Finding Amanda (2008) User Reviews (18)

Cannot label it.

[insomniac_rod · 6/10 · 7 March 2010]

"Finding Amanda" is what I would call "an uncomfortable watch" only because I couldn't easily found a genre where it could fit.

I mean, it's not a comedy but it isn't strictly a drama feature. Sure, the plot will make you think it's drama because of the prostitution and "gambling" situations but it goes further than that.

I watched this at midnight before presenting a very difficult exam and it kind of depressed me. I'm glad I came with a good grade!

The relationship between Brittany Snow and Matthew Broderick is the reason to make the movie watchable. The acting is very good. I didn't know Brittany Snow was that talented and she demonstrates it by delivering a solid performance. Plus the fact that she's sexy and candy for the eye makes it easier. Matthew Broderick demonstrates he's a versatile actor.

The resolution is kind of gut wrenching because of the tragic plot but still it's a movie to watch only on t.v. Otherwise, don't look for it.

Not really worth your time

[matz1036 · 4/10 · 8 April 2010]

Finding Amanda, the story of a man who lies more than I can stand and the happiest hooker you will ever meet.

I'm going to put this right out here up front. This movie tried to make a point about addiction and enjoying two vices of society, gambling and prostitution. However, the point is so heavily veiled that it never comes across, there is no epiphany and the ending, while kinda happy, really just leaves you thinking that the time you invested in trying to like or relate to these people was wasted.

Taylor Mendon (Broderick) is a producer for the worst show on TV who has an addictive personality (sounds funny, but it really isn't). He is attending counseling to get over his addictions and while he has quit smoking and drinking, he cannot give up gambling, rationalizing his last quirk as acceptable. After all, he gave up smoking and drinking, two out of three is pretty good! Anyway, after he finds out his niece Amanda is living in Vegas and is a hooker who has a drug problem (and after his wife corners him in a lie) he decides to make it up to his wife by "proving that he can quit gambling" by going to Vegas and getting Amanda to rehab. Sounds noble, right? Wrong! You find out that he is so addicted to gambling that he steals a check from his wife BEFORE HE LEAVES. The first thing he does in Vegas is gamble (again, sounds funny, but it comes across as pathetic). You realize that you are not going to like this guy.

OK, so eventually he finds Amanda (Snow), who is really just as sweet and chipper as any other Brittany Snow character I've seen. She is thrilled to be a hooker since she can afford a nice house and a nice car. Oh, and if any of you guys out there are hoping to see her don a sexy outfit, she really doesn't. She does not put on either the outfit on the poster or the DVD cover (I admit that was some of the allure to renting it, sorry). She wears conservative clothing and does not look at all like a hooker.

So, over time, we realize that both Taylor and Amanda are so comfortable with what they feel is acceptable behavior, we discover that these characters are borderline delusional, making every pathetic excuse to justify that they are happy.

Eventually, cracks in there "perfect" lives form. We begin to not project ourselves on to a character and instead sympathize with the secondary, observer characters that are detached from the action. I found myself relating to Taylor's wife more than any other character, I even related to Steve Coogan a bit.

So, the story begins to follow an organic path near the end and you begin to realize that everything will fall into place, when at the last minute, things just go wrong and the ending is bass-ackwards.

Ultimately, this turned into a movie about observing people who don't realize that they are delusional and selfish. In fact, you will likely hate (and I don't mean love-to-hate) Taylor because he lies ALL THE TIME!!! Chances are anything that you can take away from this movie is realizing that you know at least one person like this.

I did not like this movie, but didn't hate it either. This movie does not have me fuming, it just makes me want to forget that I saw it, and unfortunately for everyone involved, I likely will very soon.

half-hearted comedy/drama

[Buddy-51 · 5/10 · 12 September 2010]

Harried sitcom writer Taylor Mendon is a recovering addict and compulsive gambler who heads to Las Vegas to rescue his ditzy twenty-year-old niece from a career in prostitution and to get her to enroll in rehab. The problem is that Amanda (Brittany Snow) is more than happy with the choices she's made and finds it rather hypocritical and presumptuous of her uncle of all people to be on his high horse regarding how she's living her life.

Matthew Broderick has always excelled at playing the well-meaning, bumbling nebbish, but here, playing a well-meaning, bumbling nebbish who also happens to have alcohol and drug-dependency problems, he defies credibility. Moreover, writer/director Peter Tolan never quite strikes that proper balance between the lighthearted and the serious that he's so earnestly striving for (and which he often achieves on "Rescue Me").

That being said, "Finding Amanda" does have a nice feel for its settings, a partially unexpected resolution, and enough goodwill to almost make it an enjoyable experience.

