We haven't had too many reports on this film, but we did have ol Lane Myers file a report that was at first quite positive, then it turned a bit negative... so the film apparently might contain a strange uncomfortable after-taste... But here's the view from a fella that went to the World Premiere, beheld the glory and beauty of Drew Barrymore and says... IT SUCKED... So here we go...
Hey Harry! Chris Shiherlis here. I attended the premiere of Drew Barrymore's new film, NEVER BEEN KISSED, at the Mann's Chinese the other night and have finally taken the time to tell you about it -- if you care. I have to say, I have been faithfully attending the crop of high school based films (do they really call these "Genration Y"?) that have been coming out on a regular basis lately -- VARSITY BLUES, CRUEL INTENTIONS, SHE'S ALL THAT, you get the picture -- and for the most part I like them. So, that combined with the fact that I have really like Drew Barrymore lately (EVER AFTER and WEDDING SINGER rocked), needless to say I was totally psyched to see this film. I was not alone -- the premiere was so overattended that they opened overflow theatres down the street at the Galaxy.
Too bad it sucked.
For those who don't know, the film is about Josie (Drew B.), age 25, a copy editor for a Chicago Newspaper who gets her first reporting assignment -- attend high school undercover and "find a story." Josie was, and throughout much of the film still is, "Josie Grossy." For those of you hoping for some great mental images of Drew to take home with you, forget about it. Anyway, she sees this assignment as an opportunity to reinvent herself and be "cool", shed the "Josie Grossy" persona, and banish all of her terribel high school memories.
Blah, blah, blah, she falls for her english teacher (one of the redeeming things about this movie is Michael Vartan (sp?) who plays this role) and, without spoiling it, we witness what occurs when she has to choose between being a good person or getting a story for her paper.
So why did it suck? To be honest the first half of the movie stands up pretty well. Most of the writing was funny and played well by the cast -- David Arquette (C-A-L-L-A-T-T guy), Molly Shannon (SNL), and Leelee Sobieski (DEEP IMPACT) -- to name a few. But the film gets bogged down and into the second half, the laughs get fewer fewer. The ending, and buildup to it, are totally predictable and insincere, they redefine the label "hollywood ending." In fact this one should be called the "pathetic hollywood ending." In short, the film just falls totally flat. Sorry Drew. Better luck next time.
Shiherlis
