10 Things I Hate About You is one of those films that signaled the end of an era but at the same time ushered in a new one. The 1999 flick instantly became popular and is still a fan favorite. The movie was a modern day take on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and would serve as a springboard for actors like Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Heath Ledger, all of whom would go on to successful careers. It was well reviewed during its theatrical run, and is ranked highly amongst romantic comedies of the 90s.
10 Things I Hate About You is so much more than a typical teen rom-com though.
10 Things I Hate About You is so much more than a typical teen rom-com though. There’s a real story here that resonated with the youth of its day. It centers on the Stratford sisters, one who is vigorously sociable and the other who is aggressively introverted. Their father, who doesn’t allow either of them to date, comes up with a new rule in which the younger Bianca can date when her older sister Kat does. When both a popular stud and a hopeless romantic set their sights on the younger of the two, a plan is hatched to find the perfect guy for Kat in the hopes of having a chance with Bianca.
This whole scenario is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, wrong. Where the film gets things right, is that the immorality of such an act is addressed. The script penned by Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith does things correctly in pointing out the issue, in no way validating or approving such behavior. Even with this in mind, the film is just fun. There’s plenty of perverse comedy and enough romance and redemption in it to classify it as a soon to be classic. The acting by everyone, though especially concerning Ledger and Stiles, is the most enjoyable part. Everyone is funny and they all manage to play off each other easily. Stiles is the pearl inside the clam. She is able to convincingly put up walls before allowing herself to submit to her own vulnerability. Heath Ledger graciously accommodates her performance, being a generous co-star in allowing Stiles to have the spotlight and only showing out when the scene is about him. Director Gil Junger should garner some praise as well, professionally guiding a collection of fresh actors who were really just starting to find their footing at the time.
The acting, writing, and directing were all in sync in 10 Things I Hate About You. There’s enough fluff in a movie like this to appease romanticists and comedy fans alike, but there are also life lessons to be learned from its telling. Shakespeare having wrote the original play clearly intended this to be the case, and his source material carried into 10 Things I Hate About You without feeling too forced or oversaturating. This film was for a generation who has now moved on from that world, but perhaps it’s time the new crop gave it a look.
