Heath Ledger made several movies before his untimely death.  I've seen and enjoyed many of them.  I recently added 10 Things I Hate About You to my DVD collection.

Cameron James is the new student at Padua High School.  He is shown around school by Michael Eckman who also points out the various cliques.  During the tour of the school, Cameron spots and is immediately attracted to Bianca Stratford.  Cameron starts spending time studying French with Bianca and learns about how she is only allowed to date when her older sister Kat does.  Kat has no interest in dating and tends to scare of any guy who shows even a tiny bit of interest in her.  Bianca actually wants to go out with Joey Donner, a very popular, conceited guy.  Cameron and Michael come up with a plan to get Patrick Verona, another outcast student, to take out Kat.  

10 Things I Hate About You doesn't have the most original plot since it is really an updated version of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespear.  I've never read the play but I have heard and read enough about it to know the basic plot which is close to what happens in this movie.  Obviously, plot elements have been updated to make the story work in a modern, high school setting.  The only version of Taming of the Shrew that I remember seeing is a version that was done for an episode of Moonlighting.  Since the plot of the movie is based on other material, some things aren't the most original and certain things are predictable.  That didn't bother me since I still found the movie to be entertaining.  ABC Family has started to air a series based on the movie that I haven't seen.  

A lot happens during 10 Things I Hate About You without making the movie that complicated.  The first few minutes introduce the characters and situations and it isn't long after that before the plan is launched by Cameron and Michael.  Basically everything that happens is somehow connected to the plan to get Kat to go with Patrick.  He does a lot to get her attention, with some things working and some things not going as he had hoped.  Those things do make for some of the most entertaining moments.  I think there is a decent amount of humor in the movie.  Some of the humor comes from Patrick.  Other humorous moments are provided by Walter, Kat and Bianca's very over protective father.  In addition to the humor, there are also a few more sweet and touching moments.  Music is used throughout the movie and I think most of it works well.  

Many of the scenes in 10 Things I Hate About You take place at the high school the main characters attend.  The school used in the movie is a real high school in Tacoma Washington.  It was originally built as a hotel and later turned into a highschool.  It is a huge building that does have the look of a castle.  This is very obviously a teen movie and that may turn off some viewers.  I've seen good and bad teen movies and think this is one of the better ones.  People that just don't like this type of movie will want to avoid this one.  

Relationships play a big part in the movie.  Kat and Bianca have a somewhat strained relationship because of the different ways they look at things even though they clearly care about each other.  The girls have a good relationship with their father even though his is over protective.  Bianca really wants to go out with Joey while Cameron is desperate to go out with her.  That leads to the plan to get Patrick to take out Kat so that Bianca can go out.  There is a bit of a triangle involving Bianca, Cameron, and Joey that gets worked out by the end of the movie.  
A relationship between Patrick and Kat slowly develops as he manages to get her to spend time with him.  The relationships do add a bit of romance to what is going on.  There are a few sexual conversations and remarks in the movie though there aren't any sex scenes.  Some of the dialogue is rather suggestive and the movie deserves the PG-13 rating.

Kat is a very opinionated, independent girl who does her own thing and doesn't care what anyone thinks about her.  She does have an attitude at times and some people don't like her because of how she acts.  Julia Stiles handles the part really well.  Bianca is Kat's younger sister.  Bianca is more popular and concerned with what others think.  She is also a bit conceited and sometimes acts like a bit of a brat.  Larisa Oleynik handles the part fine.  Walter is a single father and very protective of his daughters.  He is a gynecologist and seems to be afraid that his daughters will end up pregnant if he lets them go on a date.  Larry Miller does a wonderful job with the part.

Cameron is the new student who is immediately interested in Bianca.  He arranges to spend time with her studying French and then comes up with a plan that will allow Bianca to date.  He seems nice enough and Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a good job with the part.  Michael becomes Cameron's only friend and helps come up with the plan.  David Krumholtz is fine in the part.  Joey Donner is the most popular guy in school who has done some modeling work.  He is very self absorbed and arrogant.  He's basically a huge jerk.  Andrew Keegan is fine in the part.

Patrick Verona is a bit of an outcast.  Several odd rumors connected to him have gone around school and several students seem to be afraid of him.  He is a likable character overall and Heath Ledger does a really good job with the part.  This is his first part in the United States and it basically launched his movie career.  Allison Janney is in a few short scenes as the guidance counselor who gives odd advice and is writing a somewhat erotic book.  David Leisure turns up as Mr. Chaplin, the soccer coach.  Some other characters are also around without them being developed that much.

Main Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Cameron
Heath Ledger - Patrick Verona
Andrew Keegan - Joey Donner
David Krumholtz - Michael
Larry Miller - Walter Stratford    
Larisa Oleynik - Bianca Stratford
Julia Stiles - Kat Stratford

Gil Junger - Director

DVD Information

There have been a few DVD versions of 10 Things I Hate About released.  I picked up the newest release that is the 10th anniversary edition with two discs.  The second disc is just a digital copy of the movie.  The first disc has the movie and a few extras.  There is a commentary with the director, writers, and some of the cast that I haven't listened to yet.  10 Things I Love About 10 Things I Hate About You 10 Years Later has the director and writers talking about the movie.  Some of the decisions, like for casting and filming locations, are discussed.  There are clips from interviews with some of the cast that were done when the movie was being made.  Some footage of the filming is shared as well as part of Heath Ledger's screen test and a few deleted scenes.  There aren't any new interviews with the cast.  I did enjoy it overall.

10 Things I Hate About You is a fun, entertaining movie that has held up well.  It is one of the better teen movies that I've seen.

This review is part of CaptainD's Good Movie EpiGuide 3 Write Off.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD