10 Things I Hate About You
1999 · Directed by Gil Junger
Original language: English
- comedy
- romance
- drama
The story
On the first day at his new school, Cameron instantly falls for Bianca, the gorgeous girl of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca is forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, completely un-dateable older sister Kat goes out, too. In an attempt to solve his problem, Cameron singles out the only guy who could possibly be a match for Kat: a mysterious bad boy with a nasty reputation of his own.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated late-90s teen-film colour: sunlit Seattle suburbs in washed-out greens and blues, pastel school hallways, bedroom walls plastered with band posters and clothing racks in primary brights. The camera stays mostly conventional and mobile, with snappy cuts, playful freeze-frames and quick sight gags, while the soundtrack leans on late-90s alt-rock and pop-punk that sets the tempo. Overall it feels breezy, witty and warm, a sun-streaked Saturday-afternoon comedy with a sharp streak of teen satire. The pacing is brisk and bouncy, with comic set pieces and slow-building banter that softens into genuine tenderness in the final act. Its people are prickly teenagers who learn to drop their defences: a guarded, sharp-tongued older sister slowly opening up, and a pair of boys who turn from schemers into sincere romantics. Intensity is low: mild teen-party drinking, some crude jokes and a few sexual references, one brief scuffle, and no real menace or gore. It suits a comfort rewatch, a lazy weekend, or a crowd of friends, and fits anyone who wants a clever, romantic, gently mischievous comedy with a warm heart.
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