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Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe
Director: Roger Kumble
Genre: Drama
Year: 1999
Rating: 2 / 5

Roughly one hour into Cruel Intentions, the "modern" update of Dangerous Liaisons, I was certain that the film was looking like a younger take on Wild Things, the campy hit from 1998. And for roughly two-thirds of Roger Kumble's movie, that was the case, and, as a fan, I could not have been more entertained. The film did not take itself too seriously, deftly adapting the classic literature for the 1990s. Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar, starring as wealthy step-siblings Kathryn Merteuil and Sebastian Valmont, were having about as much fun as possible, and the film was excelling with the already-patented blend of sexually-charged, libido-driven humor. Something happened, unfortunately, on the way to the film's conclusion, sucking the very life out of the film and making it a painful one to watch.

Kathryn Merteuil (Gellar) is the most popular girl in her upper class, snobby high school, over-sexed and conniving in every way. Her step-brother Sebastian (Phillippe) has a reputation that would do Wilt Chamberlain proud, as he has been able to have any woman he wants. Every woman, that is, except his step-sister, who toys with him mercilessly. After reading a "Why I'm going to wait" magazine article by Annette Hargrove, a new transfer to his school, Sebastian determines that she will be his greatest conquest. Certain that this will not be the case, Kathryn suggests a wager: if Sebastian is able to sleep with Annette (Reese Witherspoon), he can have Kathryn any way he wants her. However, if he fails, Kathryn takes ownership of Sebastian's beloved car.

Throughout these early stages of the movie, we are given glimpses of Sebastian's playboy ways, as he carelessly disregards all emotional attachment in the name of the next great conquest. Kathryn, meanwhile, is kept busy with typical high school antics, though on a much grander and malicious scale. It seems an ex-boyfriend of hers is currently hot-to-trot for a young, naïve freshman at the school. Sensing an opportunity for revenge, she enlists Sebastian's help to "corrupt" this young girl, thus ruining the reputation of her ex-boyfriend's new flame. Seeing Kathryn play up to the young girl (Selma Blair) and her mother (Christine Baranski), while at the same time plotting maniacal schemes, is a true treat for the viewer.

The film fails when it veers away from this raunchy fun. In his quest to woo Annette, Sebastian slowly finds himself falling for her. This causes him to second-guess his motives and the very direction of his life, and as we see him change, we lose all interest in the movie. Kathryn exudes less camp and more vamp, and the film even attempts to elicit a few tears from us in the end. There is very little payoff in this film, be it emotional or humorous, and we are left to ponder how a film with such potential could turn sour so fast. Phillippe and Gellar give it the old college try, but the material invariably leaves them lacking. Films like this are never based on fine acting, however, and this adaptation's flaws cannot be saved by a few good performances. For campy fun, Wild Things is the way to go; to experience this film as it was meant to be seen, Dangerous Liaisons is the ticket. Cruel Intentions is for Buffy addicts only.

Cast:

Sarah Michelle Gellar..........	Kathryn Merteuil
Ryan Phillippe..........	Sebastian Valmont
Reese Witherspoon..........	Annette Hargrove
Selma Blair..........	Cecile Caldwell
Joshua Jackson..........	Blaine Tuttle

Certification: Rated R for language and sexual situations.
Running Time: 95 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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