Review of 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) by Jonfreakin J — 08 Oct 2017

Perhaps my current age has a lot to do with a sappy, yet at times inappropriate, teenage film being my all-time favorite movie. Heath Ledgers sharp as a knife jaw line may make me bias. 10 Things I Hate About You explores the reality of living in a world where cliques and fitting in make up the entirety of your life. As a viewer, you are brought back to the 90's, when crop tops, scrunchies, and hair gel were all the hype. Although this movie was made a decade ago, as a younger audience member I find many similarities in teenage life now, as it was then. There are still cliques and people who care too much about how they look which makes this movie still so relevant in today's society. Although this movie is a blast from the past, the humor and character relations make the connection between now and then effortless. This movie is a must see for all.

The plot is quiet easy, and frankly, after watching the first twenty minutes you can predict the ending. Decoding some huge mystery isn't the main goal when watching this movie, but to understand the characters and laugh until your stomach hurts. Kat has grown the name of being quite the peer repellant due to her stern looks and pessimistic attitude. Sadly, for Bianca, Kat's sister, it is house rules that she can only date when her sister does. When the suave guy, Joey, at school has his eyes on Bianca, he goes to extreme extents to get Kat to date the said school juvenile, Patrick. Little does Joey know that Cameron, the new boy, is using him for his money to get to Bianca. Long story short, guy dates girl for money and ends up falling in love with her. It isn't the originality of the film that makes it a 10/10, it is how well executed it was.

Right from the opening scene, Kat pulls up alongside a car full of classmates whom look at her in confusion as she blasts music and scurries off. While Kat's introduction is more of a "beware" than anything else, the first glimpse at her sister, Bianca, is quite the opposite. Bianca's debut is in slow motion, paying close attention to her breath-taking skin and floral dress swaying in the breeze. The juxtaposition between both Stratford sisters becomes even more prevalent in the urgent desire to date Bianca and trouble finding someone compatible for Kat. While the images of the sisters come off very obvious, it is nice to have Michael breakdown all the other characters while giving Cameron a tour of the school.

Within the first ten minutes we quickly learn that Joey Donner is the playboy of the school. Those like Kat and Patrick, who don't seem to care about social image, are seen as outsiders. The commonality of there being one perfect type of girl and boy to rule the school hallways is debunked. Those on top find themselves at a loss, as those like Kat and Cameron get their happy endings. The only caveat to the film is the lack of reality. It would be awesome if all the bad people got what they deserved while all the nice people got a happy ending but that isn't always how it works. From the era, cast, and script, there is nothing huge I would change about this film.

While others may find parts like the motorcycle gone wrong scene as cheap, I find that it makes the film what it is, a romantic comedy. The romance of the movie is to be somewhat as expected. I mean come on, it's a movie taking place in a high school with a very attractive cast, what do you expect is going to happen? The scene at Club Skunk, where Patrick spots Katy in the crowd and can't help but smile, does help the audience predict the ending but how can you be upset at that? This is a teenage romance movie, it's going to have the ending you expect it to regardless. Characters like Mr. Stratford and Michael are seemingly in this movie for their quick jokes and overall humorous atmosphere. The comedic scenes added into this film convert what could be a sappy love story into one for the ages.

There aren't really any surprises in the plot of 10 Things I Hate About You which isn't something you can really be mad at. What can you expect from a teen romance movie? Of course, the nice characters are going to end up falling in love, while others wallow in their own tears, or hunch over in pain in Joey's case. The main goal of this movie isn't to change your life or inspire you to quit your job and backpack through Europe. The small goals of this movie are what make it so enticing. The simplicity in this romantic comedy make it travel well in time as it is still very much relevant today. This film should be seen as a coming of age story. There are so many things that younger generations can learn from a movie like this. This movie teaches self- worth and self-validation. We shouldn't forget about this film simply because of its age but instead cherish the important values it teaches those who watch it. From the humor to the award-winning cast, 10 Things I Hate About You still holds so much relevance in today's society.