‘Cruel Intentions’ Review: Amazon Remake Dishes Out Liaisons Too Sizzle-Free to Feel Dangerous

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As a longtime admirer of ’90s teen dramas and their captivating tales of passion, betrayal, and the complexities of youth, I approached Amazon’s reboot of Cruel Intentions with a mix of excitement and skepticism. The original film was a masterclass in wit and seduction, and I wondered if this new adaptation could live up to its legacy while also finding a contemporary resonance.

I must admit, I’m finding it hard to see the value in the latest Amazon adaptation of “Cruel Intentions.” It’s not that it’s terrible by any means, but it’s also far from exceptional.

1999’s film adaptation by Roger Kumble, sharing the same title as Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ often reinterpreted “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” refreshed the classic tale with a contemporary twist, effectively capturing its intricate complexity. The movie offered an engaging blend of naughty and entertaining elements within its concise 97-minute runtime, boasting a stellar cast whose performances seamlessly glossed over any thematic inconsistencies in the storyline.

Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman’s Amazon series, titled “Backstabbing & Bedrooms,” extends a strong foundation of deceit and romantic entanglements over an eight-episode span (and likely more, given the finale leaves many questions unanswered). The storyline’s modern adaptations often seem superficial, while the cast of attractive young actors mostly fails to make a lasting impression.

This show is somewhat watchable, but it feels like a copy of a copy of a copy in terms of quality, and despite being relatively short, each episode moves along briskly. However, compared to the numerous successful versions of “Gossip Girl,” the long-running “Greek” is less engaging and relevant, while shows like “The Sex Lives of College Girls” returned for their third season this week are more humorous. Unfortunately, despite my viewing, I couldn’t find any unique surprises, performances, or ideas that would make this “Cruel Intentions” stand out on its own merit.

Television should strive for more than simply providing familiar brands and saying “Here’s the same thing you enjoyed before, but with fewer qualities and in larger quantities.” Regrettably, it frequently falls short of this aspiration.

This time around, the story shifts from a high school to Manchester College, a place often perceived as an exclusive haven for intellectuals, yet devoid of any grandeur or striking beauty. The plot mainly unfolds within two Greek houses and a few dorm rooms, making me question the claim that the school is a university located near Washington D.C., as it seems more like a matter of semantics rather than a significant detail. The show was shot in Ontario and could be set anywhere, but it feels surprisingly generic.

Sarah Catherine Hook portrays Caroline Merteuil, a rising Delta Phi president who’s striving to achieve this role as it’s been her long-cherished dream, partly to earn her mother Claudia’s (Claire Forlani) approval, a previous Delta Phi president and lobbyist. However, as a new academic year commences where no classes are taken, Caroline finds herself in a significant predicament: An incident of hazing from the past spring could potentially threaten the entire Greek system. Oh dear!

Hey there, as a fellow gamer, let me tell you about Caroline, a cunning strategist. She’s hatching a plot: if she and Delta Phi can convince Annie Grover, daughter of the U.S Vice President, to join their chapter, they’ll have so much influence, they’d be untouchable, making dissolution impossible. While there are plenty of reasons why this idea might seem far-fetched, in the world of gaming, we call that “immersion breaking,” but in the real world, who cares? It makes for a good story!

To entice Annie, Caroline recruits her stepbrother Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess), who has a penchant for sex tapes and is also the treasurer of the Alpha Gamma Zeta fraternity, to win over Annie. If Lucien manages to sleep with Annie, it’s unclear exactly how this would keep the Greek system intact, but Caroline promises him that if he succeeds in his mission, she will grant him an hour of her time for intimacy. If Lucian fails at courting the relatively inexperienced Annie, Caroline agrees to give him her car.

As a gaming enthusiast, let me rephrase that for you in a more casual way:

What’s the significance of the Greek system in the storyline? It seems to serve as a substitute for the opulence of New York’s Upper East Side or pre-Revolution France, offering a less captivating yet structurally distinct hierarchy. The purpose behind this choice isn’t entirely clear. For reasons that aren’t fully fleshed out, Cece, Caroline’s devoted assistant (played by Sara Silva), accepts a position as a Teaching Assistant for a professor (Hank Chadwick, portrayed by Sean Patrick Thomas, known from the first Cruel Intentions film) in a “Fascism, Then and Now” class. She provides a weak justification for wanting to collaborate with him, but the real intent appears to be exploring themes of power abuse and resistance, as well as drawing parallels between Caroline’s leadership style and that of figures like Hitler and Mussolini.

In a somewhat related note, the latest version of “Cruel Intentions” barely touches on any contemporary themes, although its subject matter could potentially be linked to power abuse and sexual misconduct, a topic that’s been widely discussed in our society lately due to growing concerns about fascism. However, it doesn’t feel particularly relevant to 2024. Yet, if you’re looking for discussions on power abuses and sexual misconduct in today’s context, look no further than the evolving cabinet of the rising presidential administration as a clear example that such issues are indeed prevalent. But let me clarify, this is not a retelling of the #MeToo movement within the “Cruel Intentions” narrative.

Speaking of Goodman and Fisher’s earlier Amazon adaptation based on a ’90s series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, let me point out one thing about the 2021 version of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” – it certainly surprised viewers with an unexpected twist right from the start, setting itself apart from typical adaptations of the brand.

In contrast to the film, Amazon’s “Cruel Intentions” incorporates slightly more profanity and offers a more contemporary perspective on its gay characters. However, it lacks a relevant conversation or innovative twist to modernize the narrative, a unique angle that could give it a fresh feel, or an edge about the perils of growing up in today’s heavily-mediated society. Even the script’s references and slang, while occasionally sharp and humorous, seem more like they were crafted by a millennial-dominated writers’ room, rather than reflecting the authentic speech patterns of college students today.

Funny thing is, despite the questionable tone and awkwardness of the “Fascism, Then and Now” thread, it was what I found most intriguing about the series. It stood out because it wasn’t just rehashing iconic moments or costumes from a quarter-century-old movie, but offering something fresh. But more than that, Silva’s portrayal of Cece was what made me laugh and connect emotionally with the show. She played her as a quick-witted, slightly eccentric character, reminiscent of an Amy Sherman-Palladino creation. There was even a hint of chemistry, albeit inappropriate, between Cece and the professor. A tiny spark, but enough to make me feel something.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to highlight the authenticity that some of the adult cast members bring to the show, such as Thomas, Forlani, John Tenney portraying a conservative congressman, and Adam Arkin who initially plays a stern dean challenging the Greek system in the first episode, only to reappear later. Interestingly, it was Arkin who directed that particular episode, which stands out for its distinctive visual style – filled with tracking shots through fraternity and sorority houses – making it the only one that doesn’t feel confined or economical with its sets.

Concerning the younger actors, I found John Harlan Kim particularly enjoyable as the gay Alpha brother who seems to be Caroline’s equal in scheming but ultimately isn’t. Unfortunately, most of the cast lacks excitement, with blandness being the norm. Hook appears to be a mix between Reese Witherspoon from “Cruel Intentions” and Spencer Grammer from “Greek,” but her portrayal is textbook Queen Bee behavior. This surpasses Burgess, who unfortunately seems more like an affected brat instead of the seductive rogue the character demands. It’s unusual that there’s no chemistry between onscreen siblings suggesting they want to tear each other’s clothes off, but here we are.

The plot structure of “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” necessitates intensity. It demands moments of deception and power plays that sting like a gut punch. It can evoke high drama, farce, or dark humor, but it must elicit an emotional response beyond the casual thought, “Isn’t this familiar?

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2024-11-20 20:26