Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) are wealthy, jaded step-siblings in NYC who are as morally bankrupt as young people can be. He already has a reputation as a serial womanizer, seducing one girl after another and then coldly pushing them aside. (He even keeps a journal of his misdeeds.) Then they agree on a bet: he will work his charms on virginal, principled Annette (Reese Witherspoon), who will soon be attending their school. If he can successfully seduce & bed Annette, he also gets to bed Kathryn. If she wins, she gets his prize automobile. Wouldn't you know it: he finally begins developing a conscience when he realizes that he's genuinely falling in love with Annette.
Director Roger Kumble does an entertaining job of updating the 17th century Choderlos de Laclos novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" (filmed previously a few times) for the youth market in the late 20th century. While it might be uncomfortable for some viewers to see young people who are so sexually decadent, "Cruel Intentions" is a pretty good drama - equal parts sexy, morally dubious, trashy, and amusing. It basically works because the acting is all on point. Phillippe sells his ethical conflict fairly well, while Witherspoon is ideally cast as the innocent being targeted. Selma Blair is memorable in her role of Cecile, a vapid, immature kid whom Kathryn & Sebastian also seek to ruin; she's equal parts annoying and very, very funny. Other familiar faces - Swoosie Kurtz, Christine Baranski, Joshua Jackson, Sean Patrick Thomas (who has a hilarious throwaway line), Louise Fletcher, and Eric Mabius - lend able support, but this is largely Gellars' show. Here, she's clearly relishing being cast against type, and she's delicious as a patently awful person - scheming & selfish.
In the end, "Cruel Intentions" makes it clear that while revenge may be sweet sometimes, eventually there will be a price to pay for messing with the lives of others.
Seven out of 10.
Director Roger Kumble does an entertaining job of updating the 17th century Choderlos de Laclos novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" (filmed previously a few times) for the youth market in the late 20th century. While it might be uncomfortable for some viewers to see young people who are so sexually decadent, "Cruel Intentions" is a pretty good drama - equal parts sexy, morally dubious, trashy, and amusing. It basically works because the acting is all on point. Phillippe sells his ethical conflict fairly well, while Witherspoon is ideally cast as the innocent being targeted. Selma Blair is memorable in her role of Cecile, a vapid, immature kid whom Kathryn & Sebastian also seek to ruin; she's equal parts annoying and very, very funny. Other familiar faces - Swoosie Kurtz, Christine Baranski, Joshua Jackson, Sean Patrick Thomas (who has a hilarious throwaway line), Louise Fletcher, and Eric Mabius - lend able support, but this is largely Gellars' show. Here, she's clearly relishing being cast against type, and she's delicious as a patently awful person - scheming & selfish.
In the end, "Cruel Intentions" makes it clear that while revenge may be sweet sometimes, eventually there will be a price to pay for messing with the lives of others.
Seven out of 10.