It's a celebration of young American women, finding them smarter, tougher, shrewder, more rigorous, more persistent and more honest than any movie in many a moon.
80
Film ThreatRon Wells
Film ThreatRon Wells
Of all the teen films released this year, this one is, by far, the best.
80
SalonMary Elizabeth Williams
SalonMary Elizabeth Williams
What really elevates it, though, is the film's sharp wit and tender heart, both of which are conveyed beautifully by the fresh-faced cast.
Pure formula. But thanks to charming performances, particularly from its two stars, the winsome Stiles and a hunky Heath, it gets the recipe right, and the result is surprisingly sweet.
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
What sets this apart from its many competitors for teen dollars is that not only does the movie feature a surprisingly edgy and intelligent script, but it offers a group of characters capable of holding an audience's interest for more than 90 minutes.
75
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
A mostly charming comedy that could probably win over even the crustiest English literature professor. [31 Mar 1999]
70
Village Voice
Village Voice
Anyone who hates '80s pop will find this movie awfully tiresome, but Stiles and her underage Petruchio (Australian actor Heath Ledger, as hunky as his name) are charismatic and bold enough to carry any romantic comedy.
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
And yet ... gee, the movie is charming, despite its exhausted wheeze of an ancient recycled plot idea.
50
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
While the attractive cast is willing, the translation into '90s teen culture is weak -- like a clueless adult's notion of cool.
50
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
This teen-oriented gloss on Shakespeare's tale is cute and occasionally quite funny, but it's undermined by slack direction.