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Dangerous Liaisons
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Racy French adaptation has teen sex, drinking, drugs.

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Dangerous Liaisons
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What's the Story?
Célène (Paola Locatelli) has just moved from Paris to Biarritz with her widower dad at the start of DANGEROUS LIAISONS. There, she'll live with cousin Charlotte (Héloise Janjaud) and attend an elite local high school. On her first day in town, she meets surf star and Instagram celebrity Tristan (Simon Rérolle). Despite her engagement to Parisian beau Pierre (Aymeric Fougeron), she's attracted to Tristan. He uses that to try to win a bet with classmate Vanessa (Ella Pellegrini), an entitled former child star with whom he has a fake relationship for public relations purposes. The pair enjoy challenging each other to seduce different people. Problem is, Tristan actually has feelings for Célène, and these will get in the way of the usual cruel maneuverings.
Is It Any Good?
Looking to piggyback off other recent successes, like Spanish series Elite, this French film lacks the self-awareness that distinguishes a guilty pleasure from a negative portrayal of teens. Dangerous Liaisons ticks all the boxes to be a hit on Netflix, and that's part of its problem. Its creators ask us to believe we live in a global culture, so mean girls, dumb boys, surfers, rappers, and Instagram-obsessed, English-speaking teens exist wherever you go -- even Biarritz. But they might owe Gen Z an apology. These teens feel like exaggerated stereotypes taken from other films and series more than real life, or at least you hope so by the end of the movie.
Based very loosely on the 18th century novel that has inspired many other film versions, this one breaks high school society down to a comparison of 1782 Versailles royals, with today's teens being judged by their positions on social media. It's as cringe-y as it is clever. The actors all seem talented, especially in scenes allowing them to dance, sing, and act in a play within the film. Locatelli in particular is charming as the ingénue, and Janjaud is hilarious as her cousin. But the tale's mixed message is summarized in the way Célène's life improves once she gives up her principles, adopts the online handle Lady F--Kit, and gathers millions of followers on Instagram.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what this film takes from the original novel of Dangerous Liaisons. What other films have been inspired by this story? Where could you find this information?
How authentic do you think the idea of a social hierarchy in high school based on Instagram followers is?
How does this film portray teenage behavior, including drug use and sex? Is the depiction positive or negative? Are there consequences? Why does this matter?
What did you think of the musical the students put on? Do you see inspiration from Hamilton?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 8, 2022
- Cast: Paola Locatelli , Simon Rérolle , Héloïse Janjaud
- Director: Rachel Suissa
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Arts and Dance , Book Characters , High School
- Run time: 109 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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