10 Things I Hate About You
#28 in my 50 Movie Challenge for the year, and a recommendation from my friend Zen Viking back from the Shakespeare post. A high school riff on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Funny and engaging in a teen movie kind of way, i.e. it’s not life changing. Larry Miller is hilarious as Bianca and Kat’s obstetrician father who refuses to let them date. I had a tough time suspending my disbelief that either Heath Ledger or Julia Stiles was scary enough that no one would date them. They still look like movie stars. David Krumholtz seemed to be channeling Richard Kind, but has since graduated from the part of “less good looking but funnier friend” (one of Roger Ebert’s Movie Cliches), to hot young thing on Numb3rs.
June 13th, 2005 at 6:40 pm
I’m happy you took this suggestion. Definitely not life-changing, but I like the way the movie so perfectly demonstrates an important Shakespeare truth: this is a teen movie through and through, yet it’s remarkably faithful to the essence of the original text (plus its characters and themes). Therefore, the idea that Shakespeare is somehow “above” silly common entertainment is false. I always recommend this movie to those who just can’t believe that Shakespeare plays were the popular entertainments of their day. Nothing fancy here.
Plus, come on, the “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” scene? Golden.
June 14th, 2005 at 4:01 pm
I also love the study hall scene. I know, pure cheese, but so cute.
June 16th, 2005 at 2:05 pm
Both scenes are good, but there’s an over-the-top-ness about the “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” that I loved, even as I knew it was a romance cliche of the guy publicly proclaiming his love for the girl.