You are here:

Never Been Kissed

Name: Never Been Kissed
Director: Raja Gosnell
Released: 1999
Duration: 107 min

Representation Score

4.2/10

Fair

1999

PG-13

Director

Raja Gosnell

Runtime

107 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Never Been Kissed is a typical commercial romantic comedy of its time. While the protagonist is portrayed as an intellectual professional and the film passes the Bechdel test, it remains focused on a narrow demographic and straight-centered themes. The film highlights Josie Geller’s journey as a journalist who can challenge societal norms, yet it ultimately shifts towards a conventional romantic storyline. The lack of diverse representation and meaningful engagement with LGBTQ+ or disability issues limits the film’s scope.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Never Been Kissed have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a traditional structure centered around a heterosexual relationship, which excludes queer perspectives.

How does Never Been Kissed portray gender?

Fair

Josie Geller is shown as an intellectually capable journalist but the story ultimately focuses on her romantic life, following typical gender clichés.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Never Been Kissed?

Limited

The setting is primarily white and middle-class, with no intentional effort to include diverse racial or ethnic perspectives.

How does Never Been Kissed represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story adheres to a conventional Western framework, reinforcing traditional social and professional structures without significant critique.

Does Never Been Kissed include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any meaningful representation of physical, neurodivergent, or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Josie Geller is portrayed as an intellectually capable journalist.
The film passes the Bechdel test through its character interactions.

Limited or Absent

The story focuses solely on heterosexual relationships, excluding LGBTQ+ perspectives.
The setting is predominantly white and middle-class, lacking diversity.
There is no meaningful representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

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.

How are these scores produced? →