Great character development

[Gordon-11 · 21 August 2008]

This film is about a troubled middle aged man with addiction problems trying to rescue his niece from prostitution in Las Vegas.

Taylor is hopelessly addicted to gambling, hoping one day he will win it big. Amanda earns money by prostitution in Las Vegas, and is successful as she manages to make money to buy a house and a car at the tender age of 20. It is obvious that Taylor and Amanda are characters with things in common. They live in their own fantasy world, thinking that someday it will magically transform into utopia.

Given the subject matter, I find it surprising that "Finding Amanda" is marketed as a comedy. There are funny moments, but it is more a emotional drama about the two waking up from their dreamland. Taylor's addiction is convincingly portrayed by the adorable Matthew Broderick. Amanda is also a likable character, but she is far too happy and fluffy to be a person with a turbulent background. Greg, on the other hand, is convincingly despicable and disgusting.

"Finding Amanda" is slow at times, but it gives viewers ample time to digest what goes on with the characters. It provokes people to look into their lives, and maybe we can find a part of us that is hypocritical like Taylor is. This film is for people who like serious and emotional films, and it will not appeal to romantic comedy fans.

Lamest so-called "comedy" in recent memory

[hprouty · 1/10 · 23 June 2008]

It is remarkable to me that anybody could even sit through this film -- I walked out after 45 minutes. The Matthew Broderick character, a TV sitcom writer who I guess we're supposed to feel some empathy for because he's given up drinking and smoking (or so he says) but just CAN'T give up playing the ponies, is basically just a jerk, who lies-lies-lies to his long-suffering wife about his gambling, in ways that are apparently supposed to be seen as clever or amusing but are in fact pathetic and unfunny. (Sample gag: he's calling his wife from the men's room at the track, lying about being at a meeting "at the network"; he's frantically trying to tip/bribe the men's-room attendant to "not sweep" while he's on the phone...and then some other guy FLUSHES a urinal. Wife: "Are you in a bathroom?" MB: "They have bathrooms at the network, you know." Hysterical, eh?) It only gets worse, when he heads off to Vegas ostensibly to "rescue" his niece (the titular Amanda) from a life of prostitution -- and instead heads straight for the casino, after having promised his wife that the trip was "NOT about gambling." He eventually "finds" Amanda (although it hardly seems like he's even interested in looking for her), who turns out to be the most happy-go-lucky 19-year-old hooker of all time. (I don't actually know if she's 19 or not, maybe they didn't even say -- she acts like she's about 13, though.) And get this: despite the fact that he finds her turning tricks by hanging around by the elevators in a third-rate casino (with a couple of other skanky-looking chicks), trying to pick up any guy who walks by, we're meant to believe that she's been such a roaring success as a prostitute that she's been able to buy a nice red sports car AND a house AND support a sleazy boyfriend (who apparently isn't even her pimp). But she's a good person, you see, because the next thing we see her doing is going to a REALLY BAD NEIGHBORHOOD (where she leaves her nice car unattended with the top down, at night) to buy heroin (or something) as a favor to one of her girlfriends -- not that she would ever use such nasty stuff herself, but she buys her friend "a little less each time" because she's helping her quit. Or something like that. By this time I'd had enough, and bolted for the door. Trust me, these comments don't even begin to encompass the lame and obvious jokes, the unbelievable plot situations, the awful performances (Broderick's included), and so on. I've never been compelled to post a comment -- positive or negative -- on IMDb before, but if I can save even one person from wasting their time and money on this piece of junk, it'll have been worth the effort.

Comedic yes, but also touching

[shayup · 7/10 · 20 June 2008]

I enjoyed this movie and think that it should find an audience in theaters. This movie is described as a comedy and while it is funny, it is also kind of sad at times. I don't understand the other review that totally trashes it. It's not the greatest movie but certainly above average in most areas.

There are some great comedic moments primarily because of Matthew Broderick's expressions, timing and his overall lovable loser persona. Brittany Snow gives a strong performance as well. The supporting cast also gives very good performances. I found some of the more serious moments very touching. The writing is a bit off beat and at times, misplaced, but the actors do a wonderful job trying to compensate for that. There is also great chemistry between Matthew and Brittany, reminded me a lot of Election with Matthew and Reese Witherspoon. Go see it!!!

Worst movie I have seen in years...

[extremefilm · 1/10 · 9 November 2008]

Despite what many have said... the plot was pointless and predictable, the acting was terrible (especially Broderick) and none of it was original or very funny. This film deserves much less of my time than this. I have to have 10 lines of text to submit this, so I will tell you that this is my first comment on IMDb despite looking at the site and reading reviews a few times a week for the past couple of years. I felt strongly enough about how bad this film was that I finally created an account to spread the word.

