Entertainment

'10 Things I Hate About You' Didn't Make Any Sense

by Courtney Lindley

10 Things I Hate About You was a '90s cultural masterpiece. It had all the big players of the decade (Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union), a stellar soundtrack, quintessential '90s fashion, and on top of that, an endearing and somewhat unique story line (for a teen audience at least). There was nothing to hate about this film. Except for maybe, maybe the 10 Things I Hate About You plot holes. I'm sure you weren't paying attention to them back in '99, but, upon a necessary and important close viewing of the teen classic, you'll notice that a lot of things make zero sense.

But that's fine. Because 10 Things I Hate About You gave us so much, cinematically and otherwise. Heath Ledger's rendition of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," Joseph Gordon-Levitt's face, and too many notable/quotable lines to even count ("You know, there’s a difference between like and love. I like my Skechers but I love my Prada backpack!"). It was close enough to perfect when you first watched it, and, frankly, it seemed to just get better with age. That is, unless you've recently viewed it with a heavily analytical eye, and found some things about the movie that didn't add up. Like one of the following 11 plot holes.

1. Mr. Stratford's Rule Could Have Easily Been Changed

All right so, sure, we shouldn't be too hard on this particular rule, knowing full well that the film is supposed to be based on the absurdly antiquated Shakespeare play, "The Taming of the Shrew," but Mr. Stratford acts like he's plagued by a rule he actually set up. But why not change the rule? Or just give the girls a curfew? The whole thing just doesn't have any logic.

2. Where Is Mrs. Stratford?

At one point, Kat calls Bianca out for wearing their mom's pearls. Bianca exclaims, "It’s not like she’s coming back to claim them!," which definitely makes it sound like Mrs. Stratford passed away. But, later in the film, Kat tells Bianca "So I did it… just once… right after Mom left.” You mean mom left... to the "other side" or to like... Indiana? Where is she, Kat?

3. How Did Bogey Not See The Flyers For His Party?

The flyers were literally everywhere. There's no way he missed them, so when he acts super surprised upon "Nigel with the brie!" entering, followed by masses of soon-to-be-drunk teens, it's like, come on, Bogey. You knew.

4. Also, Bogey's House Party Makes No Sense

Why/how is there a DJ? And who is the waiter carrying around trays of tequila? This is too orchestrated to be a normal high school party.

5. Kat's School "Flashing" Escapade Didn't Land Her In Trouble?

If a high school student actually flashed her soccer coach IRL, there would be major consequences. Escaping out the window to go make out with Heath Ledger does not count (sadly).

6. The Mandela/William Shakespeare Subplot = WTF?

What even is this subplot? There's no way Kat's BFF, Mandela, actually thinks she's going to prom with the William Shakespeare. Right?

7. Joey Shouldn't Know To Be Mad At Cameron

Technically, when Joey finds out that he's being used to facilitate the "Cameron dating Bianca" plan, he doesn't know Cameron's involved. Up until their confrontation, he'd only been speaking to Michael.

8. Kat's Sonnet = Not A Sonnet

Mr. Morgan's assigns the students to write their own version of Shakespeare's Sonnet 141. Here's what that requires: three quatrains, composed of four lines each, followed by a couplet, with this rhyme scheme: a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g. Does Kat's "Sonnet" have any of that? No. Because Kat's "sonnet" is not a sonnet. Not even a little bit. Not even at all.

9. Kat Hates 14 Things, Not 10, About Patrick

Here's the poem, in its entirety: "I hate the way you talk to me, and the way you cut your hair. I hate the way you drive my car, I hate it when you stare. I hate your big dumb combat boots and the way you read my mind. I hate you so much it makes me sick, it even makes me rhyme. I hate the way you’re always right, I hate it when you lie. I hate it when you make me laugh, even worse when you make me cry. I hate it when you’re not around, and the fact that you didn’t call. But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you, not even close… not even a little bit…not even at all." That's 14 things! 14! The cover is blown. It's over. Let's all go home now.

10. How Will Patrick Graduate?

He's already been held back, and the guy just doesn't seem to be academically motivated. Did he even complete the sonnet assignment?

11. Letters To Cleo Probs Shouldn't Be On The Roof

No, but like, how did they get there?

My world is now shattered.

Images: Touchstone; Giphy (8)