Day 14 - Never Been Kissed
First Impressions:
I have to wonder if "The 40 Year Old Virgin" came about from Judd Apatow taking "Never Been Kissed" one step further as well as literally.
I like the concept of 'never been kissed' as a way to express never feeling a 'spark' or real connection. It does raise the question of what it means to have a purely physical relationship outside of a committed relationship. Imagine your boyfriend or husband discovers some texts on your phone that implicate you in an extra-relationship affair. He asks, "Have you kissed?" Even if you had, could you truthfully say, "No" in the sense that it wasn't 'real'?
Instead of being part of the popular guy entourage, Dave Franco should have been the Prom King of the entourage.
Personal Reflections:
"Sometimes kissing losers can be a really fun diversion."
Like "13 Going on 30", main protagonist Josie Geller works in print media. Drew Barrymore's character Mary in "He's Just Not That Into You" was also in print media. For some reason print media is a very rom-com occupation. I think it's like contouring your face; it adds the illusion of depth with an absent-minded brush stroke.
Also like "13 Going on 30", "Never Been Kissed" subscribes to the school of therapy that advocates re-visiting the site of humiliation as closely as possible to move beyond it. Not many of us get a literal opportunity to re-do high school with the wisdom of our current self. I never understood why high school was all that important to begin with. Believe it or not, I was not part of the 'popular group' :p
Student-teacher impropriety. In this case everything worked out, but what if she really was 17? Or what if she had sex with her prom date? I found that it was better to glance over the surface than look too closely at the conceit for fear of falling into a tar pit of the appropriateness of high-school student and adult relationships.
Disguise plays a large role in "Never Been Kissed"; from the costume themed prom to the class discussion of "As You Like It" to Josie masquerading as a high school student. In disguise, one is liberated to act as they truly are, is what Sam suggests. While I see his point, I think what's more liberating is to be exposed completely. In disguise, there is the obligation to adhere to the rules of your costume so as to maintain the illusion of being something else. To fit in with the 'cool' kids, Josie had to throw her 'soul mates' (the Denominators) aside. Only when she bares the truth at prom is she able to be herself and declare her feelings for Sam.
Rom-Com Tropes:
1. Unpopular girl lands attractive man she has been in love with.
2. Grand gesture gets the guy (usually the guy wins the girl).
3. Unpopular girl is named Prom Queen but realizes being popular is not as important as being true to yourself.
Soundtrack:
Jimmy Eat World, Semisonic, Madonna, The Beach Boys. There wasn't one song that stood out as the song that defined the movie.
I have to wonder if "The 40 Year Old Virgin" came about from Judd Apatow taking "Never Been Kissed" one step further as well as literally.
I like the concept of 'never been kissed' as a way to express never feeling a 'spark' or real connection. It does raise the question of what it means to have a purely physical relationship outside of a committed relationship. Imagine your boyfriend or husband discovers some texts on your phone that implicate you in an extra-relationship affair. He asks, "Have you kissed?" Even if you had, could you truthfully say, "No" in the sense that it wasn't 'real'?
Instead of being part of the popular guy entourage, Dave Franco should have been the Prom King of the entourage.
Personal Reflections:
"Sometimes kissing losers can be a really fun diversion."
Like "13 Going on 30", main protagonist Josie Geller works in print media. Drew Barrymore's character Mary in "He's Just Not That Into You" was also in print media. For some reason print media is a very rom-com occupation. I think it's like contouring your face; it adds the illusion of depth with an absent-minded brush stroke.
Also like "13 Going on 30", "Never Been Kissed" subscribes to the school of therapy that advocates re-visiting the site of humiliation as closely as possible to move beyond it. Not many of us get a literal opportunity to re-do high school with the wisdom of our current self. I never understood why high school was all that important to begin with. Believe it or not, I was not part of the 'popular group' :p
Student-teacher impropriety. In this case everything worked out, but what if she really was 17? Or what if she had sex with her prom date? I found that it was better to glance over the surface than look too closely at the conceit for fear of falling into a tar pit of the appropriateness of high-school student and adult relationships.
Disguise plays a large role in "Never Been Kissed"; from the costume themed prom to the class discussion of "As You Like It" to Josie masquerading as a high school student. In disguise, one is liberated to act as they truly are, is what Sam suggests. While I see his point, I think what's more liberating is to be exposed completely. In disguise, there is the obligation to adhere to the rules of your costume so as to maintain the illusion of being something else. To fit in with the 'cool' kids, Josie had to throw her 'soul mates' (the Denominators) aside. Only when she bares the truth at prom is she able to be herself and declare her feelings for Sam.
Rom-Com Tropes:
1. Unpopular girl lands attractive man she has been in love with.
2. Grand gesture gets the guy (usually the guy wins the girl).
3. Unpopular girl is named Prom Queen but realizes being popular is not as important as being true to yourself.
Soundtrack:
Jimmy Eat World, Semisonic, Madonna, The Beach Boys. There wasn't one song that stood out as the song that defined the movie.
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