Quartile rating: 8/10 · 3 ratings
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.
A charming and well-executed Shakespeare adaptation (The Taming of the Shrew) transplanted to a 1990s high school setting. The plot cleverly modernizes the source material with genuine wit and warmth, though its rom-com beats are fairly predictable. The acting is a standout highlight — Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles deliver charismatic, naturalistic performances that elevate the material significantly, and the supporting cast (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik) rounds things out solidly. Cinematography is functional and pleasant but unremarkable for the genre — standard late-90s teen film visual language with little distinctive craft. Novelty earns a modest bump for the Shakespeare framing and sharp screenplay voice, though it remains firmly within the teen romantic comedy tradition. The ending is satisfying and emotionally resonant — the poem scene is genuinely moving — but follows expected rom-com resolution patterns. Overall a well-above-average entry in the teen rom-com genre, anchored by strong performances and a witty script.