10 Things I Hate About You

"How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways." When a bad boy is paid to tame Padua High School's beautiful shrew he finds the job more appealing than trying.

On his first day of school, Cameron James (Gordon-Levitt) loses his heart to Bianca Stratford (Oleynik). He asks her out only to learn her father won't allow her to date until her older sister, Kat (Stiles), does. Bianca--and her too-smart and strict father--realizes this means a completely dateless high school existence as Kat is an acerbic feminist with absolutely no interest in men. Intent on winning Bianca, Cameron and his friend, Michael, devise a plan to get Kat dating. They'll hire Padua High School's bad boy, Patrick Verona (Ledger), to take her out. There's just one problem--empty pockets. Unable to pay for the ploy, they dupe a financial backer with his own agenda towards Bianca into employing the audacious Aussie. After that it's simply a question of whether or not Patrick can actually convince the prickly Kat to go out with him, and if he can, will he ever again be the same?

10 Things I Hate About You is more than a remake of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. It's smart, sharp- witted script by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith makes this one of my favorite romantic comedies. Not only is it packed with outrageous and memorable dialogue, but it's full of romance (There's actually three love stories going on. Four if you count the one Ms. Perky is writing. Heck, five if you count Joey's love for himself), heart and humor.

Bringing the sassy script to life is an outstanding cast. Stiles and Oleynik are perfectly paired as the sparring Stratford sisters, Ledger is dynamic as the mysterious, not-so-criminally- inclined-after-all Patrick, and Gordon-Levitt is adorable as Bianca's smitten suitor Cameron. Also notable is Andrew Keegan as the narcissistic Joey Donner, Michael Eckman as Cameron's comrade, Michael, Larry Miller as over-protective OB/GYN papa, Walter Stratford and most hysterical of them all--the completely scene-stealing Allison Janney of TV's West Wing fame as the unconventional, passionate guidance counselor/romance writer, Ms. Perky.

Whatever you do, don't let the fact that this is considered a teen movie deter you from seeing it. Few flicks make you laugh as often as this one manages to. I give 10 Things I Hate About You four and a half hearts.

Cast
Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona
Julia Stiles as Katarina Stratford
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron James
Larisa Oleynik as Bianca Stratford
David Krumholtz as Michael Eckman
Andrew Keegan as Joey Donner
Susan May Pratt as Mandella

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