I regret watching the whole thing. Please don't make the same mistake. I hope that I can save at least one person from watching it by posting this comment... my joy will be full if I succeed and I will feel redemption.

Decent enough movie

[vampyrecowboy · 7/10 · 25 February 2009]

I've been watching movies all week - actually 2 weeks straight now and I've been doing so many reviews I don't know what to write anymore.

It's a watchable film, good performances from all and overall a good script.

To me, it's the little bit players that make up this movie. Not because the leads aren't good - they are good.

But it's the smaller roles on this that make up this movie.

All the story turns fill in nice and the dialog is a little bit harsh, but nothing that a grade 6 hasn't heard before.

I do not recommend it for family viewing though - unless your kids are hookers themselves.

I must be showing my age.

[bfm_1017 · 1/10 · 6 July 2008]

I must be an old fashioned fool. I watched this movie with my wife on DISH Network, and thought it would have a different ending. I thought Amanda and Taylor would walk together into rehab. I also thought Taylor would womp Amanda's idiot and abusive boyfriend with his broken hand. What was I thinking? A real hooker would never be the same, as described in the movie.

Anyone who was raped would of course be a troubled person. I kept wondering why Taylor didn't immediately report this crime to the authorities back home. I also wondered how Taylor could take that in stride.

So I should have seen the lousy ending coming. My wife did. Very disappointed, I guess, considering the subject matter. Guess I better stick with Turner Classic movies for the happy endings, or Disney. I couldn't wait to delete this movie from my DVR.

Never Trust a Gambler, even me.

[thesar-2 · 8/10 · 5 October 2008]

Though not his best work, (see: Election, and of course the classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off) Matthew Broderick still shined in "Finding Amanda" as a degenerate, somewhat-recovering gambler/drug user/drinker. His counterpart, Brittany Snow – sometime eerily looking like his former counterpart Reese Witherspoon from Election – also did a fairly good job as his prostitute niece. Though not as funny as I thought it would be, Broderick certainly delivers some pretty snappy lines (such as the kitchen knife) and truly shows what goes on for someone truly addicted and trying their best to convince their loved ones they don't have a problem, everything's under control. This is coming from someone who lives near Broderick's character in his lifestyle – minus the drugs and gambling other than horse races, that is – so, though biased, it is more clear to see that stories, lives, end up the same way as this (more tragedy than) comedy does. It's not a family movie, though – they don't just tell you about the prostitute's life, they show you. Absolute recommendation, but a solid four out of five (this scale is doubled, so I selected 8/10) stars as some of the predictable scenes you can see coming from the Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere. (Side note: I read some reviews as this is the worst of 2008. Though they still might not like this film, I challenge those individuals to see: The Happening, 88 Minutes, Indiana Jones 4, Deal, Funny Games, Jumper, Speed Racer, I could go on…)

Really Nice Movie

[robe-17 · 8/10 · 13 June 2008]

A really nice movie. Clever, a lot of very very funny lines, and uniformly strong performances. Better than so much of what is in theaters, I can't figure out why this didn't open on the big screen...oh yeah, it's for grown ups. Matthew Broderick manages to make his wealthy spoiled writer/producer sympathetic, mostly because his lines are so sharp, the character hasn't lost the ability to see the B.S., even as he peddles it. And the girl is a great new version of Reese Witherspoon, but 20 percent less cloying. I love that she's not super sexy: the movie is soaked in sex but not about sex...it treats it in such a matter of fact, American-as-apple-pie kind of way. If you watch this, you'll laugh. I keep calling up scenes and entertaining myself a day later. Congrats to the writer/director... and thanks.

Movies celebrating the depravity in Las Vegas make hundreds of millions

[dcw-12 · 8/10 · 23 January 2011]

This film that takes the mickey out of the depravity in Las Vegas ends up making $50,000 its opening weekend and no movie theater companies take it. I'm not big on conspiracy theories but you figure it out.

There was a time when Hollywood films weaved in human themes with the entertainment and this film hearkens back to those days. Wow I made the film sound incredibly boring but the opposite is true. When the very human and flawed characters resonate then things in the film become much sweeter.

The scenes between the Casino boss and Matthew Broderick are especially well done and funny. Not fall down funny but very skillfully written and acted.

Also unexpected events pop out of nowhere in the film and keep you on your feet and things interesting. And they didn't need barnyard animals wandering around a hotel room to achieve that effect.

Just a very skillfully created and acted comedy/drama that just might change a few peoples opinions on a few things.

Very sweet film.

Why can't all Hollywood movies be like this one ?

