Never Been Kissed (1999)

brilliant actors, brilliant editing

A Disappointing Continuation

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

The late 90s saw a brief resurgence in the teen comedy genre (Humorously parodied in the underrated 'Not Another Teen Movie', a movie I cannot recommend to you enough), many of which have blended together into a fuzzy mosaic of mediocrity in our collective memory a decade and a half later. This otherwise forgettable Drew Barrymore vehicle stands out (relatively) thanks mostly--perhaps exclusively--to her energy and charm.Every cliché box is checked and no surprises await the viewer here, but Ms. Barrymore smooths over the movie's cracks like an adorably lisping spackle.

I was sat watching TV, waiting a TV show to start, with twenty minutes to spare I stuck with the channel I had on and "Never Been Kissed" a romantic comedy film from 1999 starring Drew Barrymore, John C. Reilly, David Arquette, Leelee Sobieski, Jessica Alba, and James Franco in his film debut came on. I ended up drawn in and watched the full thing and missing my TV show.Plot In A Paragraph: Josie Geller (Drew Barrymore) works for the Chicago Sun-Times. One day, her editor-in-chief, Rigfort (Garry Marshall) assigns her to report undercover at a high school to help parents become more aware of their children's lives. Her first day back at High School is miserable. Josie reverts to the old geek self that ruined her first high school life. She also has a run-in with three horrible popular girls (one of them Jessica Alba). Josie loses hope, but is reassured when a kind-hearted nerd girl named Aldys (Leelee Sobieski) befriends her.Drew Barrymore is OK as is David Arquette (if you can subscribe to a world where they can pass as High School students). Jessica Alba is not required to do anything other than look cute and stare disapproving whilst John C. Reilly. But for me, Leelee Sobieski is the stand out performer as Aldys. She shines in every scene and I fond the movie poorer when she was not involved after Josie predictably ditches her for the "cool kids" It's silly, routine, predictable, cliché and unoriginal. but I enjoyed it for the most part, especially early on when Sobieski was involved more.Normally I'd have given this a 5/10 as whilst sweet at times it was average with a lot of faults, but I'm giving it an extra bonus point for Sobieski.

If you are in the need to watch a clichéd film I think this would top the list. In all honesty the major issue that I have with the film is the sheer predictability that it is overweight with. Drew Barrymore tries to fit into the role only barely managing to do so despite her attempts to fit in as the geeky turned cool kid. The supporting cast is decent with the occasional stars that outshine. The back story is stale and suffers from a lack of research on the writers parts. For a late Friday night watch the film managed to keep me awake with the occasional laughs here and there. There were a lot of comparisons drawn with Fast times at Ridgemont High and having to choose between the two I would have chosen the latter.The music is below average with the soundtrack not really adding to the storyline. By the end of the film you will be probably be betting that you could have written a better script than the dude who wrote the script for this film.Seven stars primarily because it's not a bad film. It's just not top of the league. Having watched all of John Hughes teen comedies I really don't think I can really give this film more than seven stars.

There are things you can say about Never Been Kissed that are exactly accurate. It isn't a laugh out loud, roll in the aisles funny movie. It is an incredibly adorable, pinch its cheeks, sugary sweet chick flick that doesn't try to be anything else. It does try to throw in just a tiny little dirty joke here and there but immediately covers its mouth and giggles nervously about it. You won't find any Oscar winning performances but you won't find any eye rolling performances either (except for maybe being just too insanely cute.) The film is one step away from being acted out by a team of homeless kittens and bunnies. There are some genuinely funny moments and it also follows the necessary recipe for a well received romantic comedy/chick flick and follows it to the letter right down to the grand gesture of love at the hand that will have sensitive movie watchers tearing up at. I can't say much more than that because Never Been Kissed should be exactly what you would expect from it. It is a movie I have watched more than once without batting an eye over it, it is one of wife's favourite films and I can understand why because it is simply just dang likable.And that in a nutshell is also Drew Barrymore. She is just dang likable, adorable, sweet and innocent...looking. Once a wild child and now America's sweetheart usually in films and it works for her. This character takes every day innocence to a new level because she is book smart but so out of touch with romance. She makes it believable and she makes even some of the minor plot holes seem reasonable...especially the constant flirting she does with her high school teacher which is addressed in a small way but mostly ignored. Her romantic counterpart is played by the ridiculously handsome and yet average joe seeming Michael Vartan. Their chemistry is very good though they are very different characters. They connect intellectually and it works very well for the movie. I still feel like Vartan is a little drab at times but nothing that holds back the film. David Arquette is, surprisingly so, quite good as Barrymore's caring and popular brother who happens to have not made much of himself. He has a small role, definitely supporting but it really is a good part for him and he adds something to the story. Him and Barrymore are terrific together. Supporting cast are all quite good including Molly Shannon (who I find hopelessly irritating but this is a role that actually was okay for her,) John C Reilly, Garry Marshall, Jeremy Jordan, Marley Shelton, Jordon Ladd and even Leelee Sobieski somehow pulls off an excruciatingly stereotypical and predictable character quite well.If someone told me they hated this film I could sort of see were they were coming from. Although, I'm not sure what sort of expectations they had from it because you can read the back or watch a trailer and essentially know what you're in for. Still, there just isn't a lot of depth here. This isn't a smart film but so what!! We need movies like this because they are simple fun and sweet and enjoyable for a little relaxation. There is no intensity here at all but at the same time the story works and has a great pacing. Raja Gosnell, best known now for successfully bringing The Smurfs to live action and big screens, has a talent for fluff. That might sound like an insult but it isn't meant to be. He creates light fluffy adventures and stories that are fun and enjoyable and Never Been Kissed is simply enjoyable. Love it for what it is!! 7.5/10