Rotten Tomatoes: 49% This modern update of the novel The Dangerous Liaisons, revolving around privileged teenagers in New York City, is an unapologetically ridiculous melodrama, but an extremely entertaining one at that. Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and step-brother Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) are a deliciously entertaining villain pairing, as they respectively plan to break the hearts of naive Cecile (Selma Blair) and virgin Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). One of the sexiest films of the 1990s without question, Cruel Intentions boasts a gorgeous cast and has them doing a lot of appealing things, and nothing is more iconic than the famous kiss between Gellar and Blair, which has since been parodied numerous times (most disgustingly in Not Another Teen Movie). The plotting is self-consciously ridiculous, and if you take it on its own terms as a bold adaptation of the literary classic, it makes for an entertaining, incredibly memorable ride. Just don't bother with those dreadful sequels.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
