Review of Cruel Intentions 2 (2000) by Jane M — 28 Aug 2010

Nostalgia for the original inspired me to dig out the two sequels, even though I can remember seeing this 10 years ago and really not being impressed. Now I remember why.

This takes place before the original when Sebastian has only just gone to live with Katherine and family. To be fair, Amy Adams does a decent job of channelling Sarah Michelle Gellar's bitchy Katherine, despite her physical differences, she even has the tone of voice down right. What falls flat here was that SMG's Katherine is secretly evil, and this one is more open about being a bitch. It doesn't work - the whole point of the first one was that Katherine lost what was most important to her - her reputation. I don't think anyone at all would be shocked to find Amy Adam's Katherine is a bitch on wheels.

The plot, what there is of it, is pretty much a direct steal from the first, only with twists put in it just for shock value. Instead of principals daughter, Annette (Reese Witherspoon), we have principal's daughter Danielle (Sarah Thompson). This pretty much tacks up the genuine emotions in the original films and turns it into faux lesbian crap. There are no life lessons here.

Heaven help me, I still have the 3rd one to get through...