10 Things I Hate About You
★★★ 1/2
Padua High School was my high school experience. Not exactly, of course. I would be so lucky to attend my classes in a castle near the West Coast. But the vibe of this movie is so '90s and made me nostalgic for my high school days. Whether it was the ska music or the fashion, it's been a while since a movie has transported me back in time so well. I was around the same age as most of the actors when they filmed this movie and I think that adds authenticity to this story. We aren't having to imagine people in their mid-20s pretending to wrestle with crushes or being popular. You can sense that the ensemble is accentuating the feelings and emotions they were most likely going through themselves at that time.
I know that a lot of people hold this movie pretty dear to their hearts. It's probably been since high school since I saw this so I don't quite have the connection that many others do. I was a bit surprised by a lot of things that don't work in this movie, but the things that do work really overcome the faults. This movie is endlessly quotable and although Patrick's (Heath Ledger) and Kat's (Julia Stiles) relationship is what comes front in center, the movie does a really good job of giving all the arcs of the characters their due. Everyone is cast perfectly. We completely buy into Patrick's and Kat's rebellious spirits and completely understand why Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) and Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are perfect for one another as well. As silly as the romantic bets are in the movie, you buy into everyone's commitment. You can tell that everyone is having a lot of fun, and it's hard not to fall into the movie's charm.
It's hard not to watch 10 Things I Hate About You with a smile on your face. It has an even balance of a rom-com and a coming of age tale, and when done correctly, is a formula that can easily appeal to a mass audience. Director Gil Junger knows his ingredients well and lets his actors shine. 10 Things I Hate About You is not severely deep, but most of the comforting things in life aren't.
