The Martins

Lee Evans puts in a superb performance as Bob Martin in this poignant black comedy, proving his comic talent transfers just as easily to the big screen. Kathy Burke also puts in a flawless performance as his long suffering wife.

The picture tells the story of a family we all know, from any council estate around England, neighbours from hell type stuff, and yet at the same time makes you identify with the plight of the main character as he struggles to make sense of his life.

There are some great visual gags as well as some genuinely funny lines and all the while you feel as though Evans is an almost psychotic who could snap at any moment.

If you liked The Parole Officer, I think you'll like this, although slightly darker, the comedy is on a par with Steve Coogan.

Slammed by the critics, The Martin's never really had a chance. Simple.

However, being a heuge fan of Lee Evans, i went along anyway, and thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the cinema. The Martins has flawless performances throughout, and while being cheap, and to be honest, very badly written, it still provides enough laughs to keep you in your seat.

Lee Evans never gets the opportunity to truly show his comic genius, but does do his job well enough to keep fans entertained. And as British as he is, he really should be given the opportunity to take on some more roles in Hollywood, and be given more screen time than his previous well received efforts, such as in Mouse Hunt, and The Fifth Element. The Martin's is not great, but certainly worth a watch. 5/10.................................................................

GYKO

The Martins is a brilliant little film that although maybe is not as funny as you would hope from a Lee Evans movie is still superb for many other reasons. It is about a man who has been a faliure most of his life but still tries to do the best for his family who he loves very much. Everything he does turns sour , so one day he snaps and does the best for his family whatever the cost maybe. Lee evans and Kathy Burke are fantastic as the parents in this disfunctional family and you feel so much for them. Most people will sympathise with Evans's character even if he does have sex with his neighbour,tie up and steal from an old couple and threaten everyone with a gun!. I thought this was a nice movie that only adds to the growing reputation of the two leading actors .Sit back and enjoy. 8 out of 10.

This portrait of a deadbeat family is much more touching than I expected. Complaints that it crosses "genres" seem to me to be pointless. Its weakness is the plot...its strength is the pairing of Lee Evans and Kathy Burke; I have always that one of the strengths of Evans' loveable-nitwit stand-up routine is the charge of anger which runs through it. In The Martins he gives the anger free rein with scary effect. On the other hand, are we to believe in a man who can tie up two old people and leave them, for all he knows, to die of thirst and hunger in a cellar, yet will not raise a hand to defend himself against his righteously angry wife? It doesn't quite add up. But it's a really enjoyable and moving film with a life-affirming message, brought home most strongly in the wonderful childbirth scene. At least this movie challenges us to think about how little value we attach to people whom we perceive as too poor, stupid or ugly to be noticed.

After hearing everyone bad mouth this movie, I went into it thinking that it was bad. But I came out thinking that it was good.

The movie really made me think that all you really need in life is your family. You dont need everything else everyone has. You only need what you have to live.