Gil Junger’s 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) is a 90’s coming of age film that pokes fun at the classic adolescent dilemma of identity. This lovable comedy portrays the struggles of teenagers growing up in suburban America, starting with two sisters who have polar opposite personalities. Bianca is a cute and widely adored “popular” girl while her older sister, Kat, is an edgy and aggressive “rebel” girl who scares almost everyone in school. Each character in the movie is an extreme representation of an enduring high school stereotype, from the unbearably self-conceited yet terribly good looking model to the lovesick and clueless dweeb. It may not be the most unique film ever created but that is what makes it so great – it is relatable and easy to watch. Here are my ten personal favorite aspects of 10 Things I Hate About You.
- The Soundtrack
The upbeat vibe of 10 Things I Hate About You is set by the collection of grungy songs that make up its soundtrack. From the high energy cover of “I Want You to Want Me” by Letters to Cleo to the funky “Atomic Dog” by George Clinton, the soundtrack is a perfect mix for this romantic comedy.
- Bianca as a Dynamic Character
Bianca originally seems to perfectly fit the stereotype of strikingly beautiful yet completely brainless, and she comes off as, in Michael’s words, “vapid.” Her innocence and desire to be liked are cute at best and annoying at worst. When she manipulates dorky Cameron to get to the conceited popular guy, Joey Donner, it seems like she has absolutely no thought for anyone but herself. However, after ditching Cameron to hang out with Joey, Bianca becomes visibly bored and disgusted with Joey’s egotistic tendencies. It was heartwarming to watch Bianca learn to care less about the wrong peoples’ opinions while simultaneously realizing how to treat others with true kindness. Bianca’s dynamism proved that beautiful women can also be kind, smart, and valuable for qualities other than their looks.
- Kat’s Loud Disregard for Other People’s Opinions
Kat is described by different characters as “the shrew,” “the wretch”, and “a mutant.” Even Ms. Perky righteously calls her a “heinous bitch.” While Kat can be a bit over the top with her aggression sometimes, she is hard not to love. She is a strong woman who does not care what people think of her. She is more concerned with destroying the patriarchy than with impressing high school boys (as she describes them, “the unwashed miscreants” that go to her school) or wearing the right clothes. Her approach to life can be problematic at times; however, her general strength and intelligence add to her rebellious spirit.
- Bad Boy Patrick’s Soft Side (and His Australian Accent)
10 Things I Hate About You’s honorary bad boy is set apart from other notorious bad boys with soft hearts by his gorgeous Australian accent. Although Patrick’s long greasy hair and leather jacket might not appeal to everyone, his soft side (and, of course, the accent) is enough to at least induce some sappy feelings. At first, he seems like he might be clinically insane because of rumors that he had spent a year in prison, lit a state trooper on fire, and even eaten a live duck. Nonetheless, the audience is willing to overlook this because it is unbearably cute to watch him fall in love with feisty and wild Kat. Even though he had to be paid to take her out originally, he uses all the money to buy her a new guitar, so it is easy to overlook that detail, too. It is unrealistic to think that all bad boys have Patrick’s heart of gold, but it is easy to love the fairytale.
- The Geek Gets the Girl
Originally, it is hard not to feel sympathy for Cameron, the dweeby new kid with puppy eyes for the popular girl. At the same time, his efforts to take her out produce second-hand embarrassment for the audience that most likely sees that he has no chance of ending up with Bianca, especially when he is up against the gorgeous Joey Donner. Ultimately, it must have been inspiring for geeks everywhere to watch the underdog win Bianca’s heart.
- Mr. Morgan Calling Out Kat’s White Feminism
While this movie may not be especially notable for its cast diversity, there was one great moment where racism was briefly mentioned. Mr. Morgan, Kat’s English teacher, is in a heated discussion with Kat about why they cannot read more books written by renowned female authors like Sylvia Plath or Jane Austen when she starts yelling about the oppression imposed by the patriarchy. Mr. Morgan responds with my favorite line of the movie:
I know how difficult it must be for you to overcome all those years of upper middle-class suburban oppression. Must be tough. But the next time you storm the PTA crusading for better… lunch meat, or whatever it is you white girls complain about, ask them WHY they can’t buy a book written by a black man!
As much I love Kat’s rebel spirit, I think she can be inconsiderate about it. She rarely stops to think about the privileges she has been granted in life. Although this exchange between Mr. Morgan and Kat is brief, it is important that Kat is called out for her blatantly white feminism.
- Michael: An Underrated Minor Character
Michael is an underrated character, and he should not be overlooked. Michael is the voice of reason when Cameron falls in love with Bianca based solely on appearance. He is the classy guy who would wear a tie to a party, and the clever guy who can work behind the scenes. He is the romantic who used his knowledge of Shakespeare to woo a beautiful girl into going to prom with him. Michael may be a minor character, but he is the one character who undeniably has a great head on his shoulders.
- Patrick’s Advice to Cameron
“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you don’t deserve what you want.” This is the advice that Patrick offers a heartbroken Cameron. Of all the lessons taught in this movie, this one might be one of the more unique. It is valid though– who is to tell you that you don’t deserve to happy?
- The Not-So-Subtle Lack of Sane Adults
The adults in this movie are caricatures of reality. I was immediately reminded of Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide in which the students of James K. Polk high school have to battle “insane teachers.” In 10 Things I Hate About You, Ms. Perky is a perfect example of this. She is hardly profession with her students, has no ability to discipline them properly, and is pretty much encompassed with the erotic novel she is writing. Meanwhile, Bianca and Kat’s father is obsessed with their sex lives, preventing them from dating so they won’t get pregnant and even going so far as to make Bianca wear a fake belly around the living room before she goes to a party– just to prove a point. The fact that the adults are so alienated only adds to the rebellious spirit of the movie.
- Watching Joey Get Beat Up
The character of Joey Donner represents self-conceit, ignorance, and selfishness. Watching Bianca punch him during the prom scene is like seeing a huge middle finger to blind arrogance and self-worship. It would not be a truly happy ending if the jerk did not get some kind of punishment.
