Film

Finding Amanda (2008)

Movie review

From Short Review - NY

*** (Three stars)
Taylor Merdon (Matthew Broderick) is an L.A. comedy writer and recovering addict who's sworn off drugs and drinking but still lies compulsively about a raging gambling habit. To help smooth things over with his exasperated wife, Taylor heads to (of all places!) Las Vegas to convince his niece (Brittany Snow) to give up prostitution and drugs and enter rehab in Malibu. Turns out, Amanda's just fine, thanks: She's got a new car, a hot boyfriend and a perfect house with pristine carpeting. The characters are soon revealing cracks in their adopted personae, and their permutations call into question standard notions of home and happiness. The film is alternately dark comedy and addiction drama, which might seem a difficult tightrope to walk, but the unexpected shifts in tone jibe well with the unpredictability of the characters' addictions.—Amanda Meffert, digital production director

[This is a TONY staff review, written for the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. It is not considered an official review and should not be read as such. Please think of it as a casual impression from a movie-loving friend.] 

---

• 
•