*. I’m not a big fan of high school rom-coms, in part because I find the humour dates very quickly and perhaps more because I hated high school with a passion. There was nothing romantic or funny about the experience, as far as I was concerned.
*. Nevertheless, such movies have proven durable. Not only because they appeal to the chief demographic of what remains of the moviegoing public, but also because a handful of titles have kept their charm. 10 Things I Hate About You being one such film. It was fun in 1999, and is still enjoyable today.
*. I don’t think that’s because Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, which the story is based on, is such a timeless tale. It isn’t, and when you get down to it, this updating of Shakespeare only maintains a superficial connection to the original (Padua High School, some of the character names, etc.). The whole business of Kat’s “taming” is disposed with completely, and Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) is just out to win her love the old-fashioned way.
*. This was Heath Ledger’s star-making turn, and I don’t think he was twenty yet (though he still seems too old to be in high school). It’s just one example of the film’s knowingness when he asks Cameron “Are you telling me I’m not a pretty guy?” Let’s face it, he’s a dream.
*. At the same time, in hindsight it’s easy to see the Joker peeking out from behind the preternaturally wide rubber smile and the long curly locks. Add some garish make-up and some grease in the hair and he’s right there.
*. Julia Stiles was in a couple of other high-profile Shakespeare adaptations around the same time — as Ophelia in an art-house Hamlet in 2000 and as “Desi” in a high-school based Othello (whose release was delayed until 2001) — but she never went on to become a big star. In my notes on the remake of The Omen I wondered what else she’d been doing. She’s probably best known today, outside of this film, for playing in the Bourne franchise. I wonder if she projects as too intellectual. It makes her a convincing Kat, but Kat is a special kind of part.
*. All the world’s a stage. and it’s also a high school, which is another reason for the appeal of these films. High school is a dramatic microcosm of the real world, with all of humanity organized into different tribes (cowboys, white Rastas, nerds, future MBAs, jocks, etc.). It can contain Jane Austen (Clueless was on their mind here), it can contain Shakespeare. And when your high school looks like this — palatial Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington — then it really does seem a world unto itself.
*. I’ve already mentioned the script’s knowingness and this is something worth emphasizing. Though conventional and predictable (does anyone doubt how all this is going to end?), it’s a script that doesn’t let the characters get away with anything (not even a make-up kiss, Patrick is going to have to do better than that). The way Kat’s feminist rant in English class is shot down as white, middle-class privilege by her teacher is a great initial example.
*. The production itself seems pretty rough around the edges. On several occasions (I counted at least three) lines are muffed or stumbled over. I can see why they wouldn’t shoot re-takes though, as the slips give it that extra sense of a student production.
*. Speaking of which, how common was it in 1999 to roll a blooper reel with the end credits? This movie wasn’t the first to do it — I think it might have started with The Cannonball Run — but I think it only became really popular later.
*. It’s not a laugh-out-loud funny movie, but like all the best rom-coms it has charm to burn. It really is impossible not to like, and it knows it.
Alex on Film 
Stiles was in Hustlers not that long ago, does your library not stock that one?
Why was high school bad for young Alex?
The library does have Hustlers, but it never piqued my interest. Maybe someday.
High school Alex was an angry young man. And then he got angrier.
Why were you and why are you still angry now?
Are you a licensed therapist? Or just a concerned fellow wearing a jumper?
Trained counsellor. How can I help?
I’m thinking of watching a movie called Jumper. But I’m told it’s so bad it might make me want to jump from a tall building or bridge.
It’s awful. Better stay in with your Heath Ledger boxed set
I was thinking that would be a pretty small box, but I checked and I guess he was in about 20 movies. May take me a while.
So why are you so angry? Because you were not Heath Ledger?
I’m not sure Heath Ledger had got around to being born yet.
Haven’t seen this (no surprise) and never thought of Heath as being particularly handsome, though I can see why he is. I remember Styles in the TV series Dexter, she was OK in that.
Yeah, I think she’s done a lot of TV work. She has kept busy, which is a real achievement in the picture business. Still haven’t started in on Dexter but plan to some time. It takes me a long time to get through a series because I don’t binge watch.
I don’t binge watch either, though if doing a series we’ll watch 1 & 1/2 episodes 5 nights a week til it’s done. It’s because we are old, so if we leave a week between episodes we forget what happened and have to fast fwd through the previious one to remember 😀 😀
This happens to me a lot too, especially if I take a few months off between seasons. I find I have to go to Wikipedia and refresh myself on what happened so that I’m back up to speed.
Ugh. Romantic comedies. No thank you.
I’m not a big fan either, but some of them are charming. This one is pretty good.
Hannibal Lecter is charming. Rom coms? Not so much.
I agree about Hannibal, but it’s a different sort of charm.
There are different types of charm now?
Oh yes. Lucky Charms too.
Well, of course. Lucky Charms – frosted flakes, fruity, chocolate and good old original. Personally, chocolate shreddies are my favourite cereal.
I haven’t seen chocolate Shreddies for a while. I don’t think they played well here. I like Oatmeal Crisp. But don’t tell Dix because he is quite possessive about oatmeal.
They’re surprisingly good. Oatmeal Crisp? Pretty sure we don’t have that over here. Is oatmeal like porridge? Also, a shout out to fruit and berries Special K.
I got some fruits and berries cereal yesterday. It was on sale. But I like to add berries anyway.
Yes, oatmeal is like porridge, but the cereal is more like an oatmeal cookie.
Getting a bit technical with the oatmeal there. What are they going to make next, an oatmeal scone? I’d like to see the day. I usually add a bit of dried papaya and dried cranberries to my breakfast, because you’ve got to spice it up a little. And if fresh fruits are in season, they’re in the bowl.
Nothing wrong with the frozen fruit either. An oatmeal scone sounds a little too ethnic. I’ll leave that for our Scottish friend.
Is frozen fruit better? Maybe so. Lasts longer, right? Ethnic Scottish oatmeal scones. He’d be a fool to miss out on them.
I don’t know if it’s better, but apparently it has all the same nutritional value. Anti-oxidants and stuff like that. I like it.
If I ever go visit I’ll be sure to ask for some of the scones.
Anti-oxidants is stretching my frozen fruit knowledge to it’s limits. Look out for the scones!
Alex, you’ll never guess what you just won…
I didn’t get any scones.
No, you didn’t, but it’s important to always look on the bright side of life. You’ve got Oatmeal Crisp for breakfast tomorrow.