Cruel Intentions 2

Cruel Intentions 2
DVD release cover
Directed by	Roger Kumble
Produced by	Roger Kumble Christopher Ball Neal H. Moritz Charles Pratt, Jr.
Written by	Roger Kumble
Starring	Robin Dunne Sarah Thompson Keri Lynn Pratt Amy Adams
Music by	Edward Shearmur Stephen Endelman
Cinematography	James R. Bagdonas
Editing by	J. Benjamin Chulay James Flynn Jim Flynn Bill Johnson
Studio	Original Film Newmarket Capital Group
Distributed by	Fox Network
Release date(s)	November 9, 2000 (2000-11-09)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Cruel Intentions 2 is the 2000 American comedy-drama prequel to Cruel Intentions and was released direct-to-video. It was written and directed by Roger Kumble, who was also responsible for the first film. The film stars Robin Dunne, Sarah Thompson, Amy Adams, and Keri Lynn Pratt. Both films are based on Les Liaisons dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos.

Plot

The film opens with Sebastian Valmont (Robin Dunne) conversing with his soon-to-be ex-principal and the principal's insistence on having Sebastian's permanent record relayed to his new school, thereby hampering his chance for a new start at Manchester prep. Following his arrival in New York, Sebastian discovers the wealth of his new family; meeting Kathryn Merteuil (Amy Adams) for the first time and bettering her with piano and vocabulary. This leads to a confrontation between Kathryn and Sebastian whereby she states that she has a comfortable lifestyle and that he "better not interfere".

Sebastian later begins school. While waiting to see his new headmaster, he encounters Danielle Sherman (Sarah Thompson), who is, unknown to him, Headmaster Sherman's daughter. A school assembly follows, showing Kathryn delivering a speech to her fellow classmates, but being persistently interrupted by uncontrollable hiccups coming from a student, who then begins to choke on the gum that she was chewing in a bid to stop her hiccups. She is saved by the quick action of Danielle who performs the Heimlich maneuver, allowing the student to expel the gum, which ends up flying into Kathryn's hair. A meeting of a secret society of student elites presided by Kathryn takes place, deciding upon the fate of the new students. This leads them to Cherie, the student with the hiccups. It is then discovered that Cherie's family is wealthier than that of Kathryn; this, and the events of the assembly, cause Kathryn to seek a vendetta against Cherie.

Sebastian, coming from a more humble upbringing, wishes to befriend his house staff. Doing so angers Kathryn, whose day is interrupted by not being able to contact her driver. This, and Kathryn's jealousy of Sebastian, cause her to admit that she is unhappy with her life. Sebastian attempts to woo Danielle: first, by asking her for coffee at her work; then, later, conversing with her over the telephone. Eventually, this evolves into a relationship, but Kathryn, seeing this, uses it as a way to get back at Sebastian. First, by tempting him away from Danielle by luring him with identical twins, who confide to Sebastian that Danielle is the only virgin at Manchester.

Kathryn's attempt to sabotage Cherie backfires, as Kathryn's mother tells her to become best friends with Cherie, in an attempt to encourage Cherie's mother to donate a large amount of money to the school. In the end, Sebastian stays with Danielle; professing his love for her, only to find that she does not reciprocate, but is in fact working alongside Kathryn in a secret plan to dupe Sebastian. Defeated by Kathryn's manipulation, Sebastian states "if you can't beat them, join them," thus leading to a threesome with Danielle and Kathryn followed by an alliance of the three to dominate and manipulate others. In the last scene, Cherie is seen riding her bike, which is run over by Sebastian's car. Sebastian offers to give her a ride, and has sex with her. Kathryn and Danielle are seen, in the front of the car, pleased with the results.

Cast

Role	Actor
Sebastian Valmont	Robin Dunne
Danielle Sherman	Sarah Thompson
Cherie Claymon	Keri Lynn Pratt
Kathryn Merteuil	Amy Adams
Headmaster Sherman	Barry Flatman
Tiffany Merteuil	Mimi Rogers
Lilly	Teresa Hill
Mr. Felder	Barclay Hope
Bunny Claymon	Tane McClure
Edward Valmont	David McIlwraith
Assistant Headmaster Steve Muller	Jonathan Potts
Blaine Tuttle	Caley Wilson
Penny Cartwright	Deanna Wright
Henry	Clement von Franckenstein
Min Lin	Shûko Akune
Court Reynolds	Andrew Kraulis

Background story

Cruel Intentions 2 was originally a TV series titled Manchester Prep which was based on Cruel Intentions, with three hour-long episodes filmed. The episodes were as follows: the pilot (#1.1), Pretty in Plaid (#1.2), and Disfunction Junction (#1.3). They were scheduled to premiere on the Fox network in September 1999, but the show was canceled before any of the episodes aired. The scene where Cherie orgasms while on a horse in Episode #1.3 reportedly outraged Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch. New explicit scenes and dialogue (including the ending) which was filmed nearly a year after original filming ended and were added to the old footage from the pilot and the first two episodes to make this film. The plot was reworked to serve as a prequel to Cruel Intentions rather than a re-telling. Several of the subplots involving more of the activities of the Manchester Prep Tribrunial as well as some scenes with certain characters were deleted. In order to change the storyline from its original structure, several characters got their names changed with the help of film dubbing techniques. For instance, Danielle Sherman was originally named "Annette Hargrove", and Cherie Claymon was originally named "Cecile Caldwell".

Soundtrack

In the film credits, Edward Shearmur's music from Cruel Intentions and Stephen Endelman's music from Jawbreaker are listed as being used in the film.

Other songs used in Cruel Intentions 2 include:

• Thin Lizard Dawn - Weed
• Thin Lizard Dawn - "Under the Wing"
• Jessica Theely - "In Good Time"
• The Julie Band - "Bad Day"
• Cupcake - "Blood Thirsty"
• Treble Charger - "Left Feeling Odd"
• Gearwhore - "Passion"
• Jessica Sheely - "No Regrets"
• Bernie Barlow - "I Wanna Know Where Nowhere Is"
• Thin Lizard Dawn - "Turn Yourself In"
• Michael Greenspan - "I Want You"
• Lorna Vallings - "Taste"
• Shelly O'Neil - "Best Friend"
• Shelly Peiken - "Good to Me"
• Shelly O'Neil - "Make It Happen"
• The Julie Band - "Julie Goes Home Now"
• Jessica Sheely - "Feel Something"
• The Smithereens - "All Revved Up"
• The Smithereens - "The Last Good Time"

External links

• Cruel Intentions 2 at the Internet Movie Database
• Cruel Intentions 2 at AllRovi