10 Things I Hate About You

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

It's a celebration of young American women, finding them smarter, tougher, shrewder, more rigorous, more persistent and more honest than any movie in many a moon.

New Times (L.A.) Hal Hinson

A small-scale, slight undertaking, but its pleasures are unexpectedly rich. It has become a habit in our movies to portray the exploits of high school characters as shocking and depraved. Ten Things allows its teenagers their innocence and a quality that is even rarer these days, something like nobility.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Lutz's dialogue is consistently sharp and snappy, and the large cast forms a sparkling ensemble under Junger's adept direction.

LA Weekly John Patterson

It goes straight to the top of the class. O can there be such a thing as too keen a guilty pleasure, particularly when the whole genre is knowingly pitched to audiences as a trashophile's delight? No, there cannot.

Film.com Sean Means

Kat's English assignment, which provides the movie's title, is a sweet finish to an entertaining movie -- and makes 10 Things I Hate About You quite likable.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith's script has its witty moments, and some of the secondary characters--such as Larry Miller as the father and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell as an irritable teacher--are every bit as quirky as the leads.

Film Threat Ron Wells

Of all the teen films released this year, this one is, by far, the best.

Salon.com Mary Elizabeth Williams

What really elevates it, though, is the film's sharp wit and tender heart, both of which are conveyed beautifully by the fresh-faced cast.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Immensely likable.

Newsweek Alisha Davis

Pure formula. But thanks to charming performances, particularly from its two stars, the winsome Stiles and a hunky Heath, it gets the recipe right, and the result is surprisingly sweet.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

The film's crank-case snappishness doesn't break any molds, but it certainly gives you a lift.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

What sets this apart from its many competitors for teen dollars is that not only does the movie feature a surprisingly edgy and intelligent script, but it offers a group of characters capable of holding an audience's interest for more than 90 minutes.

Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan

A mostly charming comedy that could probably win over even the crustiest English literature professor. [31 Mar 1999]

Village Voice Justine Elias

Anyone who hates '80s pop will find this movie awfully tiresome, but Stiles and her underage Petruchio (Australian actor Heath Ledger, as hunky as his name) are charismatic and bold enough to carry any romantic comedy.

The New Yorker Ken Marks

First-time feature director Gil Junger gets a lot of laughs in the long setup, but the story eventually reverts to an almost typical high-school romance. Not quite "Clueless."

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Junger has a deft touch with light comedy such as this; he manages to keep the film's convoluted plot spinning without resorting to too much gimmickry or descending to the level of so many teen comedies.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

With her high forehead, pale eyebrows and solemn face, Stiles could have understudied Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth -- another dignified smart girl surrounded by conniving idiots.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

And yet ... gee, the movie is charming, despite its exhausted wheeze of an ancient recycled plot idea.

Variety Dennis Harvey

10 Things doesn't take much time before ditching its pitch idea in favor of a mishmash of newer formulas, never quite settling on a cogent game plan or directorial tone.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

If it's all very clever for a teen-age film, it also feels terribly forced.

Film.com John Hartl

Unfailingly energetic, 10 Things is like a puppy that can't stop wagging its tail, begging for attention...Even more than "Cruel Intentions," this movie plays like an awkward high-school production of a classic.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Junger spins hilariously written scenes with split-second timing, although the story sags during its long middle portion.

San Francisco Examiner Wesley Morris

The movie's afraid of [Stiles], turning Kat from riot grrrrl to Solid Gold dancer in the time it takes to drop one Notorious B.I.G. song at that house party - which is why it's the Spam of processed teen movies.

USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

While the attractive cast is willing, the translation into '90s teen culture is weak -- like a clueless adult's notion of cool.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

This teen-oriented gloss on Shakespeare's tale is cute and occasionally quite funny, but it's undermined by slack direction.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

It wimped out by blanding down the story and the characters to the point where she isn't really a shrew and he isn't really a maniac.