Never Been Kissed
Metascore
60 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 26
  3. Negative: 1 out of 26
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  1. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    50
    Manages to get by on wry smarts, barbed asides, and plenty of Barrymore's comic grace.
  2. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Lisa Alspector
    70
    Drew Barrymore's virtuoso performance smooths over the plot holes.
  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    The movie's screenplay is contrived and not blindingly original, but Barrymore illuminates it with sunniness, and creates a lovable character
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Mark Caro
    50
    Never Been Kissed features a fierce tug of war between the charm of Drew Barrymore and the stupidity of the script.
  5. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    63
    The best things about Never Been Kissed are its colorful camera work and funny dialogue.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    25
    Labored miscalculation of a teen-trend comedy.
  7. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Ron Wells
    60
    Unfortunately, the script is a light romantic comedy and unwilling to go the extra distance to really make it stick.
  8. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Robert Horton
    70
    Barrymore's sunny energy pushes the movie along, but halfway through you realize there just isn't that much to push.
  9. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Sean Means
    40
    Shining above it all, like a kewpie-doll saint, is Drew Barrymore -- whose sweet innocence and sexy romanticism have survived movies as bad as this before
  10. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    80
    An easygoing and amusing romantic confection.
  11. New Times (L.A.)
    Reviewed by: Hal Hinson
    70
    If Drew Barrymore weren't at the center holding it all together, the result could have been disastrous.
  12. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    80
    Barrymore pulls off the neatest trick of the year: She makes all this pop schlock matter.
  13. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: Ted Gideonse
    80
    The script is an odd take on the Cinderella formula, but Barrymore makes it shine with her relentless charm.
  14. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    50
    Saying bad things about Never Been Kissed, an unapologetic crowd-pleaser, makes me feel like the Grinch stealing Christmas, but there are some things that can't be ignored.
  15. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    60
    Toothless satire relatively inoffensive and relentlessly mediocre.
  16. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    70
    There are some indignities that Drew Barrymore should never be made to suffer.
  17. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    50
    Some so-so movies are just easy to be around, and this is one of them.
  18. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    75
    Where Never Been Kissed succeeds is in its unabashed refusal to stoop to choosing sides in the high-school hipness war.
  19. Slate
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    70
    It demands to be seen, for Drew Barrymore, who is at once the dizziest and most magically poised comedienne in movies today.
  20. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    60
    So hopelessly cartoonish and wrongheaded in its details that there's not even a semblance of reality.
  21. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Bruce Diones
    60
    The film, which Barrymore produced, is meant to be a charming coming-of-age story, but it plays a little too sweetly for its own good.
  22. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    40
    Not even Drew Barrymore's million-dollar smile can save this humiliating comedy.
  23. Variety
    Reviewed by: Lael Loewenstein
    80
    A likable romantic comedy with an engaging premise and strong cast.
  24. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Justine Elias
    60
    A lively tribute to the awkwardness and power of adolescent girlhood.
  25. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Michael O'Sullivan
    80
    Drew Barrymore has figured out what works, and what works for Drew Barrymore is this: Cinderella stories.
  26. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Rita Kempley
    50
    Predictable, slightly painful and as embarrassing as all get-out.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. jimmytancredi
    5
    Josie is an editor who works for a newspaper and has only 25 years. Her boss wants her to disguise herself as a teenager and sneak into college to do an investigative piece. The problem is that in her early teens, she hasn't had good experiences and has fears that they repeat and it causes her resignation. Starting with the fact that hardly a woman of 25 years would pass for a teenager, and more strenuous has never been kissed. Taking into consideration that is a fiction we get the part that is a romantic comedy, and especially in the 90s. I believe that in the epoch it worked well in a successful way, almost became a modern fairy tale.… Full Review »
  2. JayH
    6
    Barrymore is great fun and the premise of the film is clever. It doesn't always make the best use of the plot idea, I think they miss some good opportunities, but I was always entertained. A fun and harmless film.… Full Review »
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