Over the years there’s been a lot of Shakespearean imaginings. 10 Things I Hate About You falls under that banner with being linked to The Taming of the Shrew. Starring a group of kids including three future superstars in Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 10 Things I Hate About You is a fun story about growing up, love, and being an individual.
Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) doesn’t get along with anyone and puts up a wall against anyone who wants to be her friend. Her sister, Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), on the other hand is desperate to get with a man and will do just about anything. The problem arises when their father (Larry Miller), refuses to allow Bianca to see anyone unless Kat begins to date as well. Behind the scenes, Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) — who wants to be with Bianca more than anything — works up a plan to get Kat hooked up.
Cameron decides to enlist the help of Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to win Kat’s help. He manipulates Joey (Andrew Keegan) to pay Patrick to date Kat. Everything seems to be going according to plan, until of course it doesn’t. It all comes crashing down and hearts are broken, bonds are formed, and new romances will shine through.
10 Things I Hate About You definitely feels like a product of the 90′s. Any movie with live performances from Save Ferris and Letters to Cleo will help with that feeling. Of course the costume design and language feels like a product of the time as well. The film was actually shot in Seattle, Washington at a re-purposed high school. The building gives off the air of being a castle and adds to the Shakespearean atmosphere of the proceedings.
There are two legendary scenes from 10 Things I Hate About You that bear mentioning. The first of which is Heath Ledger’s musical performance. Deciding to make a fool of himself to show Kat he loves her, Patrick hijacks the PA system and stars signing ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. Ledger captivates with his singing and dancing and the scene is a pure joy to watch. The other scene has Julia Stiles reciting her poem to the class. The poem itself is well written, but without Julia reciting the lines it wouldn’t be nearly as powerful. In the time in takes her to finish the poem she’s gone from anger to sorrow in one fell swoop.
Like all the best romantic comedies, 10 Things I Hate About You suffers from being predictable. That being said it is in a class of classic teen-romances and hallows back to the best John Hughes movies. It launched the careers of three great performers and remains enjoyable 13 years after its release. Give it a try and you might fall in love with the Shrew as well.
4 Hearts / 5
* Part of Romance February 2012