Review of Cruel Intentions

Movie #53 - Cruel Intentions

Cruel Intentions is a film about a pair of step-siblings, Sebastian and Kathryn, that make a bet involving sex. In the process, Sebastian falls in love with "The Bet," Annette. It makes Kathryn extremely mad, and it ends up costing Sebastian his life. Kathryn is exposed for the horrible person that she is, and Annette is left to mourn the loss of her beloved Sebastian.

Cruel Intentions is a movie that I had on my top 10 for a significant length of time when I was younger. It was right up there with Fear (also a Reese Witherspoon movie). Now that I have watched it again...which, honestly, the last time I watched this movie was probably 15 years ago...I wasn't really feeling it. Ryan Phillippe is awful. I know he was nice to look at in 1999, but his acting is just too much. To be quite honest, the acting in general is awful. Selma Blair has never been good in any movie she's ever been in. She has this quirky-like thing going that is absolutely annoying. Sarah Michelle Gellar is pretty decent, but she, to me, is the original Kristen Stewart. She NEVER has any emotion on her face. Then there's Reese Witherspoon - bless Reese's cute little heart, but she's not very good in this either. Thank goodness her acting ability has become much better throughout the last decade! She's now one of my favorite actresses, but it took her awhile to get there. I think the only saving grace about the acting in this film is Christine Baranski. Bravo. She's phenomenal in everything and anything she does.

The story gets a little confusing at times because you're not sure why everyone is sleeping with the people they're sleeping with, and at times you don't even remember who is sleeping with who...it's a headache. The redeeming quality of the story is that Sebastian finally falls in love, and he gives up his wicked ways for Annette. I'm not fully satisfied with how Annette and Sebastian end though. I know he gets hit by a car and dies, but I just really kept hoping that Ronald would shut up for a second to listen to Sebastian's explanation. I mean, really, who would believe Kathryn? Ronald even said it himself, Kathryn's crazy.

Even though the acting is not that great, I do love how 90s this film is. So many 90's actors are in this: Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Joshua Jackson! I had completely forgotten that Joshua Jackson played Sebastian's gay friend! That was a delightful surprise. Even the music from the film is very 90s: "Bittersweet Symphony" will forever be intertwined with Cruel Intentions. Every time I hear the song, that's all I can think about.

I keep knocking this movie, but I will say that I do still enjoy it. The characters are intriguing.

Overall, I give Cruel Intentions 3 out of 5 stars.