Eric Byrne
Lee Evans
Kathy Burke
Terri Dumont
Creators:
Lee Evans (Primary Contributor)
Kathy Burke (Primary Contributor)
Tony Grounds (Writer)
Bruce Davey (Producer)
Dixie Linder (Producer)
Greg Brenman (Producer)
Paul Tucker (Producer)
Peter Bennet-Jones (Producer)
Ralph Kamp (Producer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Icon Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Icon Home Entertainment
EAN: 7321900931991
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2002-03-18
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 83 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001-09-14
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)