Cruel Intentions Review
by "Scott J. Promish" (scottjp AT concentric DOT net)April 17th, 1999
CRUEL INTENTIONS (1999)
Directed by Roger Kumble
Review © 1999 Scott J. Promish
CRUEL INTENTIONS is the latest film adaptation of the novel 'Les Liasons Dangereuses.' Instead of playing it straight in its historical context (like 'Dangerous Liaisons' (1988) or 'Valmont' (1989)), however, the story here involves modern day high school students, with a slightly incestuous twist.
Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Philippe) and Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) are bored, rich stepsiblings who control much of the social life in their academic universe. Sebastian is a philanderer who gets whatever girl he wants, and eventually dumps her in the most creative and nasty ways he can think of, while Kathryn's specialty is pure revenge. When the new headmaster's daughter, Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon) appears in a popular magazine article, boasting about her commitment to wait till marriage for sex, Sebastian sees a whole new challenge. Kathryn proposes a wager: if he fails to bed Annette, she gets his vintage Jaguar; if he succeeds, he gets to bed his stepsister, the one girl he's lusted after but could never really have. Though Kathryn wins either way, he agrees.
This is a gleefully immoral and refreshingly mean-spirited film. Parents would no doubt gasp at much of the talk and behavior, while this reviewer was made to giggle uncontrollably throughout. CRUEL INTENTIONS doesn't care about being politically correct, favoring realism over being acceptable. (Several reviewers have decried the homophobic dialogue in the film, apparently forgetting what it was actually like to be in high school.)
It's a shame that such good writing is ruined by two really terrible performances. Philippe's delivery is so flat and unconvincing, it's almost inconceivable that none of his character's previous conquests could see through his act. Similarily, Witherspoon's Annette is extraordinarily dull. When Sebastian finally falls in love with her, one can't help but wonder what he finds so entrancing.
Gellar is good, and Selma Blair is very entertaining as naïve freshman Cecile, whom Kathryn attempts to corrupt to get back at her for stealing an ex-lover. Unfortunately, Philippe and Witherspoon do much to deaden the film; too bad - it could have been quite good.
[Review written 3/28/99]
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