10 Things I Hate About You has taken over my life. I’ll admit it. Now, as a seasoned film connoisseur and self-declared cinephile, I’d be too embarrassed to answer “10 Things I Hate About You” if someone asked me what my favourite movie was. But hear me out. Here is why I believe 10 Things I Hate About You to be an excellent, if not one of the best, romance movies out there.
First of all, let’s not ignore the obvious. 10 Things I Hate About You boasts an attractive cast. We are talking extremely attractive. I think this is one of the only times where the man is equally as attractive as the woman in a Hollywood film. Patrick Verona played by the handsome Heath Ledger, exudes mysterious bad boy energy, stealing hearts with a charming smile and a beautiful voice. But seriously, singing ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ regardless of underlying motives (I won’t defend him) raised the bar and set some unrealistic standards. Also, he bought her a guitar! Even if it was as an apology. What a heartthrob. Of course, there’s also dorky golden retriever boy Cameron James, played by Joseph Gordon Levitt. I mean, get you someone who would learn French for you. And, to anyone who’s seen that photoshoot with Claudia Schiffer… if you know, you know.
Now, let’s talk about Kat Stratford. Kat is a brilliant female protagonist who defies the typical female archetypes and tropes in rom-coms. She is a brazen and outspoken feminist, and although a bit arrogant (she’s even called “tempestuous” in the film), she is a delight to watch. She is also a great literary icon for the English lit girlies, sighted reading Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and being a fan of both the Brontë sisters and Simone De Beauvoir. And, of course, the iconic scene where she just knows where The Feminine Mystique is and finds it in the bookstore almost straight away. She is certainly an inspiration for readers, amongst the likes of Rory Gilmore.
This is especially important when you consider how women are presented in other 90s rom-coms. For example, as much as I love Clueless, Cher does resemble many stereotypes: a ditzy dumb blonde who has a materialistic obsession with fashion and her appearance, and who also happens to be a bad driver. Kat on the other hand, enters the movie clutch in hand, rolling in with her car and a bombastic side eye to Joan Jett’s ‘Bad Reputation.,’ Which, by the way, is another great point to mention: the film’s banger of a soundtrack.
This is not to say, however, that the film isn’t self-aware. From the opening scenes of the movie, Kat’s white feminism is called out by her teacher, who says to her: “Kat, I want to thank you for your point of view. I know how difficult it must be for you to overcome all those years of upper middle-class suburban oppression. Must be tough.” This points out the greater social issues which Kat fails to comprehend or give a second thought.
Therefore, on top of subverting typical film tropes and presentation of gender roles, 10 Things I Hate About You proves itself as a worthy for your viewing pleasure. Not only does it redefine and challenge the romance genre, it is simply better than your average 90s rom-com.
“Heath Ledger” by franela 🙂 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.