Never Been Kissed (1999)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Raja Gosnell

Writers (WGA):

Abby Kohn (written by) &
Marc Silverstein (written by)

Release Date:

9 April 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The Class Clown Just Turned Chic.

Plot:

A journalist enrolls in her old highschool as part of her research for a story.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Editor | Reporter | Undercover | Teacher

Awards:

2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Drew Barrymore	...	Josie Geller
David Arquette	...	Rob Geller
Michael Vartan	...	Sam Coulson
Molly Shannon	...	Anita
John C. Reilly	...	Gus
Garry Marshall	...	Rigfort
Sean Whalen	...	Merkin
Cress Williams	...	George
Octavia Spencer	...	Cynthia (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Sarah DeVincentis	...	Rhoda
Allen Covert	...	Roger in Op-Ed
Rock Reiser	...	Dutton
David Doty	...	Hairplug Bruns
Derek Morgan	...	Armcast Henson (as Derrick Morgan)
Kathleen Marshall	...	Sun-Times Worker

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex-related material and some drug content.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:6 | Denmark:A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:15 | New Zealand:PG | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Philippines:G

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

David Arquette plays younger brother to Drew Barrymore, although Barrymore is almost 5 years younger than him in real-life.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sam turns up at the baseball stadium and various characters begin kissing each other, Kristin hits Jason with her purse when he tries to kiss her. After this shot, they can be seen in the background performing the same actions.

Quotes:

Josie Geller: Let me tell you something, I don't care about being your stupid prom queen. I'm 25 years old. I'm an undercover reporter for the Chicago Sun Times and I've been beating my brains out trying to impress you people. Let me tell you something Gibby, Kirsten...

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Best! Movies! Ever!: Hot for Teacher (#1.21)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Heaven Tonight

High School Do Over

Never Been Kissed gives Drew Barrymore the chance to do something that maybe 70% of us would like to do. Go back to high school and make some necessary corrections. Actually the first time for me was bad enough and at my age I doubt I could pull it off the way Drew does.

Of course the reason could also be that once we leave high school it's like leaving a cocoon and we have to deal with the great big unfriendly world out there. I've known a few in my life who would go back and stay if they could. In fact there is a Law and Order episode which explores the dark side of this same situation. A girl looking young enough to pull it off, goes through high school at least three times and kills the person who stumbles on her secret.

With Drew though it's an assignment. She's a copy editor for the Chicago Sun Times who yearns to be a reporter. Publisher Garry Marshall who plays the part like Donald Trump took over the Sun Times gets this brilliant idea and just sees in Barrymore a young enough looking person to pull off the masquerade.

High School the first time was bad enough. Drew was not the most popular then and she's not doing better the second time around. That is until brother David Arquette also goes back to school and helps her over the rough patches.

Of course this raises a whole lot of issues for Drew, peer pressure from two sources, job and school. What's a girl to do?

Never Been Kissed is a light and charming comedy which to its credit skips over the opportunity to be crassly exploitive and gives us some good entertainment. Drew is very funny and sweet and her performance in moments of stress for her character moves nicely into pathos. Michael Vartan as her English teacher is the kind I wish there were more of in the education field and Leelee Sobieski and Jessica Alba play a pair of the empty headed cool kids that Drew tries so desperately to hook up with.

Still it doesn't inspire me to return to Midwood High School.