I’m not really a fan of most romantic comedies,

But sometimes a film in this genre truly does please.

Like 1999’s 10 Things I Hate About You,

An adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

For some reason, this film is a delight to watch every time,

And I’m going to do my best to make every line rhyme

As I highlight its great moments and joyfully go through

10 things I love about 10 Things I Hate About You.

1. It’s Set in Seattle

The Seattle area is where I grew up.

Does this movie bring up lots of memories? Yup!

Even though it’s filmed mainly in Tacoma,

It still has a familiar look and aroma.

With talk of grunge music and the UW Huskies,

I’m immediately taken back to my childhood in the nineties.

Though in one area I admit its credibility does strain –

At no point in the film do we ever see it rain.

2. It Has a Surprisingly Moral Message

I don’t usually find romantic films to be very platonic.

Some might accuse me of being prudish or moronic,

But saving oneself for marriage is something I prize,

Which is why this movie is such a pleasant surprise.

The main character Kat hates that she followed the crowd

And sold herself cheap, which she shouldn’t have allowed.

She realized too late that happiness isn’t found

In the bottom of a bottle or while fooling around.

3. Crashing Into the Villain’s Car

At one point Kat goes into a store to see a guitar,

But before she can leave she gets boxed in by a boy’s car.

Rather than sit patiently (her patience all spent)

She floors it and gives him a much-deserved dent.

4. Stuck-up Girl Learns an Important Lesson

Cameron is a nice guy who wants to win Bianca’s hand,

But she is too focused on her own selfish plans.

She tries to date a boy only interested in her body

Only to find herself passed by for an easier hottie.

She looks to Cameron to be her white knight or savior

And he calls her out on her selfish behavior.

She learns that she can’t treat a nice guy like slime

And then expect to fall back on him after wasting his time.

5. Nice Guy Gets the Girl

Cameron is kind enough to accept Bianca’s apology.

After they kiss for the first time he exclaims with glee

That he’s back in the game of teenage romance,

And he even gets to take her to the big Prom dance.

6. Two Future Dark Knight Actors

Heath Ledger plays a mysterious young man

Who tames the shrew as part of a grand plan.

And nine short years after he broke her

He went on to play the villainous Joker.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is also on hand

To pull the strings in formulating the film’s plan.

While he didn’t get to share the screen with Ledger again,

He followed a similar path by playing the new Robin.

7. Hole-y French Book

When Cameron tries to talk to Patrick in shop class

Patrick cuts through his French book like a machete through grass.

Later, when Cameron is reading in French for a minute

His textbook still has a giant hole in it.

8. The Dad Is Awesome

Kat and Bianca’s dad is quite a treasure.

Every one of his scenes is hilarious beyond measure.

He makes them wear fat suits to remind them before a date

What might happen if with a boy they stay up too late.

Now that I’m a parent, I understand his concerns.

But in the end he thankfully learns

To trust his daughters their own demons to slay,

Which I hope I’ll be able to do, too, by the way.

9. Teens Played by Teens

Many “teen” movies are filled with actors between

20 and 30 instead of in their actual teens.

This movie decides to go young and go bold

With its main actors being 17 to 19 years old.

10. Shakespeare Done Right

We often think of Shakespeare plays like Classical music.

But Shakespeare never meant for them to be exclusive.

They have something for everyone, a broad appeal,

Making comedy, drama, romance, and action congeal.

This film modernizes Shakespeare with just the right touch.

It’s witty and funny and doesn’t take itself seriously too much.

Other Shakespeare adaptations try too hard to be different or true,

But this film has fun, like any worthy adaptation should do.

Lots to Love

10 Things I Hate About You has a lot to love.

There’s plenty beyond what I listed above.

Watch it for yourself and you may find

You will also love this film in kind.

This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.

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