But I'm a Cheerleader
But I'm a Cheerleader

But I'm a Cheerleader

2000Movie85 minEnglish

Megan is an all-American girl. A cheerleader. She has a boyfriend. But Megan doesn't like kissing her boyfriend very much. And she's pretty touchy with her cheerleader friends. Her conservative parents worry that she must be a lesbian and send her off to "sexual redirection" school, where she must, with other lesbians and gays learn how to be straight.

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Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes75%
Metacritic58/100
Google Users86%
Director: Jamie BabbitGenres: Comedy, Romance, Drama

Plot Summary

A seemingly perfect high school cheerleader discovers her parents suspect she's a lesbian. To 'cure' her, they send her to True Directions, a conversion therapy camp. There, she meets other teens struggling with their identities and begins to question the very notions of 'normalcy' and sexual orientation.

Critical Reception

While initially met with mixed reviews due to its satirical take on conversion therapy, 'But I'm a Cheerleader' has since gained a significant cult following. It is now widely celebrated for its progressive themes, sharp wit, and vibrant aesthetic, becoming a landmark film in LGBTQ+ cinema.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its bold and humorous satire of homophobia and conversion therapy.
  • Commended for its distinctive visual style and campy aesthetic.
  • Noted for its strong performances, particularly from Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall.

Google audience: Audiences largely appreciate the film's humor, unique visual style, and its unapologetic exploration of LGBTQ+ themes. Many viewers find it to be a fun, campy, and ultimately heartwarming coming-of-age story with a strong message of self-acceptance.

Fun Fact

The film's director, Jamie Babbit, has stated that the vibrant, pastel color palette was intentionally chosen to mimic the look of a Barbie doll's dream house, further emphasizing the artificiality and manufactured nature of the 'normalcy' the characters are expected to conform to.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
alexia

alexia

Definitely one of my favorites, I'm not great at writing reviews but somethings I love about this movie is just how well Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall were able to represent such interesting characters. Megan and Graham are such deep c...
fasm1976

fasm1976

Awesome movie about a girl sent to a camp to make her straight. Funny comedy n you get to see Ru Paul out of drag!