NEVER BEEN KISSED (1999)

Directed By: Raja Gosnell
Written By: Abby Kohn & Marc Silverstein
Cinematography By: Alex Nepomniaschy
Editor: Debra Chiate & Marcelo Sansevici

Cast: Drew Barrymore, Molly Shannon, John C. Reilly, David Arquette, Jeremy Jordan, Michael Vartan, Jessica Alba, LeeLee Sobieski, Garry Marshall, Jordan Ladd, Giuseppe Andrews, Jordan Ladd, Marley Shelton, Cress Williams, Octavia Spencer, Sean Whalen, Branden Williams, James Franco


This film is way too superficial to be anywhere near taken seriously, Not that there was any real intention of it wanting too. This is a film made purely for fun. It has a sweet filling with a chewing gum heart. It is fun but not too memorable.

First of all I like Drew Barrymore and this film reminds you of her personality sweet yet a bit rebellious. As a producer of the film she still should have known better then to cast herself in the lead role. She looks to old to play the role, Which becomes very distracting. I would never believe these teenagers wouldn’t suspect she was older. I know some teenagers look older then their actual age but this pushes that theory a bit too far.

The film primarily works. It has many cute funny scenes. It has a eclectic cast. There is nothing too deep and the movie moves at a quick pace. It doesn’t really delve into the real problems of teenagers only the problems of one ‘s social status and standing in high school.

The film follows Drew Barrymore who was a nerd outcast in high school , Who 10 years later works for a newspaper and sees her chance to be a reporter by going undercover as a student in high school and find a expose. At first she is a disaster she ends up going back to her geeky ways but when her older brother follows her and goes undercover too he is instantly popular and makes her that way too. Soon she is falling for her teacher Who she instantly bonds with. The teacher thinks she is underage and tries resisiting her. She leaves the friends who took her in when she first went undercover to be part of the popular crowd and living the life she dreamed of in high school the first time, But will it corrupt her? Will she get the article she needs? Will she fulfill her dream of kissing someone she loves? This movie is very predictable so you know the answers to all these questions . Though you should enjoy getting to them also.

The main plot kind of resembles in a more comedic and outrageous way. What director Cameron Crowe went through when he went under to a California high school to pen his book and eventual screenplay FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH.

GRADE: C+