A classic in every conceivable way, 10 Things I Hate About You has remained a mainstay of teen movies. It is based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, and features, for the first time in lead roles, Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.
In the off-chance that there is anybody that hasn’t seen this movie, let me summarise it. Cameron (a baby-faced Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a new student at Padua High. He meets Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) and wants to date, her but her father won’t allow her to go on a date unless her older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) also has a date. So after some shenanigans, Patrick (Heath Ledger) is hired (yes, paid OFF!) to date Kat without Kat knowing any of this. Kat also happens to be a very independent, and cautious with her heart when it comes to men.
Obviously, as Billy Shakespeare himself wrote the source play, it’s easy to expect a good movie. But this really does a good job of updating it for modern audiences. For instance, like I mentioned, Kat is an out-and-proud feminist, and she stays outspoken about her views even when Patrick, who is basically your stereotypically cool guy, doesn’t seem to appreciate it. I really liked Kat. I also really liked Patrick.
Many teen movies combine romance with other teen struggles (which can be nice) but this stays pretty faithfully to the romance genre, in my opinion. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate that. The love that blooms between Kat and Patrick is realistic, and funny. They both are sarcastic and witty, and I love their banter. The chemistry between them is off the charts! Their particular brand of snarky fondness is offset by the cute puppy love between Bianca and Cameron. There’s a great balance. It’s heart-warming and, just a really feel-good movie.
I’ve watched this countless times over my lifetime, and I’m sure I’ll continue to watch it many more times. It’s a good family watch as well, and I’ve noticed that I’ve accidentally been sucked into watching it many, many times when I’ve randomly caught it on TV. Highly recommend, great movie all-around.
MY THOUGHTS
Why you should watch this asap:
- Awesome cast!! Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles have great chemistry.
- The “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” scene. If you’re not going to watch the movie, just go watch this scene. Please. Do it for yourself.
- It’ll remind you of your own high school days, in a good way. It’s got that nostalgic factor.
- The “10 Things I Hate About You” poem scene. So much angst!! This is the blueprint for Wattpad stories.
- Many newer teen movies seem very derivative, it’s better to just go back to the originals, or at least ones that have a new take on it (like this one).
EXPERIENCE
The Rooftop Film Club is hosting a little film season at Alexandra Palace! Not only is this a beautiful location, but this is especially fun because it’s a drive in cinema (!!). You can stay socially distanced, and even get food delivered to your car by ordering through an app. Perfect for this in-between May weather. The season is ongoing at Alexandra Palace currently until 31st of May, so go make sure to book your tickets quickly. It will also feature a 90’s weekend (which is when you can catch 10 Things I Hate About You) during 28th-31th May. The Rooftop Film Club also has other locations which you can find here.
The Film Reports 
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