I loved this movie, which is based on Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. There are several nods to Shakespeare in the movie – the two sisters’ are called Katarina and Bianca, as in the play, and their surname is Stratford – which was of course where Shakespeare lived. Heath Ledger’s character’s surname is Verona, and Shakespeare is studied in the high school where the action takes place.)
Cameron is a new boy at school, who falls for the popular Bianca. However, Bianca is not allowed to date anyone, unless her prickly sister Kat dates as well…but there are not many men wanting to get too close to Kat, who is bad tempered and unsocial. Cameron concocts a plan whereby he gets the resident ‘bad boy’ (played by Heath Ledger) to take Kat out, thus enabling himself to ask Bianca out. However, things inevitably go awry!
Although this is a high school movie, it’s actually very sweet, and there are moments of great humour – my favourite scene was Verona serenading Kat with ‘Can’t Take My Eyes off You’. All of the leads are great, and we are reminded once again what a talent the entertainment world lost when Heath Ledger died just over a year ago. He is very charismatic and funny, and here shows the potential that was realised in his later movies.
The great soundtrack is the icing on the cake. This movie isn’t going to change anyone’s life, nor is it going to make it onto any ‘classic movie’ countdown. But as a funny and entertaining way to pass a Sunday afternoon, this fits the bill perfectly!
Year of release: 1999
Director: Gil Junger
Writer: William Shakespeare (book), Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith
Main cast: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik
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