Finding Amanda
HDNet Films | Release Date: June 30, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
51
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
8
Negative:
1

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
This dark comedy of addiction, delusion and humor as a weapon marks the feature directing debut of veteran writer Peter Tolan. Read full review
70
Village VoiceElla Taylor
By keeping the tone light, the players human (Steve Coogan has a nice turn as a greasy casino host), and never, ever romanticizing the addict, Finding Amanda comes by its heartbreak honestly. Read full review
70
The New York TimesStephen 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
67
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
It's amusing but facile, reasonably clever but hopelessly glib. Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia 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-TimesRoger 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
63
New York PostLou Lumenick
Much of Finding Amanda doesn't stand up to close scrutiny, but at its best the still-boyish Broderick suggests his most famous character, Ferris Bueller, going through a midlife crisis. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
Finding Amanda isn't bad, and there is some smart, jagged humor. Read full review
50
VarietyRonnie 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
50
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
A slight, modestly funny comedy. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick 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
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
This debut picture never makes up its mind about what sort of comedy it wants to be. But at least it has one--a mind, that is. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
Offers a steady supply of clever lines but suffers from the patina of self-loathing common to industry lifers and the unfortunate miscasting of straight-arrow Broderick as a depressed, cynical hack. Read full review
40
The Hollywood ReporterRichard James Havis
Even the easygoing Broderick can't inject any lift or charm into the story. Read full review
40
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Tolan writes regularly for smart shows like "Rescue Me," but his best instincts deserted him when he set his sights on the big screen for the first time. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesMark Olsen
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 GlobeTy Burr
Finding Amanda, unfortunately, is one vast, irritating surface. Read full review
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