But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) Rated R
Stars: Natasha Lyonne as Megan, Clea DuVall as Graham, RuPaul (not in drag) as Mike and Cathy Moriarty as Mary J. Brown


As I mentioned in another review that I did recently I sprained my ankle. Since I have been off my feet for a while I have been watching a lot of movies. Most of the movies I have been catching are on the Sundance channel and But I'm a cheerleader is no exception. If for some reason you are opposed to alternative lifestyles then this movie is not for you, read no further.

But I'm a cheerleader is a satire about a young cheerleader who gets sent to a rehab camp to "cure" her of being a homosexual. What does she do to get sent to the home? She doesn't want to get physical with her boyfriend, she likes Melissa Ethridge, she is a vegetarian. Her parents plan an intervention, headed by Mike a reformed gay man who works at the 'True Directions' camp. Megan denies being homosexual and is sent to True Directions where she will learn to be heterosexual. Once there she meets her fellow inmates. Graham a lesbian who likes being a lesbian, Sinead a gothic lesbian, Hilary a stuffy English lesbian who cannot wait to be "cured", Jan who is a straight girl sent there because she enjoys playing softball and looks mannish....

She is quickly taught that there are 5 steps to becoming straight:
1. Admitting That You’re A Homosexual-Megan is very much in denial, she doesn't like to be physical with her boyfriend because she is a Christian, she finds nothing wrong with admiring women and after all she is a cheerleader.
2. Rediscover Your Sexual Identity-the girls are taught to scrub dishes, diaper babies, vacuum the floor, wear makeup. The boys are to learn to fix cars, chop wood, play football and other "manly" things.
3. Family Therapy-Here the teens, as a group speak with their parents about being gay, why they are gay etc. Here we see that Graham is here just so her step mom is happy. The kids also reveal the "root", or reason, they became gay.
4. Demystifying the Opposite Sex Here we see this teens paired off showing flash cards to each other of stereotypical behavior. Women cooking and cleaning etc. Here we also get a major hint that perhaps the steps are not quite working.
5. Simulating Sexual Lifestyle-is the final step before graduation. Here the teens are to simulate sexual intercourse with another teen of the opposite sex.

Once all the steps are complete the teens can graduate, and go home.

The trouble is once Megan is there and moving through the steps she is getting closer and closer to Graham. The two eventually begin an affair and of course they get caught right before graduation. They are going to be expelled from camp unless they finish up all the steps. Megan is told by her parents that if she chooses to leave the camp she will be disowned. Graham is told she will not get to college if she leaves. What will they do? You have to watch and see.

There are also a couple of little side plots. One involves Rock, the son of Mary J. Brown. He tries to be macho around his mother but it is obvious to everyone but her that he is gay. The other involves two ex-ex gay men, former graduates of True Directions who help sneak the kids out to a gay bar. They say they are showing them another view of gay life. They also run a safehouse for gay kids.

One thing about this movie is it looks so much like a John Waters movie that I couldn't believe it wasn't one of his. All the girls are dressed in 50's style clothes (all pink) and the boys are all in blue. Even the living quarters are blue and pink. Since this is a satire the stereotypes are very heavy and obvious throughout the movie. Most of the main actors (the ones mentioned above) were really good and the characters were fairly well developed. I do think Graham was a little underdeveloped for a major character but overall it wasn't that bad. The script overall had some funny parts but it wasn't fabulous.

If you like this movie you might also enjoy: In & Out (1997) or Butch Camp (1997)


Recommended:
Yes

Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older