Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5478 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-06-19
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 103 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Let's get this straight: Drew Barrymore started a production company to develop original scripts outside of Hollywood and the first project she chose to produce was this, a romantic comedy written by USC grads Abby Kohn and Mark Silverstein about a nerdy, virginal woman who returns to high school as an undercover reporter, finally gets to be popular, and falls in love. And Barrymore decided, as producer, that the perfect actress to play this virtuous, clean-cut, and downright annoying geek would be... Drew Barrymore? It's hard to believe that after The Wedding Singer Barrymore's not getting enough dopey, formulaic, predictable romantic comedies coming across her desk. The complete inability to buy Barrymore as unattractive, awkward, and unpopular ruins Never Been Kissed from the start, but it's doubtful a better actress could have saved it. The jokes fall flat, the romance between Barrymore and her English teacher (played by Michael Vartan) lacks chemistry, and the portrayals of high school and the newspaper newsroom is clichéd and uninspired (big surprise here: the director, Raja Gosnell, previously made Home Alone 3). Gosnell can't even give the gifted character actor, John C. Reilly, anything to do. Only David Arquette, who plays Barrymore's out-of-control brother, brings any energy to the film. -- Dave McCoy, Amazon.com --This text refers to the VHS edition of this video

Special Features
2.35 Wide Screen
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround English
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Original Theatrical Trailer
None

Synopsis
Barrymore plays a newspaper editor who goes undercover at a high school to find out what the "cool kids are into." In the process, she redeems her first go 'round, which was nerdy, awkward and unbearable.

Customer Reviews

A funny, uplifting romantic comedy
While the plot is not airtight, Never Been Kissed succeeds because it does not try to be anything other than what it is--a quirky, fun romantic comedy. I adore Drew Barrymore, and she is wonderful in this movie, allowing us to see her as a pitiful, geeky teenager, a plain and mousy young lady, and ultimately as a beautiful, self-confident woman. Josie Geller (Barrymore) is a copy editor at a Chicago newspaper who desperately wants to be a reporter. The eccentric head of the newspaper selects her to go back to high school undercover and produce a story about today's teenaged youths. Excitement turns to horror as Josie flashes back to her torturous high school days as "Josie Grossie," but she puts all of her effort into fitting in with her new classmates. She eventually "transitions" from geek-dom to join the cool group and develops a real connection with her English teacher Mr. Coulson (Michael Vartan from TV's "Alias"). Predictably, things go screwy on prom night, but Josie manages to deliver a story that has all of Chicago talking.

The flashbacks to Josie's teenaged years, especially the prom night fiasco, are incredibly touching and painful to watch. The chance to go back to high school and be one of the cool, popular people is almost every geek's ultimate fantasy; as this movie shows, though, such acceptance by your teenaged peers does not guarantee happiness--what matters most is being true to yourself and to your real friends. The love story component of the movie ends up seeming a little rushed and could have used a little more foundational structure, but its culmination is a beautiful, heartwarming thing. Along the way, there are plenty of laughs, as Josie's attempts to fit in at high school are both pitiful and hilarious.

Look for a definitely pre-Dark Angelish Jessica Alba as one of the cool girls and SNL's Molly Shannon as Josie's friend Anita. David Arquette is quite good (much less annoying than usual) but does not seem to merit the sharing of the main credits. To be honest, this rather formulaic movie with its stereotypical depiction of high school society could have been a forgettable, disappointing experience had it starred someone without Drew's immense acting ability and natural charm. For that reason I am giving it only four stars, but I must say I myself never tire of watching this funny, heartwarming movie.

Worth Watching!
Though the plot is not terribly original - a girl who was a geek in high school wanting to be one of the cool girls, falling in love with her teacher, there is enough to this film to make it worth watching.

Drew Barrymore plays Josie, sent back to high school, undercover, to do a report on today's youth. She desperately wants to do well, as this is the big chance she has been waiting for.

It's not that easy, though. When she was an actual high school student, she was far from popular. Now, on return, it all seems to go the very same way.

She requests the help of her brother, whose wish it has always been to be part of a football team. Everyone immediately loves him, and by pretending to have been Josie's boyfriend and still being crushed that it wasn't meant to be, she slowly becomes accepted.

Except... there is that really cute teacher, who thinks she is a teenager and thus out of his reach...

This film is sweet and I genuinly cared for Drew's character, sometimes cringing on her behalf. And the end scene... I so wanted it to go well!

Yes, it is predictable, yes, it is another film set in an American High School and yes, the storyline on the whole isn't amazingly original. But it's done well and it is one of those lovely feel-good movies.

Great Film
First of all I have to disagree whole-heartedly with the 'official' review of this film. Never Been Kissed is a wonderful, feel-good movie that will leave you with a huge smile on your face long after it's ended.

I'm not a 'teen' and I still enjoyed it thoroughly. Drew Barrymore is great and totally believeable as the nerd who is an ugly duckling on the outside but a swan on the inside, who returns to school for an undercover job as a reporter, where she ultimately finds herself.

When I saw this at the pictures, the whole audience was totally absorbed by the film and vocally sympathised with Josie's humiliating flashbacks and laughed out loud at her charming awkwardness.

David Arquette as her 'cool' and 'popular' brother was inspired casting and Michael Vartan as the teacher she falls for plays his part perfectly.

These three actors alone make the film well worthwhile. Watch it and see.