Finding Amanda

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.

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…)

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.

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.

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.