Home > Movies > Movie Review > Finding Amanda

Finding Amanda

Nothing cracks us up like, uh, a young girl drawn into prostitution

By Matt Pais

Metromix
June 26, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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To win back the respect of his wife (Maura Tierney), TV writer/recovering alcoholic/drug addict/current gambling addict Taylor (Matthew Broderick) heads to Vegas to find his prostitute niece Amanda (Brittany Snow) and bring her to rehab. What results is a series of mostly comedic but occasionally tearful run-ins with strippers, pimps, a jerky boyfriend (Peter Facinelli), plus some thoughts on hopelessness and the realities of addiction.

Big question: Is this dramedy a moving story of family bonds or an awkward attempt to draw laughs from desperate times?

Skip it: Of course, “Finding Amanda” is really about Taylor finding himself, but writer-director Peter Tolan never finds a tone. An uncle watching his niece pick up a john should sting, not feel like we’re meant to snicker at the uncomfortable look on Broderick’s face.

Catch it: If you, like Taylor, also have been caught puking at the Emmys and tell people you’re going to the dentist so you can go to the racetrack. Hey, at least it’s more fun than the dentist!

Bottom line: Continuing to expand beyond “Prom Night” and “John Tucker Must Die,” Snow convincingly balances outer strength and inner weakness. But there’s too little emotional truth and too many expositional clichés, from Taylor’s past professional blunders to Amanda describing the effect of her parents’ separation and sexual abuse by another uncle. The upside, at least, is the sporadic hard look at the mounting pile of lies that come with addiction, and the danger of taking a “quick break” from recovery.

Bonus: Amanda identifies one stripper friend as “the best Scrabble player ever.” Good thing so many of her clients will ask for a game of Scrabble so they can find out for themselves!

What do you think of 'Finding Amanda'? Email me: mpais@tribune.com

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