10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Director: Gil Junger, rated R for crude sexual humor, alcohol and drug use

How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.

Starring: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Larry Miller, Andrew Keegan, David Krumholtz, Susan May Pratt, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Allison Janney, Gabrielle Union, Letters to Cleo (band), Save Ferris (band)

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Alright, wait a minute. No drinking, no drugs, no kissing, no tattoos, no piercings, no ritual animal slaughters of any kind. Oh, God, I'm giving them ideas." - Mr. Stratford, to his daughters before they go out

Why watch this? Health and Julia have quite an engaging chemistry.

Plot Summary: The popular and sweet younger sister can only date if her rebellious, anti-social older sister also finds a suitor. An admirer of the younger sibling orchestrates an elaborate plot to pay a mysterious bad boy to court the older sister. This scheme backfires when genuine feelings get in the way and unexpected connections blossom.

Dad's Preview: Director Gil Junger must have realized in casting that Health Ledger's smile was teen romantic gold. He wisely slapped him into a "bad-boy" role and set him against Julia Stiles, who plays a convincing sassy bitch. When he breaks into that smile, everyone melts. The rest is standard teen comedy fare: bullies and nerds, awkward sexual situations, etc. One scene that stands apart is the serenade at the football stadium - man, that was really fun. I also have to confess I really liked Larry Miller, as the out-witted single father of two teen daughters. It's a great film with a good heart, even if the word hate is in the title.

Touchstone Pictures, Mad Chance, Jeret Ent.; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.