Never Been Kissed - Anita

Never Been Kissed is an adult nerd's fantasy - Josie Geller (Drew Barrymore) is a clever, socially awkward copy editor at a leading newspaper in Chicago. At 25 she is still scarred from the bullying and humiliation she suffered in high school, so when she is assigned to go undercover to get the inside scoop on teenagers, she is thrilled to get a second chance to be one of the cool kids. Naturally, she struggles with this, and with the help of her brother eventually does 'transition' into the popular crowd... (what's up Jessica Alba, James Franco). I'm sure most of you have seen it. Josie finds herself crushing on her English teacher (Michael Vartan) who is drawn to her as well - uh oh! She's supposed to be 17! And here is the main conflict in this cookie-cutter fantasy. It's a coming-of-age story, only she's not a teenager, but still it culminates at prom where Josie is crowned Prom Queen, and everyone learns a valuable lesson about bullying.

And where would we be without our (adult) beta-friend? She's brazen, sassy, horny and a total Jezebel. And her name is Anita (Molly Shannon). From the moment we meet her we know she's the wild friend, as most beta's are - the main character is typically uptight and generally needs to get laid, while our beta friend is sexually liberated and proud of it! Anita wears red lipstick and red clothing. Short skirts, see-through tops over black bras, curve-hugging dresses all mark her as the wild, loose woman who tries to get Josie out of her shell and out on some dates. She is highly suggestive, miming fellatio with a pencil during a staff meeting, (of course, it's never clear what her actual job at the newspaper is...) hitting on Sexy English Teacher and giving a highly candid sex-talk to a bunch of high schoolers. Since it's Molly Shannon, it's a funny role. She's got some great lines, but there isn't much substance to her. It is inferred in the

final scene that her story, in textbook rom-com happily ever after, is now tied up. She has undergone a complete make-under - fresh-faced, wearing a knee-length blue dress showing no cleavage and a shapeless green sweater - all because now she's suddenly decided that her flirtation with Gus, (John C. Reilly) crabby Editor In Chief, is going to be her final conquest. This change from unrestrained nymphomaniac to conservative wife-to-be is not at all in keeping with her character. It's merely a convenient way to show that everyone is happy now, that have found their "penguin." There could be some great psychology in here, but there isn't much to go on with Anita's character. Why did she sleep around? If it wasn't what she really wanted, then sure, her transformation at the end makes sense. But she seemed pretty pleased with her current situation, even if she does regret her first sexual experience.


Stats:
Screen time: 9 minutes
Memorable quotes: "What do you say about sex really. You like a guy... you do it with him... sometimes he calls, sometimes he doesn't." "Oh I know it's hard... I mean difficult... But safe sex is really important. Ok, so just imagine that the bananas are the real thing, in a land called every man's fantasy."

Special mention goes to our teen beta friend, Aldys (Leelee Sobieski) for being super nerdy and generally adorable.