[pilotpilot · 10/10 · 20 June 2008]

Let me start by saying that this is an excellent film in almost every respect - clever dialogs which underlie a mature understanding of the psycho-dynamics of the characters, brilliant directing and overall very good acting. The main theme of the movie is denial - all characters lie to each other and especially to themselves about almost every respect of their lives. This is a fresh breath of air relatively to all those formula Hollywood movies where all characters only act according to some ridiculous higher ideology. I feel that for the first time in a long while I am actually watching the story of real people. Although the story in the movie comes to a solution, this is by no means a corny Hollywood like solution but actually is able to reveal some new insight into the story - which is always the sign of a great work of art. I am quite sure this movie deserves a larger audience than it got, I am certainly going to follow the next works of the creators of this film. Great job everyone.

Reprehensible and Charming

[marc-rosenberg · 9/10 · 27 June 2008]

You can't not like Matthew Broderick, no matter how despicable his behavior is. One of my favorite American actors ("Election", "You Can Count On Me", etc). He always commits and is always believable. Brittiny Snow is a face you recognize but it's hard to place. She's wonderful and I'll always remember her now. The other actors are used economically and help move the plot, but the focus is certainly on the relationship between Broaderick and Snow. With Las Vegas as the backdrop there's plenty to look at and appreciate. The story is surprising without being too contrived. A quirky, very entertaining film. It's not a big screen release, and because of the content will die a slow death on cable.

Entering Las Vegas?

[siderite · 8/10 · 21 September 2008]

This film was like Leaving Las Vegas on reverse. It is all about people trapped in lives they can't escape from, regardless of their efforts. Matthew Broderick gives a very good performance, while all the other actors support him beautifully.

It is not a great movie, but it certainly deserves a higher IMDb grade. I believe that the low rating comes from the fact that it didn't end with a happy ending as most people would expect.

Bottom line: A movie about the failing of the human heart, a bit funny, without it being a comedy, mostly a drama, but coated in tear-proof material. It is a film for adults, regardless of their age. Watch it, it might surprise you.

Trying to find Amanda and still looking

[solojere · 8/10 · 31 July 2022]

Finding Amanda is a mixed bag that has some really great moments but also left me wanting more. The film follows Taylor, a television producer with a penchant for drinking and gambling, who is sent to Las Vegas to convince Amanda, his troubled niece, to enter rehab. This isn't a movie for everyone as it deals with a lot of heavy topics such as sex work, abusive relationships, drugs, alcohol, and gambling addiction. But if those topics don't turn you off, I would say it is worth watching for Brittany Snow alone, despite its flaws. I should start off by saying I love Brittany Snow. She is my all-time favorite actor, and I had never seen this one until now. And as previously stated, I have mixed feelings about the film. For the most part, I think Brittany Snow killed it as Amanda. At first, she plays Amanda as a carefree girl who has become a sex worker because it appears as an easy way to make a lot of money. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that she is more complex than she first appears. There is one scene where Amanda is talking about her first experience as a sex worker changed her, and it broke my heart. In contrast, I didn't really care for Matthew Broderick's character. He was just too self-centered and detached from Amanda for me to care about him. I would have liked to have seen him take a more active role in trying to help out Amanda. Or that at some point, he would realize he was being selfish and make some sort of sacrifice to help Amanda. However, he never really gets out of his own way. There were some other good actors in this film that it never really utilizes, such as Maura Tierney. Lastly, I didn't care for the ending. I won't spoil anything, but I felt like I was still trying to find Amanda and closure for her. Overall, I would say it was okay and worth watching for Brittany Snow alone.

A fun movie

[MrOvletine · 21 May 2023]

This is a fun movie to watch if you're a Mathew Broderick fan. There are lots of great lines, especially from Mathew's character.

It also takes a light hearted look at addiction of many varieties. While Matthew's character is likeable enough, he's got some serious problems that he won't really accept responsibility for, but learns the hard way. The movie is set mostly in Las Vegas, and has a lot of casino action, fun hookers, crazy characters and a lot of other fun stuff. Lots of bad language so you probably don't want to watch with the kids. If you like Matthew Broderick, and Las Vegas, you ill like this movie. Thank you.

Unexpectedly funny and realistic - a real gem

[phd_travel · 9/10 · 5 September 2010]

This is a really good black comedy. A gambling addict takes a trip to Vegas to rescue his niece from a life of hooking.

Britney Snow is very good - she plays it straight and doesn't overact or make it silly. Broderick has found a role he is suited for. His deadpan is great. Facinelli is great as the sleaze bag boyfriend. The scene with him at the dinner is priceless. But it is the writing that is the best. The way the dialog and situations unfold is fresh and spontaneous.

The ending is realistic and although it is a comedy it has a good believable ending. It's also a good look at addiction. There is a moral to the story.