Sisters Kat (Lindsey Shaw) and Bianca (Meaghan Jette Martin) move with their obstetrician father (Larry Miller) to California from Ohio, and they begin attending Padua High. Bianca starts out on her mission to be popular by befriending reigning cheerleader Chastity (Dana Davis), while Kat exhibits her smarts as she fights for worthy causes amid exchanging barbed words and longing looks with bad boy Patrick Verona (Ethan Peck).

CRITIQUE

In March of 1999, future Oscar winner Heath Ledger made his American film debut in the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. Julia Stiles was his co-star and the film was received by most critics with recognition of its successful humor and talented cast. Ten years later, the cable network ABC Family has adapted the film into a sitcom. 10 Things I Hate About You adapts for the small screen extremely well, with both the romance and comedy pleasingly intact and with the necessary changes, such as the cast, being mostly positive.

The opening scene of the pilot episode of this series demonstrates the best of exactly what it has taken from the film: the laughs. The comedy in the ‘99 film was one of most effective aspects of it, so this was an intelligent move. So was the only actor the show retained from the film: Miller as the overprotective, ob-gyn dad. The verging-on-gross lecture he gives Kat and Bianca over the phone on their first drive to their new school is exactly in keeping with the tone of the character from the film.

In another clever touch, Chastity (played by Gabrielle Union in the film as more of a supporting character) is here made the most popular girl in school. Not only does this give Bianca’s friendship with her a clear motivation, but the self-centeredness of the character is the source of some good jokes, too.

Given that I love the film, you know it has one thing: romance! That is another thing this series does well. Geeky-cute Cameron (played by Nicholas Braun) still falls in love with Bianca at first sight, while Joey Donner (Chris Zylka), changed from the smarmy villain to just a goofy stud, also genuinely develops feelings for her by season’s end. This indicates an interesting triangle to come.

The central storyline, however, is the Kat and Patrick interaction, just as it was in the film, and the bickering alongside heated attraction is a classic plot that still works. Plus, Shaw and Peck (yes, he’s Gregory’s grandson) play it well. Watch the couple’s first kiss in the episode titled “Light My Fire” and see if you disagree!

The appealing new cast is just one of the enjoyable things about the funny and romantic television adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You.

The first ten episodes of the show are available here on two discs.

THE VIDEO

This two-disc set is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and it is a perfect transfer of the original broadcast. Home viewing really is best in this format.

THE AUDIO

No surprise here: the sound here is in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. The format is reliably excellent. There are no other language tracks here, but there are Spanish and French subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

Bloopers: At a little under 3 minutes, this reel is okay-- pretty funny at times and it’s clear that the cast has fun.

Backstage Pass: This is a brief but pretty fun tour around a bit of the set of the show, conducted by Martin and Shaw. They are good at making funny digs at each other and it’s cool to see the set, so this is worth one look.

10 Things I Hate vs. 10 Things I Love: An excellent set of interviews makes up this featurette as the major cast members and Covington, who is also a writer and executive producer, talk about various things they like and hate about school, life on set, their characters, other cast members, and more. There are clips interspersed with the interviews and there are quite a few funny jokes here. It’s fun to watch more than once.

Commentaries: The pilot episode on the first disc gets a track from executive producer/writer/adapter Covington, director Gil Junger (who also directed the 1999 film), and actors Shaw and Miller. They have fun talking together, with Miller frequently interjecting funny and interesting comments. It’s also great to hear Junger talk about feeling magic on the set of the film and only feeling that again here with this series. On the second disc, producer Robin Schiff and cast members Peck, Braun, and Davis join for a track on “Light My Fire.” This group builds up a nice camaraderie as well, and Braun makes plenty of jokes to enjoy. Peck does a nice job of keeping the commentary moving, and the kiss between Kat and Patrick makes for some nice talk! These are good, so fans will probably hope more than two show up on the DVD for season two.

Make It or Break It pilot episode: Another ABC Family show, this gymnastics drama alternates between melodrama and a wicked cattiness in its premiere episode. The cast is good, as the parents of the girls competing are played by vets like Frasier’s Perry Gilpin. The ending will probably make many want to check out the rest of this show, which just began its second season.

FINAL THOUGHTS