Can you ever just be, like, whelmed? We’re asking this and more as we sit down with 1999’s 10 Things I Hate About You. Set up the decks, hook up some speakers, and get ready to crash a future MBA’s cheese and wine party.

Molly and Chloe welcome actor, writer and audio producer, Steph MacGaraidh to run riot grrrl through this Shakespeare-inspired high school rom com. We discuss the casting of relative unknowns Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, the 90s soundtrack, and how the screenwriters Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith infuse the script with Shakespearean wit, romance and visual gags, while dialling up the feminist empowerment.

Plus we crown our favourite moments (that song and dance number! Ms Perky’s sexy novels!) and perform odes to the film’s most 90s details. All this, and some recommendations for further watching that you won’t hate, not even a little bit, not even at all.

Find Steph on the ’gram here and check out this page for details on her musical, Off the Rails.

The quote at the start is from Peter Bradshaw’s 1999 review in the Guardian.

Gil Junger discussing casting a young Heath Ledger.

Read about the 1967 Franco Zeffirelli adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor here.

Watch the documentary about the 1978 production of Shrew, starring Meryl Streep and Raul Julia at the Delacorte, New York, here. The specific sexy scene Steph mentions is in this clip.

Emily Temple’s essay for Literary Hub, ‘The Life-Changing Magic of 10 Things I Hate About You’

Kat’s reading list on the Opiate (including The Bell Jar, natch).

Far Out discusses the best of the 10 Things soundtrack.

Check out the other films we recommended on Letterboxd

Got an episode suggestion? Email us: total90srecall@gmail.com

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