``25 Year Kiss'' Drew Barrymore overturns the stereotype that ``romantic comedies are for beautiful men and women''

Josie's four stages of change!

In this film, the protagonist Josie undergoes four stages of appearance change. The first form is when she was a high school student and was called "Josie Glowsy (Monster Josie)" in a flashback scene. Drew transforms her into an obese teenager using a bodysuit and special makeup, lowering the protagonist's beauty level to a degree that would never be seen in an average romantic comedy. It's not just about appearance. Josie is played as a "pathetic girl" who severely lacks communication skills. The determination and resolve of the creators to portray the ruthless darkness of both the outside and the inside of the film goes beyond "exhilarating" to even be "horrifying."

By the way, the school romantic comedy " She's All That, " which was unexpectedly released in the same year, follows a very cliched, classic plot where the main character, played by Rachael Leigh Cook, turns out to be a beautiful girl when she takes off her glasses. It's a great film that lets you enjoy Cook's cuteness, but even in 1999, I thought, "Isn't the sense a bit old-fashioned?"

"25th Anniversary Kiss" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

On the other hand, "25th Anniversary Kiss" was not trapped in the Cinderella story of "beauty" as the goal. In her "second form," Josie turns 25 and overcomes her complex about being overweight to become a neat and tidy office lady, but she is not depicted as "a chrysalis transforming into a butterfly." In her "second form," Josie has simply attained average weight and appearance and is no longer noticeable from the people around her.

And in the "third form," her brother Rob's plan works (this part is so ridiculous and wonderful!) and Josie unexpectedly joins the ranks of the cool (although that word is quite old) girls in the "high school debut" version. Under the tutelage of the rich celebrity high school girls, Josie's clothes become sophisticated and fashionable.

However, Josie's third form puts her in a sort of high-tension state, which is at odds with her inner essence. This means that she must now progress to her "fourth form" in order to return to her "true self." It's not an ending so unexpected that it makes you wonder, "What does the real Josie look like?", but we won't reveal it for now.

However, the fact that Josie's external upgrade only reaches a "so-so" level is a sign of the film's restraint, and is also connected to the core of its theme. The image of Josie as a heroine overturns the stereotype that "romantic comedies are for beautiful men and women." It proves that "romantic comedy catharsis" can still be achieved even if the "bar of beauty" is lowered, and reexamines the essential appeal of the genre. Even in recent years, films such as " Isn't It Romantic? " (2019) that dare to critically approach the classic rom-com genre have continued to be made, but "25 Years of Kissing" was a pioneering work in that direction.

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