Vote up all the reasons why this movie is actually pretty dark, come to think of it.
When you think about Never Been Kissed, you likely remember it as that adorable romantic comedy from the ‘90s that starred the lovable and charming Drew Barrymore. And what’s not to like about all of that? Well, Never Been Kissed is actually a really dark and twisted film. On the surface, it’s about newspaper reporter Josie Geller, played by Barrymore, who goes undercover at a local high school in hopes to get a scoop for a story. It turns out that Josie is actually harboring severe emotional trauma from her own high school experience. On top of the emotionally stunted protagonist, the film also features some deeply inappropriate relationships. Not only does Josie’s teacher shamelessly flirt with her even though he’s under the impression that she’s his high school student, but Josie also goes to the prom with a teenage boy.
See? Never Been Kissed is so much more twisted than anyone realized back in 1999. Of course, it’s not the only romantic comedy that is much less charming and much more disturbing when you think about. For example, 50 First Dates (another Barrymore starring role) features a man taking advantage of a disabled woman. Um, romantic comedies are dark. In fact, it’s likely a majority of the couple in romantic comedies would break up a whole three seconds after the credits started rolling.
Never Been Kissed may be one of the best teen movies of all time, but it also features some incredible stunted individuals engaging in some inappropriate relationships. Don't be fooled by Barrymore's warm smile; her character is twisted.
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115 VOTES
The Main Romance In The Film Is Between A Teacher And Someone He Believes Is His Student
Josie and Mr. Coulson had great chemistry. That much is true. The problem is that Mr. Coulson was, well, Mr. Coulson. He was Josie’s teacher. And yes, Josie is actually a 25-year-old woman posing as a high school student, so she's technically only enough to date him. In reality, Josie and Mr. Coulson were probably around the same age, with the same interests, and would make a great couple. But as it stands, Mr. Coulson thought Josie was a high student and he was still pretty down to flirt with her. What’s worse is that the narrative of the film makes the audience root for this relationship between a seeming high school student and her teacher.
115 votes
2
91 VOTES
A Romantic Ferris Wheel Encounter Between A Student And Teacher Is Totally Inappropriate
Mr. Coulson, if you’re having weird sexual chemistry with someone you believe to be a teenage high school student, you do not — DO NOT – get on a teeny, tiny Ferris wheel with said student. There was barely enough room for Mr. Coulson and Josie to not be sitting thigh-to-thigh. It was a Ferris wheel made for romance, not for a teacher-student conversation.
To make matters worse, Mr. Coulson starts confiding in Josie — again, someone he thinks is his high school student — about his relationship problems with his girlfriend. Then, he basically tells Josie that if she were his age, he'd totally do her. Does this scene make the whole audience melt into a puddle of love and romance and chemistry? Supposedly yes, but it’s also a scene that should have never, under no circumstances, happen in real life.
91 votes
3
89 VOTES
25-Year-Old Josie Engages In A Flirtatious Relationship With A High School Student
As if Mr. Coulson and Josie’s flirting over Shakespeare wasn’t weird enough, Josie begins dating the most popular guy in school. To Josie's credit, the relationship seems more opportunistic than romantic and it never becomes physical, but it’s still weird that a 25-year-old woman went to prom with a teenage boy. Not only that, Josie was super excited about going to prom with Guy, like much more excited than a normal 25-year-old woman should have been in this situation. Then again, the story itself proves that Josie was definitely not a normal 25-year-old woman.
89 votes
4
71 VOTES
When The Other Students Notice That Mr. Coulson Is Very Much Into A High School Student, They Aren’t Even Alarmed
The chemistry between Mr. Coulson and Josie is undeniable. Thus, all the other high school students can totally see that they want to rip each other’s clothes off and do some Shakespeare role play. You’d think that the students would be concerned about the vulnerable new girl falling prey to her incredible hot teacher. Instead, the other students simply mock Mr. Coulson and Josie like they would any other high school relationship. Why aren't they concerned? Does this kind of stuff happen all the time at this weird high school that seemingly lets 20-somethings have high school do-overs whenever they want?
71 votes
5
43 VOTES
The Whole Office Is Engaging In Some Extreme Form Of Voyeurism, All While Josie Engages In Some Extreme Form Of Wish Fulfillment
Whoa, there is some seriously unhealthy behavior going on in this film. Because Josie is wearing a tiny camera, the entire office begins watching her high school experience like it’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians. It’s complete voyeurism. Meanwhile, Josie’s experience while undercover is maybe the most wish fulfillment ever seen in a movie. I mean, Josie was dubbed “Josie Grossie,” tormented in high school, and even egged on prom night. Then, she goes back to high school and becomes to the prom queen.
Between the office feverish watch parties and Josie’s gleeful second high school experience, it seems everyone in this fictional world is just obsessed with high school.
43 votes
6
55 VOTES
Rob Actually Thought That Posing As A Teenager Would Give Him A Second Chance At A Baseball Career
Rob isn’t the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but did he really think going back to high school would give him a second chance at a baseball career? Rob believed that going back to high school and playing on the baseball team would result in another chance to play in the minor leagues, and if the plan seems outlandish, it is. It’s utter lunacy for Rob to think that a minor league baseball team would sign him without, oh, maybe finding out his real age, for example. But hey, maybe the minor leagues wouldn’t care that 23-year-old Rob is a total weirdo who went back to high school for a second chance at baseball and still let him play. Or, more likely, they would think his lies are a sign of emotional instability and be unwilling to let such a liability on their team.
Though, Rob's plans do have an odd way of working out. I mean, we are talking about the guy who made himself popular by eating a tub of coleslaw.
