The Martins Review

Martins, The
When jobless scrounger Robert Martin fails to win a holiday for his family, he flips out and goes on a crime spree.

by William Thomas |
Published on
Release Date:

14 Sep 2001

Running Time:

86 minutes

Certificate:

15

Original Title:

Martins, The

When jobless scrounger Robert Martin fails to win a holiday for his family, he flips out, like a scally version of Falling Down's D-Fens.

TV drama guru Tony Grounds' feature-length debut is watchable, but like so many Loach-esque tales, it ends up burying its subjects, not praising them.

Evans, armed with mullet and shell suit, struggles sweatily with a serious role, but Martin is such an odious little creep that empathy is impossible. It's up to Kathy Burke to save the day, with a truly touching performance as a wife who knows her husband is a louse, but can't bring herself to leave him.

Proceedings certainly cheer up after Martin's first act crime spree, but for fans of the lead's gormless comic schtick, this is a case of Lee Evans - so what?

Lee Evans struggles with this serious role while Kathy Burke steals the show.
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us