CRUEL INTENTIONS

(director/writer: Roger Kumble; screenwriter: novel “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos; cinematographer: Theo Van de Sande; editor: Jeff Freeman; music: Edward Shearmur; cast: Ryan Phillippe (Sebastian Valmont), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Kathryn Merteuil), Reese Witherspoon (Annette Hargrove), Selma Blair (Cecile Caldwell), Louise Fletcher (Helen Rosemond), Joshua Jackson (Blaine Tuttle), Eric Mabius (Greg McConnell), Sean Patrick Thomas (Ronald Clifford), Swoosie Kurtz (Dr. Greenbaum), Christine Baranski (Bunny Caldwell); Runtime: 97; MPAA Rating: R; producer: Neal H. Moritz; Columbia Pictures; 1999-English, Vietnamese, French)

“Rings false and cynical.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Director/writer Roger Kumble (“The Sweetest Thing”/”Just Friends”), in his first time directing a feature film, bases the teen drama on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 novel, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses.” He updates it to modern-day Manhattan. Any depth or the keen wit from the classic novel, is watered down for the film. It’s replaced by an ugly snobbery, a fuck you attitude and in your face nastiness.

The Manhattan spoiled rotten wealthy youngsters, the promiscuous cocaine snorter, Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar), and her stud stepbrother Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe), products of a divorce, wager that if Sebastian can deflower the virgin teenager Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon), the prissy daughter of their prep school’s headmaster, she will fuck the shit out of him. But Sebastian is conflicted when he develops real feelings for her. The wager also includes him fucking the sweet virgin Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair). If he loses, she gets his Jaguar.
 
Everything about this amoral, low brow comedy rings false and cynical. Even if it retains a certain smartness and gets a few cheap laughs, its trite dialogue is enough of a turn off.

REVIEWED ON 7/21/2024  GRADE: C+
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