A perfect 90’s romantic comedy directed by Gil Junger tells the story of two sisters who could not be more different, but bond over their love lives. Based off of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, Kat Stratford, played by Julia Stiles, and her younger sister, Bianca Stratford, played by Larisa Oleynik, clash against each other in everything. Kat is the girl against anyone and anything, especially all the people who attend her high school. Bianca has managed to get everything right in high school early on, becoming popular and fawning over the hot Senior, Joey Donner.

A new rule imposed by the Stratford sisters dad is that Bianca is only allowed to date when her older sister does, which everyone knows will not be any time soon. In an attempt to win Bianca, Joey pays the school’s bad boy Patrick, played by Heath Ledger, to take Kat out on a date, so he can hopefully date her sister.

Although the classic plot lines of unexpected love mangle the screens of our televisions, 10 Things manages to find it’s own charm and personality. It’s a story that takes it’s own pull on the overplayed plot, but manages it in an enticing way.  The characters are spirited and happy-go-lucky which obviously makes them more entertaining. Also, the contrast of the sisters is more interesting to watch than one love story alone.

The winning characters, the smart plot, and the “teenage” love make 10 Things I Hate About You the perfect romantic comedy to watch any time of day.