The late 90s saw a brief resurgence in the teen comedy genre (Humorously parodied in the underrated 'Not Another Teen Movie', a movie I cannot recommend to you enough), many of which have blended together into a fuzzy mosaic of mediocrity in our collective memory a decade and a half later. This otherwise forgettable Drew Barrymore vehicle stands out (relatively) thanks mostly--perhaps exclusively--to her energy and charm.Every cliché box is checked and no surprises await the viewer here, but Ms. Barrymore smooths over the movie's cracks like an adorably lisping spackle.

There are things you can say about Never Been Kissed that are exactly accurate. It isn't a laugh out loud, roll in the aisles funny movie. It is an incredibly adorable, pinch its cheeks, sugary sweet chick flick that doesn't try to be anything else. It does try to throw in just a tiny little dirty joke here and there but immediately covers its mouth and giggles nervously about it. You won't find any Oscar winning performances but you won't find any eye rolling performances either (except for maybe being just too insanely cute.) The film is one step away from being acted out by a team of homeless kittens and bunnies. There are some genuinely funny moments and it also follows the necessary recipe for a well received romantic comedy/chick flick and follows it to the letter right down to the grand gesture of love at the hand that will have sensitive movie watchers tearing up at. I can't say much more than that because Never Been Kissed should be exactly what you would expect from it. It is a movie I have watched more than once without batting an eye over it, it is one of wife's favourite films and I can understand why because it is simply just dang likable.And that in a nutshell is also Drew Barrymore. She is just dang likable, adorable, sweet and innocent...looking. Once a wild child and now America's sweetheart usually in films and it works for her. This character takes every day innocence to a new level because she is book smart but so out of touch with romance. She makes it believable and she makes even some of the minor plot holes seem reasonable...especially the constant flirting she does with her high school teacher which is addressed in a small way but mostly ignored. Her romantic counterpart is played by the ridiculously handsome and yet average joe seeming Michael Vartan. Their chemistry is very good though they are very different characters. They connect intellectually and it works very well for the movie. I still feel like Vartan is a little drab at times but nothing that holds back the film. David Arquette is, surprisingly so, quite good as Barrymore's caring and popular brother who happens to have not made much of himself. He has a small role, definitely supporting but it really is a good part for him and he adds something to the story. Him and Barrymore are terrific together. Supporting cast are all quite good including Molly Shannon (who I find hopelessly irritating but this is a role that actually was okay for her,) John C Reilly, Garry Marshall, Jeremy Jordan, Marley Shelton, Jordon Ladd and even Leelee Sobieski somehow pulls off an excruciatingly stereotypical and predictable character quite well.If someone told me they hated this film I could sort of see were they were coming from. Although, I'm not sure what sort of expectations they had from it because you can read the back or watch a trailer and essentially know what you're in for. Still, there just isn't a lot of depth here. This isn't a smart film but so what!! We need movies like this because they are simple fun and sweet and enjoyable for a little relaxation. There is no intensity here at all but at the same time the story works and has a great pacing. Raja Gosnell, best known now for successfully bringing The Smurfs to live action and big screens, has a talent for fluff. That might sound like an insult but it isn't meant to be. He creates light fluffy adventures and stories that are fun and enjoyable and Never Been Kissed is simply enjoyable. Love it for what it is!! 7.5/10

Josie Gellar (Drew Barrymore) is a Chicago Sun Times copy editor. She's a stiff perfectionist, and not aggressive enough to be a reporter. That is until the owner arbitrarily assigns Josie as an undercover high school student. Only she was a loser nerd in her high school years, and she returns as a loser nerd in her new undercover work. With the help of her younger drop-out brother Rob Geller (David Arquette), she gets a makeover and infiltrates the popular group.She is scary nerdy and humiliating. It's really not funny unless we are supposed to laugh at her. Luckily for the movie, Drew Barrymore is impossibly lovable. She makes us love her no matter what, and makes this sad pathetic character somewhat watchable.

Never Been Kissed is a cute little movie with a silly plot- A newspaper editor named Josie Gellar, played by Drew Barrymore, dreaming of becoming a reporter is given a story to go undercover and to write about the high school scene.Having been a nerd and taunted a lot in high school, she sees this as a second chance to be "cool". With a makeover by her brother, she enters the high school scene. Her brother starts to get excited and decides to go undercover as well. Josie manages to become friends with both the popular and geeky kids and her second chance in high school becomes the life she always dreamed of.She becomes well liked in the school and starts to fall for her teacher.As school life and fun as a teen starts to get to her head, she begins to get closer to her deadline and must make a decision between blowing her cover and possibly dating the teacher or simply just writing her story and being done with high school forever.And to top it all off, she hasn't been kissed and would love for her teacher to be her first kiss. This leads to complications. If you're into girly movies and high school movies and feel good movies, you will LOVE Never Been Kissed. I was a big nerd in high school who wasn't really popular and thus, I hated high school like Josie did. While I wouldn't want a second chance, it was fun seeing Josie relive her high school days and having fun. It's one of those movies you really don't have to take too serious mainly cause the plot is kind of unrealistic. Other than that, you'll enjoy the movie. It's got a "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion" feel to it!