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.
It's amusing but facile, reasonably clever but hopelessly glib.
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
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.
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
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.
63
New York PostLou Lumenick
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.
50
VarietyRonnie Scheib
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.
50
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
A slight, modestly funny comedy.
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
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.