Never Been Kissed (1999)

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 Rob Geller. His wife, Courteney Cox, plays Monica Geller on her show "Friends" (1994).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Josie Geller is 25 when she enters the senior class of 1999's Prom. This would have made her, if she graduated at the age of 17/18, a graduate of the class of 1991/1992. Her prom dress flashback is a 1980s outfit. She was invited to the "senior" prom, which means her date would have had to be a senior or junior to invite her, and since he was her classmate, she would also have been a junior or a senior. So, she would have graduated during the 90s, yet her prom dress is in 1980s style, and any flashbacks of her "Josie Grossie" lifestyle show 80s outfits and play to Cyndi Lauper's "She Bop" - a hit in 1984, 8 years before Josie would have graduated, and at least four years before she was old enough to be in High School.

Quotes:

Anita Olesky: [Anita runs into Josie's office and knocks down a diploma on the wall] Guess who I did it with last night?
Josie Geller: Roger from Op/Ed?
Anita Olesky: Aww... Who told you?
Josie Geller: You did. You said, and I quote "Tonight I have a date with Roger from Op/Ed, and I'm gonna do it with him."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Drew Barrymore/Garbage (#24.16)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

A Girl Named Happiness (Never Been Kissed)

Second half was better

I thought my one-line summary was going to be 'this was a very bad idea', a line spoken by Drew Barrymore's character. At that point in the movie, there were no likeable characters to speak of, except maybe Drew's brother. But Drew's character grew on me. And her brother played a bigger role in the movie's second half. Overall, things started getting better as time went on. And the best acting performance, to me, was that of the actress playing a nerdy kid who became Drew's friend. I was pleasantly surprised to find the name Leelee Sobieski in the credits. She has impressed me before, without my knowing who she was, and she did it again. By the end of the movie, I was feeling pretty good. It didn't have to be quite so dirty, though.