Review of The Rules of Attraction (2002) by Sage D — 04 May 2011

Another Brett Easton Ellis' famously un-filmable novels, this is not quite as shocking as American Psycho but does make for an overall better movie with another arresting lead male performance.

2003 saw large forehead aficionado James Van Der Beek leave the cosy confines of Dawson's Creek for a while to appear as Sean Bateman, the mostly loathsome centre piece of this college campus ensemble. Rules of Attraction charts the confused relationship between Sean, Lauren and Paul at a prestigious American university.

It's a little bit of a dark version of American Pie and Rules of Attraction is certainly amusing in parts, riffing on the theme of shared domestic bliss with your peers. There isn't much evidence of any actual college work going on, just a series of parties with varying degrees of debauchery but the film does well at presenting the seedier side of the University lifestyle.

Van Der Beek is a revelation in his performance, at the time only known for his nice guy Dawson Leery persona, his portrayal of Sean Bateman is disturbing and unhinged and is complimented well by Shannyn Sossamon and Ian Somerhalder as Lauren and Paul respectively. Sossamon herself is almost as good.

Much like Ellis' work though, Rules of Attraction is a bit of a mess when it's all put together. For every powerful moment there is a boring bit coming up and it doesn't hold the viewers attention in perhaps the way that it should. The adults in the film are one dimensional and rather cliched which does spoil it also.

This is worth watching for Van Der Beek's performance and some nice tongue in cheek humour. It will certainly not be to everyone's tastes and those seeking a happy, fun college campus movie should probably stick to the likes of The Breakfast Club. The characters here would literally eat those in that movie for breakfast.