April 10, 1999 -- "Never Been Kissed" is a good romantic comedy, thanks mainly to Drew Barrymore's fabulous performance as a clumsy reporter trying to fit in as an undercover high school student.

Barrymore plays Josie Geller a copy editor for the Chicago Sun-Times who wants to be a writer. She gets her chance when the whim of a mad managing editor (played by director-actor Garry Marshall) gives her an undercover assignment as a high school student. Going to school again causes her to relive the horror of her high school years as she is laterally stamped a loser again.

The flashback scenes to Geller's high school days are hilarious. She is made to look even shorter and chunkier than she is and the braces and bad hair complete the effect. In one such flashback scene she relives the horror of prom night when a classmate treats her to unspeakable cruelties.

She is again treated cruelly by most of her classmates upon her return to high school. Again, she is unable to fit in, except the the brainy geeks who band together for protection. At first, she is befriended by the brainy Aldys (Leelee Sobieski of "Deep Impact" and "A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries."

Her attempts to fit in with the high school elite are rebuffed until her brother, Rob Geller, (David Arquette of "Scream") comes to her rescue. Just as he did in high school, he is able to fit in and become one of the coolest kids in school. He is able to convince the other elite students in school that his sister is also worthy of admission to the in crowd.

Josie Geller's intelligence, education and charm, meanwhile, have not been lost on one of her teachers, Sam Coulson (Michael Vartan of "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar"). Their mutual attraction is noticed by Geller's editor, Gus, (John C. Reilly of "The Thin Red Line") and he wants her to develop their attraction into a romance and a story. If she does, it could ruin Coulson's career as a teacher.

The resolution of Geller's dilemma is the centerpiece of the film. While the film isn't particularly convincing as a depiction of journalists, teachers, or students, it is entertaining in a very lighthearted way. Barrymore goes through many transformations in the film in a real acting tour-de-force. Arquette, Sobieski, Vartan and Jeremy Jordan (a singer and actor, who appeared in "Leaving Las Vegas" and has a gold record, "Try My Love") who plays Guy Perkins, the coolest guy in school, provide good supporting performances. This film rates a B.

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