Never Been Kissed
Josie Geller, a baby-faced junior copywriter at the Chicago Sun-Times, must pose as a student at her former high school to research contemporary teenage culture. With the help of her brother, Rob, Josie infiltrates the inner circle of the most popular clique on campus. But she hits a major snag in her investigation -- not to mention her own failed love life -- when she falls for her dreamy English teacher, Sam Coulson.
Despite a mid-range budget of $25.0M, Never Been Kissed became a box office success, earning $84.6M worldwide—a 238% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Never Been Kissed (1999) demonstrates precise story structure, characteristic of Raja Gosnell's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Josie Geller is an awkward copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times, socially isolated and defined by her humiliating high school past where she was called "Josie Grossie.".. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Editor Gus gives Josie her first undercover reporting assignment: go back to high school to write an exposé on teenage culture from the inside.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Josie walks through the doors of South Glen South High School on her first day, actively choosing to confront her past and enter the world that traumatized her., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: Rob becomes prom king candidate and gets Josie accepted into the popular crowd. She's finally living the high school experience she always wanted, but it's built on lies., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The exposé is published without Josie's consent, revealing the truth and humiliating everyone. Sam feels betrayed, Rob is exposed, students are hurt, and Josie's reputation dies again., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Josie realizes she doesn't need to be cool or reinvent herself - she needs to be authentically herself and take a real risk. She decides to publicly declare her feelings for Sam., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Never Been Kissed's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Never Been Kissed against these established plot points, we can identify how Raja Gosnell utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Never Been Kissed within the romance genre.
Raja Gosnell's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Raja Gosnell films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Never Been Kissed takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Raja Gosnell filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana. For more Raja Gosnell analyses, see Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Show Dogs and The Smurfs 2.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Josie Geller is an awkward copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times, socially isolated and defined by her humiliating high school past where she was called "Josie Grossie."
Theme
Her brother Rob tells her, "You're not a loser, you just need a do-over" - establishing the theme of second chances and authenticity versus reinvention.
Worldbuilding
Josie's loneliness is established through her work life, unrequited crush on her colleague, flashbacks to traumatic high school experience, and her desperate desire to be a real reporter.
Disruption
Editor Gus gives Josie her first undercover reporting assignment: go back to high school to write an exposé on teenage culture from the inside.
Resistance
Josie debates whether she can handle returning to high school. Her brother Rob encourages her and she prepares nervously, trying to reinvent herself as cool and popular.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Josie walks through the doors of South Glen South High School on her first day, actively choosing to confront her past and enter the world that traumatized her.
Mirror World
Josie meets English teacher Sam Coulson, who represents authentic intellectualism and emotional honesty - the thematic opposite of the fake popularity she's pursuing.
Premise
Josie tries to infiltrate the popular Denominators clique, fails miserably by being too eager and inauthentic, then pivots when her brother Rob re-enrolls to help her succeed.
Midpoint
False victory: Rob becomes prom king candidate and gets Josie accepted into the popular crowd. She's finally living the high school experience she always wanted, but it's built on lies.
Opposition
The lies intensify as Josie develops real feelings for Sam while pretending to be a student. Her editor pressures her for a juicy story. The gap between her authentic self and fake persona widens.
Collapse
The exposé is published without Josie's consent, revealing the truth and humiliating everyone. Sam feels betrayed, Rob is exposed, students are hurt, and Josie's reputation dies again.
Crisis
Josie faces the consequences of her deception, processes her shame, and realizes she's repeated her pattern of inauthenticity. She must decide who she really wants to be.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Josie realizes she doesn't need to be cool or reinvent herself - she needs to be authentically herself and take a real risk. She decides to publicly declare her feelings for Sam.
Synthesis
Josie writes a vulnerable confession column, invites Sam to meet her at the baseball field, and waits in front of a crowd, risking public humiliation for authentic connection.
Transformation
Sam arrives and kisses Josie on the pitcher's mound in front of everyone. The girl who was "never been kissed" gets her real first kiss by being her authentic self.