But I'm a Cheerleader
But I’m a Cheerleader was Babbit’s first feature film. It was inspired by an article about conversion therapy and her childhood familiarity with rehabilitation programs. She used the story of a young woman finding her sexual identity to explore the social construction of gender roles and heteronormativity. The costume and set design of the film highlighted these themes using artificial textures in intense blues and pinks.
A promising comedy that goes awry all too early, But I’m a Cheerleader concerns a misunderstood high school kid (Natasha Lyonne) whose parents send her to a harsh, homosexual-rehabilitation camp despite a lack of evidence that she’s gay. Ruled with an iron fist by a fascist counselor (Cathy Moriarty), the clinic only drives Lyonne’s character toward an attraction to a rebellious tomboy (Clea DuVall), though screenwriter Brian Wayne Peterson and director Jamie Babbit are curiously intent on keeping the two apart and depriving the audience of other comic possibilities. Meanwhile, hoary clichés abound: prancing boys, butch gays, lipstick lesbians. Despite a fine cast full of young talent, and cameo appearances by Julie Delpy and RuPaul Charles, this attempt to skewer a present-day trend in “curing” homosexuals of their sexual preferences is flattened by stereotypes and unimaginative thinking. –Tom Keogh
(more about BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER at Amazon…)
Review:
I absolutely LOVE this movie! i’m a totally straight girl, but i just find it soooo hilarious and the romance between megan and graham is adorable. Of course, when i tell people that its one of my favs, most people assume that i’m gay.
funny & girly
I love this movie, its soo funny, and cute. Such an awesome and funny way to “graduate”.
Here is the “BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER” Trailer. Enjoy.
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
funny & girly
I love this movie, its soo funny, and cute.
Such an awesome and funny way to “graduate”.
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
1.0 out of 5 stars
SCARY!!!
I bought this film because of all the good reviews it received on here. But you know what, I have to say this is the most disturbing film I’ve ever seen in my life.
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have for all LGBT film collections
This is one of the best self discovery / coming out movies ever made. It is also the funniest appealing to both men and women.
July 24th, 2009 at 4:13 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Endearing!
Too cute for words! It teaches a good and needed message; it’s absolutely hilarious as well! The art direction is to die for!
July 24th, 2009 at 4:45 am
3.0 out of 5 stars
Reparative Comedy– Laughs Won Out
“But I’m a Cheerleader” is a campy,sardonic take on the “ex-gay” camps for youngsters. Megan (Natasha Lyonne) realizes she’s noticing her fellow squad members more than her…
July 24th, 2009 at 6:11 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heartbreaking Humor
“But I’m a Cheerleader”
Heartbreaking Humor
Amos Lassen
Megan is an all American teenager; she is a cheerleader, she has a boyfriend.
July 24th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
a movie for… not everyone
I don’t know why it is, but I LOVE this movie. The first time I watched it was about seven years ago, and it still holds up rather nicely.
July 24th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
3.0 out of 5 stars
2.5 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
A sometimes cutting, mostly just cute lesbian variation on the teen flick, But I’m a Cheerleader is diverting but not especially good.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
But I’m a Cheerleader
This movie is so funny! Its the most weirdest coming out story ever. A movie every lesbian much watch.
July 25th, 2009 at 1:51 am
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed
I Bought the DVD because everyone’s saying nice things about the movie, I think it was long, boring and not really funny.