The 1999 cult classic “10 Things I Hate About You,” directed by Gil Junger, is a story about Kat (Julia Stiles), a high school senior, who is unapproachable and standoffish to most of her classmates and to everyone around her. This creates a problem for her younger sister,  Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), who is not allowed to date until her sister does. A plan is then formed by a new student, Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), to find someone to bribe who would be willing to pursue Kat in order for Bianca to date. 

Spoiler alerts ahead — 

He and his friend eventually find a guy, Patrick (Heath Ledger), who is just as unapproachable as Kat. After Patrick and Kat spend time together, Patrick realizes that he is starting to fall for her and suddenly isn’t doing it for the money anymore. The plan seemed to be going great, but towards the end of the movie, at the prom, it is revealed that he was being paid to take her out. She is understandably upset because she was falling for him as well and is very hurt.

At the end, Kat’s and Patrick’s problem gets resolved after they realize how much they actually care about each other. Although this movie is funny and witty, it has a subtle message behind it. After Kat finds out about the plan, she presents an emotional poem about how, even though Patrick messed up and hurt her, she still loves him and cares for him. This shows us that a good relationship isn’t just about finding someone who is everything you’ve dreamed of, but rather than someone who you still care about even if they mess up and hurt you.