Known as a loose adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) is a movie treat for all fans of the English bard and the 90s era. The film stars Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, as Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona, respectively.
The story follows the clever and beautiful Kat Stratford who seemingly drives boys away because of her abrasive attitude. Her sister, Bianca, wants to go on a date but is unable to until Kat gets a boyfriend, which is quite the house rule. When Kat meets Patrick, their lives get entangled.
Nostalgia Of The 90s
The 90s film era has a charm on its own, and it clearly stood out in this movie. The setting, costumes, cinematography, and even the year it was filmed screams nostalgia. There is no better way to reminisce the old days than watch teens on the cusp of adulthood fall in love, attend parties, and survive high school.
It is also authentic in every way possible because, as a movie released during the peak of one of the best eras in cinema, it captured the essence and ambiance of the time.
Julia Stiles And Heath Ledger
Two of Hollywood’s biggest and beloved 90s stars, Julia and Heath had a chemistry that every rom-com fan supported. While Heath was already popular, this movie catapulted Julia’s career into stardom. Even after all these years, she is still linked to this specific movie.
Their characters’ personalities are no doubt on both opposite sides of the pole, and somehow, they managed to fit like a jigsaw puzzle without shrinking themselves. They are indeed the perfect cast for Stratford and Verona.
For The Fans Of Shakespeare
A lot of Shakespeare’s plays have been adapted both on stage, on television, and in films. 10 Things I Hate About You shares a similar trope to the play The Taming of the Shrew. It is a comedy about a husband who must tame his headstrong wife. It also includes two sisters, with the younger one being more desirable.
With this idea, one can easily identify that the more attractive sister is Bianca. Then, the headstrong wife must refer to Kat. The latter is often called a “shrew” on campus because of her stubbornness and sometimes ill-mannered approach.
Twist In The Plot
While the entire “taming of the shrew” theme is quite entertaining, the set-up date storyline will always be iconic. The thing about this plot is it does not look like a forced dating between Patrick and Kat hence, it does not feel too cheesy or trite at all. They just went with the flow until both of the characters’ emotions reached development.
Comedic Timing
Another remarkable thing about the movie is how they executed the funny scenes smoothly. The jokes are so natural, and the actors just delivered them seamlessly without trying too hard.
When you pair good scriptwriting with talented actors, it creates high-quality movie content that fans will appreciate and love even after decades.
