The ‘90s and early 2000s have been a beacon of great rom-com films. Whereas all of them appeared to observe the identical form of premise — lady will get a makeover and turns into “sizzling” by taking off her glasses, lady is dumped by the lovable man and falls in love with the weirdo, lady has a mortal enemy in a boy she ultimately dates, etcetera — one among them at all times stood out to me. As a result of in 1999, Drew Barrymore starred in By no means Been Kissed, and actually, I used to be by no means the identical once more.
And never simply because that film launched me to Michael Vartan.
Like different ‘90s and early 2000s films, Never Been Kissed has been seen as problematic in latest rewatches. However 25 years after this film was launched, I’m extra targeted on Barrymore’s character of Josie Geller… and the way, actually, she was forward of her time.
In fact, we’re speculated to see Josie Grossie — an unlucky nickname bestowed upon her in highschool — as an enormous, big loser who has nothing going for her. She’s dorky, she lacks social abilities, she’s good. You already know, all of the attributes each film gave each bullied character. However as she turns into a younger grownup, Josie nonetheless holds onto these elements of her life, and she or he by no means appears ashamed of them. From creating one other cross-stitch pillow to adorn her mattress to correcting her colleagues once they mess up the English language, Josie Geller is at all times true to herself.
And, in 2026 traits, she would’ve been cool as hell.
Think about, for one second, Josie Geller with a TikTok. Her “prepare with me” movies would come with her dressing in some fairly unimaginable outfits — whether or not she’s being the highschool model of herself or the grownup model of herself — all whereas sharing tidbits about Shakespeare and calculus. She may do voiceovers about how a lot she was bullied (by no means has my coronary heart damaged a lot in a film as her mother calling out for her when she’s been egged by her promenade date) whereas displaying you her newest granny hobby. She completely has an analog bag stuffed with books and writing supplies, whereas additionally being a badass profession lady who owns her personal home within the Chicago suburbs at age 25.
Josie Geller was speculated to be a loser in By no means Been Kissed. And positive, she will get her redemption arc after she alters her hair and begins carrying extra flattering garments (the way in which I coveted that pink costume on the baseball mound), however the core of her character is an absolute vibe. Particularly with the previous woman tendencies.
She’s the cool lady who understands how intercourse truly works, and a lady who is aware of that she ought to solely put her vitality into an actual, real love. She’s the lady who isn’t afraid to leap into one thing new and scary, although that form of belief and confidence hasn’t labored in her favor previously. She’s the lady who would use her TikTok lives to speak about injustice on this planet, all whereas getting tremendous enthusiastic about some new lipstick she purchased and the embroidery she’s engaged on.
1999 Josie Geller was a dork. However in 2026? She could be an absolute icon.
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