Finding AmandaMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Finding Amanda."

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 51 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
17 not for kids
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 70
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    If the title "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" didn'' already belong to Hunter S. Thompson, it would perfectly fit Peter Tolan's viciously funny satire, Finding Amanda. Read full review

  • 63
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Steven Rea

    Finding Amanda isn't bad, and there is some smart, jagged humor. Read full review

  • 63
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Broderick has the film's most clever lines, but Snow is quite funny and is convincing as an innocent lured by the promise of easy money. Read full review

  • 63
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Broderick is splendid as the gambler. He knows, as many addicts do, that the addictive personality is very inward, however much acting out might take place. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Finding Amanda is a minor movie for Broderick, but considering where it takes him, it's understandable why he took the role. Read full review

  • 50
    Washington Post | Ann Hornaday

    A slight, modestly funny comedy. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety | Ronnie Scheib

    Although it avoids overt moralizing or clunky lesson-learning, pic's careful balancing act between tragedy and comedy eventually becomes its sole raison d'etre. Read full review

  • 40
    The Hollywood Reporter | Richard James Havis

    Even the easygoing Broderick can't inject any lift or charm into the story. Read full review

  • 40
    Los Angeles Times |

    The problem comes largely in the conception of the hooker-niece character, Amanda, played by Brittany Snow. Tolan never quite figures out whether she is supposed to be a variation on the hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold or a genuinely troubled teen. Read full review

  • 12
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    Finding Amanda, unfortunately, is one vast, irritating surface. Read full review

View more reviews for Finding Amanda on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says not for kids Mature, uneven prostitution dramedy loses its way.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that teens probably won't be clamoring to see this mature dramedy. Which is just as well, since it attempts to put a light sheen on serious topics like prostitution but ultimately comes across as somewhat dismissive. There's a fair amount of swearing -- within the first 15 minutes alone, a panoply of cuss words (including "f--k") lets fly -- and a whole host of vices, from gambling to drinking and drug use. There's also some partial nudity (breasts) and implied sex. And even though he's lying through his teeth almost every time he opens his mouth, the lead character doesn't seem to feel much remorse about it.
  • Families can talk about how the media usually portrays prostitution. Do you think these depictions are realistic? Why would filmmakers want to glamorize (or even just soften) "the world's oldest profession"? Also, is it OK to mine topics like addiction and lying for laughs? Why or why not? And why do you think Taylor volunteered to go to Vegas when he's a gambling addict (and an alcoholic to boot)? Was it all a lie, or did he have every intention of helping out?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: A young prostitute appears untroubled by her profession, except when a client insults her to her face. Even then, she appears to recover quickly; in the end, there doesn't seem to have been much of a change in her thinking, except perhaps about relationships. A man constantly lies to his wife and to himself about his addictions and appears to have little remorse about it, except for when he seems on the verge of losing everything. Men hurt women both physically and emotionally; women deceive and accept all forms of abuse; people take drugs, drink too much, and gamble away their lives. Some of this is played for comedy (laughing yet?).
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: A woman attacks a man after he spits on her face and insults her; a man threatens the lead character after he's caught cheating; a pimp bloodies a man's nose and later breaks his by smashing a Dumpster lid on it. A man roughs up his girlfriend. A father allows his two young sons to play with guns; the only admonition is to aim below the waist.
  • sex false3 Sex: Bare breasts in a strip club. Some sex acts are implied, as when a woman is shown performing oral sex on a man (no genitals shown) while people casually hang out and conduct a drug deal. A lead character is a prostitute and talks candidly about what she does "at work." Pretty explicit descriptions of sex acts and references to body parts, as well as to infidelity.
  • language false5 Language: Everything you can think of, all used early and often: "crap," "s--t," "f--k," "c--t," "dick," and more -- sometimes in front of children.
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Vegas signage; constant mention of Taylor's TV sitcom.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false5 Drinking, drugs and smoking: A lead character relapses into previous drinking and drugging ways (Ecstasy is identified, as well as weed); dealers sell their wares; Vegas casinos ply visitors with drinks so they'll gamble more, and visitors are happy to imbibe, even if some of them are supposed to be on the wagon.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

Finding Amanda Movie Ratings + Reviews

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