Never Been Kissed
Directed by Raja Gosnell
- romance
- comedy
- drama
The story
Josie Geller, a baby-faced junior copywriter at the Chicago Sun-Times, must pose as a student at her former high school to research contemporary teenage culture. With the help of her brother, Rob, Josie infiltrates the inner circle of the most popular clique on campus. But she hits a major snag in her investigation -- not to mention her own failed love life -- when she falls for her dreamy English teacher, Sam Coulson.
What it’s like
Bright, bouncy late-nineties studio comedy look: saturated primary colors on hallways and lockers, sunny Chicago exteriors, cheerful daylight in the newsroom and school, with the lighting kept flat and warm rather than moody. The camera stays mostly conventional and eager, with quick cuts, playful pop-music montages, and a wide-eyed, slightly cartoonish energy in the staging, while the pop-rock soundtrack and sitcom-style punchlines keep the pace brisk. The vibe is sweet, goofy and warm, a light romantic comedy about an adult feeling awkward in the wrong era, with a gentle undertow of insecurity about looks, belonging and being taken seriously. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or an easy evening with friends. Intensity is very low: some teen social humiliation, mild crude jokes and a few kissing scenes, but no violence, no real menace and no gore. The emotional arc follows a young woman learning to trust her own voice and let herself be seen, and her romance unfolds with plenty of cheerful misunderstandings. It is for people who want a feel-good, low-stakes comedy with nostalgic high-school textures and a sincere, lightly romantic payoff.
More films like Never Been Kissed
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Never Been Kissed and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
