Never Been Kissed

Critics Consensus

Unoriginal and unremarkable high school satire adds little to the genre.

55%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 89

69%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 441,072
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Movie Info

Many people wish they could go back to high school, knowing what they know as an adult; Josie Geller gets the chance to do just that in the comedy Never Been Kissed. Josie (played by Drew Barrymore) is a 25-year-old copy editor at a newspaper in Chicago. But it's her youthful looks as much as her journalistic skills that finally win her a writing assignment: she's ordered to enroll in high school posing as a teenager for a story on the state of America's youth. Trouble is, Josie was a hopeless nerd in high school (called "Josie Grossie" by her classmates); she had no idea of how to fit in with the cool kids, and she's hardly gotten any better at it in the seven years since graduation. While Josie makes fast friends with a bookish girl named Aldys (Leelee Sobieski), and also takes notice of her good-looking English teacher Mr. Coulson (Michael Vartan), she realizes for the sake of her story she has to infiltrate the cool girls' clique, which will be impossible without someone to give her a crash course in hipness. Josie's brother Rob (David Arquette), obviously the more style-conscious sibling, offers to sign up for the same school to act as the cool-guy friend she'll need to fit in, but just when Josie starts making headway (and starts enjoying high school for a change), her editor changes the focus of the story -- he now wants a feature on improper relations between teachers and students, which will not be good for her deepening friendship with Mr. Coulson. Never Been Kissed also features supporting performances from John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon and Jordan Ladd (the latter in a much more wholesome vehicle than her last cinematic visit to cinematic teen-town, Gregg Araki's Nowhere). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Cast

Drew Barrymore
as Josie Geller
David Arquette
as Rob Geller
Michael Vartan
as Sam Coulson
Molly Shannon
as Anita
Leelee Sobieski
as Aldys
Jessica Alba
as Kirsten
Marley Shelton
as Kristen
Jordan Ladd
as Gibby
John C. Reilly
as Gus
Garry Marshall
as Rigfort
Sean Whalen
as Merkin
Cress Williams
as George
Octavia Spencer
as Cynthia
Kevin Scott Greer
as High School Student
Sarah DeVincentis
as Rhoda
Allen Covert
as Roger in Op/Ed
Rock Reiser
as Dutton
David Doty
as Hairplug Bruns
Derrick Morgan
as Armcast Henson
Kathleen Marshall
as Sun Times Worker
Jenny Bicks
as Miss Haskell
Katie Lansdale
as Tracy
Branden Williams
as Tommy
James Franco
as Jason
Gregory Sporleder
as Coach Romano
Martha Hackett
as Mrs. Knox
Jennifer Parsons
as P.E. Teacher
Andrew Wilson
as School Guard
Giuseppe Andrews
as Denominator
Alex Solowitz
as Brett
Niesha Trout
as Sera
Chad Christian Haywood
as Matz
Cory Hardrict
as Packer
Chad Todhunter
as Stoner No. 1
Daniel Louis Rivas
as Stoner No. 2
Mark Edwards
as School Guard No. 2
Denny Lee Kirkwood
as Billy Prince
Marissa Jaret Winokur
as Sheila
Carmen Llywellyn
as Rob's Girlfriend
Sara Downing
as Billy's Prom Date
Mike G. Moyer
as Monty Malik
Steven Wilde
as Bouncer
Maya McLaughlin
as Lara
David Douglas
as Rasta
Russell Bobbitt
as Carny
Tara Skye
as Tyke
Mark Allen
as DJ
Conor O'Neil
as Gibby's Prom Date
Joe Ochman
as Prom Judge No. 1
Don Snell
as Prom Judge No. 2
Jason Weissbrod
as Big Bad Wolf
Tinsley Grimes
as Little Red Riding Hood
Joshua Fitzgerald
as Tarzan
Amanda Wilmshurst
as Fruit Headdress Woman
Willy Abers
as Band Member
Ulises Bella
as Band Member
José Espinosa
as Band Member
Cut Chemist
as Band Member
William Marruto
as Band Member
Raul Pacheco
as Band Member
Justin Porie
as Band Member
Asdru Sierra
as Band Member
Charles Stewart
as Band Member
Jiro Yamaguchi
as Band Member
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Critic Reviews for Never Been Kissed

All Critics (89) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (40)

View All Critic Reviews (89)

Audience Reviews for Never Been Kissed

  • Dec 23, 2015
    Okay. There's just nothing really noteworthy about this film, although it is still entertaining.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
  • Jul 10, 2012
    Rob Geller: Wow, that was just like "Carrie"! I thought she was gonna kill us all.  "A Comedy With Class" Never Been Kissed is one of the sorriest excuses for a movie I have seen. It's so annoyingly joyful. It's basically one huge delusion. Hey, I can go back to high school where I never really fit in, and have a second chance. Oh, look now I'm the most popular girl in school and all the boys want to tickle my belly button from the inside(obvious Youth in Revolt allusion). But I'm still the girl I was when no one liked me. I still have a great modesty about me that I'll give up my reign on top for a fellow nerd in need. And you know what? I'll still get the guy. Give me a fucking break. Could this movie be anymore predictable and dull? Answer: Probably, but not much more. The movie is extremely flawed in a variety of ways; some don't even pertain to the travesty they kill this plot. Their high school research was awful. These characters didn't feel like real high school students to me in the way good high school movies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Dazed and Confused did. It feels more like their not even using cliche, but just the cliches, cliches. I know that makes no sense at all, but it is the only way to describe this film. Here's the plot. A copy editor get assigned to go undercover at a high school posing as a teenager, and find a story. When the story involves her getting in good with the cool kids, her brother comes along for the ride also posing as a student. This is one of those romantic comedies that you have to have a vagina to watch. I'm a guy who can appreciate good, romantic movies, but when they are as tired and shamefully optimistic as this one, they can't be enjoyed by me. I'm actually a fan of Drew Barrymore, and it pains me that I hate this movie and her character as much as I do, but it's just the fact. The last scene of this movie made me nauseous at how fake and corny it was. I'm gonna put myself in front of the world and let my love come to me. Put five minutes on the clock. I wonder what's going to happen. Fuck this movie.
    Melvin W Super Reviewer
  • Jun 23, 2011
    Another great romantic film! Drew Barrymore plays her character perfectly. A must see!
    Bethany M Super Reviewer
  • Sep 29, 2010
    Funny and well-written, and Drew Barrymore has that charm which she has always seemed to have, and I hope she never loses.
    Jason R Super Reviewer
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