04/12/06 Cruel Intentions 2

Cruel Intentions 2 (2000), directed by Roger Kumble

watched w/ Leslie; DVD (borrowed from Jenny) @ home

The tag line is "seduce and destroy." It should have been "suck and destroy your faith in quality entertainment on a purely carnal level that fails to deliver in any capacity an enjoyable experience for all involved in the torturous process of committing this crime on film." Yeah, bought as a novelty gift to our beloved Jenny (hopefully she is fully aware of the gift at this point), we decided to dip into the mischief of the "Cruel Intentions" franchise. I'm a fan of the campy nature of the original film, that does a great job of keeping that immature eroticism naughty. However, from all that I've read about this prequel is that it was going to become a TV show/mini-series and was eventually scrapped together direct-to-video for suckers at the bargain bin. Putting relative unknowns into the key roles of Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe in the original) and Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar in the original, and "Junebug"'s Amy Adams in this installment); the story is supposed to be the introduction of their twisted familial relationship. Basically, it allows the audience another chance to see the perverted goings-on of extremely rich bored kids in a private prep school. Kathryn is the bad girl who has her perfect little scheme of running the school system & keeping her popularity intact threatened by newcomer wise-ass step-brother. They lock horns in a battle of the horny brats, which leads us down the path of seduction, incest, manipulation, harassment, spying and back-stabbing. Eat your heart out "90210." Oh, and there's a "twist" at the end...but you see it coming. What it boils down to is that rich kids are spoiled rotten, have money, have kinks, then can spend that money to live a kinky lifestyle...BORING. Whatever happened to awkward school dances, passing notes, acne, and copping a second base feel? That's the real deal.

1 out of 5 stars