As Sarah Michelle Gellar recently explained to Premiere Magazine, "High school is evil." It is this universal truth that makes Roger Kumble’s Cruel Intentions such a brilliantly low brow idea. This writer/director has taken Choderlos de Laclos’s 18th Century novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and reinvented it for the WB crowd. Kumble has set his dark little cautionary tale in the world of spoiled Manhattan rich brats. Anyone with an honest recollection of how catty and heartless high school students can be must realize instantly what a brilliant concept this is…assuming that the film not pull any punches. This one doesn’t! And I’ll be darned if this translation isn’t more wicked fun than the previous faithful adaptions, Valmont and Dangerous Liasons.
Gellar has the plum role of Kathryn, the ultimate bitch goddess and manipulator. Taking on a character made famous by Glen Close has gotta be intimidating for any actress. Luckily, Gellar of Buffy fame, understands that she’s not gonna challenge Close in the dramatic department and chooses to simply have fun with the part. Her campy, over-the-top performance is one of the chief highlights of the film. Fans of her television series are sure to be shocked by the sexual barracuda that she portrays here. And yet, the film does share Buffy’s vision of high school as hell. However, in this case, the demons are the students.
Not quite as effective, but equally gorgeous is Ryan Phillippe as Sebastion Valmont. Sebastion is Kathryn’s step-sibling and eventually becomes her co-conspirator. I can’t say that I necessarily bought his Valmont as a dominant destroyer of women’s chastity. But, it was sure fun giving him the benefit of the doubt. Much more believable are the scenes where Kathryn toys with his libido by denying him the one thing he can’t have….her.
However, Phillippe does get extra points for providing the only nude scene in the flick. I love it that the old double standard of showing the women naked and leaving the guys fully clothed gets reversed here. But, I shouldn’t fail to mention that the majority of Gellar’s wardrobe is transparent.
Reese Witherspoon makes less of an impact with her character, Annette Hargrove. She simply isn’t given enough to do as the object of Valmont’s deepest desires. The poor thing gets upstaged by the impeccable wardrobes and sets; elements that the filmmakers seemed to have spent more time on than developing her character. Luckily, Reese is the kind of actress who radiates screen presence even when the script is lacking. For a look at Reese in a great role, check out the underrated dark comedy Freeway.
The thing that really makes this flick click where others have failed is it’s daring and unflinching look at youthful cruelty and sexuality. While the nudity is minimal, there are scenes here that are so shocking, nothing since Bodyheat can really compare. Even the gay content, provided by Dawson’s Creek’s Pacey, is presented with the same blunt charm. In fact, he has a line describing his closeted football playing lover, that I can’t imagine making it into the final cut of any other teen flick. Also, Gellar has a lesbian-themed scene in Central Park that demands to be viewed on the large screen.
So, if you’re looking for a guilty pleasure that will have you rolling in the aisles and gasping in your seat…this is your film! Just be forewarned, while these kids look like they belong on a sitcom, they’d be more at home on a soft-porn soap opera.
Rating: 
1/2
Cruel Intentions - Official Site
