This movie is worth a watch for the performances of several then up-and-comers. It does smack a bit of the late 90s - early 2000s kitsch, but I think modern teens would still enjoy it. This is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, and the writers gave homage to the Bard with the inclusion of not only lines from the source material, but also a nod to the poetic form for which he is still noted. Heath Ledger gives a great performance (this makes me sad for the work we have missed due to his untimely passing), Joseph Gordon Levitt turns in a charming performance as Cameron, and Larry Miller puts his character acting skills to good use as Kate and Bianca's father. Andrew Keegan embodies the entitled rich boy with sites set on Larissa Oleynik's Bianca (a role that I suspect was attempting to break away from her Alex Mack days and progress into more mature roles). Gabrielle Union does well, if not a bit under utilized as Bianca's friend, and David Krumholtz serves well in a support role in the transition between The Santa Clause and Numbers. The soundtrack is a sampling of the pop music of the time, which works with the film's setting. Overall a bit of fun and a way to help make Shakespeare more accessible to modern audiences.
Review of 10 Things I Hate About You
