Never Been Kissed (1999)

A newspaper reporter enrolls in high school as part of research for a story.

Director:

Raja Gosnell

Writers:

Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein

Stars:

Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, Michael Vartan

2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Armand Reiser	...	Dutton
David Doty	...	Hairplug Bruns
Derek Morgan	...	Armcast Henson (as Derrick Morgan)
Kathleen Marshall	...	Sun-Times Worker

Storyline

Chicago Sun Times copy editor Josie Gellar (25), who was desperate to graduate from perfectionist copy editor to reporter, gets her chance when the goody owner orders the editor to cover the high-school scene by undercover. Josie, who was a frustrated, ridiculed nerd, gets a popular make-over from her drop-out, naturally funny brother Rob Geller. Both siblings find love and joys of youth again. But in Josie's case, it's sensitive bachelor teacher Sam Coulson, who enjoys sophisticated conversation. As the publication deadline approaches, the price of blowing their cover seems ever more daunting, yet inevitable unless she sacrifices her career.

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Plot Keywords:

newspaper | female protagonist | undercover reporter | journalist | kiss | 

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Taglines:

Some things are worth waiting for

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

FOX Mexico Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 April 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Never Been Kissed

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,836,707, 11 April 1999, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$55,474,756

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,090,474

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox 2000 Pictures, Bushwood Pictures, Flower Films (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chloë Sevigny was considered for the role of Aldys.

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Goofs

After Josie gets the hidden camera pin, we see an almost head to toe shot of her walking up to her locker. After Guy and his friends go by, Josie walks up to the kid with fliers and we see that there is something now wrapped around her left ankle/leg.

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Quotes

James Rigfort: You! What's your name?
Josie Geller: [nervous stutter] J-Jo-Josie...
James Rigfort: Jose?
Josie Geller: Josie Geller!

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits feature school photos of the cast and crew.

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Education: Sex Education (2012)

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Soundtracks

Don't Worry Baby
Written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian
Performed by The Beach Boys
Film Surround Mix by Ken Caillar and Leo Rossi at Highway 5.1
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under License from EMI Music Special Markets

User Reviews

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.