10 Things I Hate About You

As Shakespearean adaptations go, it's not quite as odd as moving The Tempest to another planet (as in Forbidden Planet ) or Hamlet to a Canadian brewery (the secret subtext of Strange Brew ), but it's still safe to say no one was expecting a version of The Taming of the Shrew set in an American high school. But unlike the previously mentioned films, 10 Things I Hate About You at least gives the Bard screen credit for his contribution to the story. In 10 Things I Hate About You , Bianca Stratford ( Larisa Oleynik ) is a tenth grader who has never gone on a date, as her parents have a little rule where Bianca isn't allowed to go out with boys until her older sister gets a boyfriend. The problem is, while her older sister Kat ( Julia Stiles ) is attractive and intelligent, she's also a mean-spirited misanthrope who rubs nearly everyone the wrong way — especially boys. But Bianca and the guy she has her eye on, Joey Donner ( Andrew Keegan ), are eager to get their romance on the road, so Joey fixes Kat up with Patrick Verona ( Heath Ledger ), a new kid in town who may be just bitter and mysterious enough to suit her. 10 Things I Hate About You is the first feature film for director Gil Junger , who previously worked extensively in television, including episodes of Dharma and Greg , Ellen , and Blossom . — Mark Deming