ChampDavSlim The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

malcolm-mcewen this is an excellent believable story that reflects the hopelessness that many families face. I can only assume that the critics slated this movie because it depicts a world so far from theirs that it is impossible for them to relate too it. For Robert Martin's world is entombed in a grotty council estate and relies on state benefits to support it. He dreams of a happy normal family, one he is desperate to take on holiday, but like so many is trapped, there is no escape from the council estate in the shadow of the football stadium. Martin, who isn't smart enough to get out of his situation but is smart enough to realize it, pins his hopes on winning competitions. His frustration at failing to win a family holiday on a desert island though pushes him over the edge and leads him to take desperate measures. This is an entertaining and believable movie about real life made even more real by the excellent performances of Evens and Burke: far far far better than the 4.9 it is rated here and whilst a 10 is a little generous it is definitely worthy of an 8/10

CharltonBoy 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.

Stevieheuge 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

ASmith44 Lee Evans plays the head of the Martin family, Robert in this low-budget Brit 'comedy'. The director and screenwriter, Tony Grounds, manages to squander Evans's Chaplinesque talents, and comedic grossness of the female lead, his wife (played by the talented Kathy Burke) who palyed to great effect in another low-budget Brit movie "This Year's Love".There are no funny quips, no amusing side-plots and no opportunities for Evans to show off his amazing face-pulling and physical humour which was used so well in the Hollywood 'Mousetrap'.The screenplay is a mean-spirited view of lower-class life in Hatfield, an innocuous, middle-England new town which is depicted herein as a hot-bed of scum and low-life.The characters are almost too realistic in that respect, but have no redeeming features or quirks that make them appealing. See, for example Mike Leigh's "Life Is Sweet" starring Alison Steadman for an example of how it can be done successfully.I have seen Evans live on stage, and I know how good he can be, and how much the UK public adore his self-depreciating candour. He swears a lot as a matter of course, but this film contains at least 20 minutes of "f***ing" out of its 86 minutes running time, and even manages a "c**t" for good measure (written down as well just in case you missed the verbal expletive.)Highlights of the film: - 14-year old daughter giving birth on the toilet - Lee Evans pulling a gun on his son's teacher and saying 'I hate f****ing teachers' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on an elderly rich couple and saying 'I hate f****ing rich old people' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on a newspaper editor and saying 'I hate f****ing liars' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on his next door neighbour and saying 'I f****ing hate people who look down on me' - Next door neighbour on the other side saying 'You f****ed me last week and I've told my husband' - etc. etc.Lee has reportedly said that he was looking forward to shedding the mullet hair cut and burning it on the film's completion. I should think he is also looking forward to burning all the prints of the film...A Smith London UK