Amazon.co.uk Review
There's a reason you haven't heard of
Cruel Intentions 2, a straight-to-video "sequel" to the seamy teen romp that had Ryan Phillippe baring his polished behind: it's twice as bad as the first one and is only worth a look to see just how embarrassingly trivial it can get. Writer-director Roger Kumble's original was no classic, but at least the game, nubile cast knew how to smack its lips--his follow-up (which, in tamer form, was to be the pilot for a proposed series called
Manchester Prep) can't even pout properly. Phillippe's Sebastian character (here played by a bland, doughy Robin Dunne) is carted back out to be reintroduced to scheming stepsister Kathryn, enacted by a woefully unsexy Amy Adams (Sarah Michelle Gellar played Sebastian's ripe cousin in the first film). The two don't hit it off, and Sebastian--far more sentimental than his big-screen counterpart--immediately decides he's all for love, in the form of pristine deb Danielle (Sarah Thompson). It all amounts to a ponderously cartoonish nothing, and includes a twist ending that renders everything proceeding it completely incomprehensible. Kumble has the film spouting homilies on love and self-esteem, then randomly throws in bare breasts; it's like a horny
Saved by the Bell, without the kick or pace of good camp. --
Steve Wiecking, Amazon.com
From the Back Cover
School has never been more captivating - or challenging - than when a pair of unscrupulous siblings set out to teach each other a lesson in this deliciously tantalising prequesl to
Cruel Intentions.
When the rougish Sebastian (Robin Dunne - Dawson's Creek) is despatched to New York to live with his father and stepmother - after being kicked out of yet another exclusive private school - he may have finally found his match in his equally manipulative and beautiful stepsister Kathryn (Amy Adams - ).
Meeting the stunningly innocent Danielle (Sarah Thompson - The Ice Storm) makes Sebastian plan to put his past behind him and become a one-woman man. However, Kathryn has other ideas; after being crossed by Sebastian she vows to make things as difficult as possible for the couple by throwing a few curves (Namely hers) at her step-brother.
Everything is up for grabs, and nothing is what it seems in this provocative tale of deception, temptation and revenge.