But I'm A Cheerleader

Rating:
Summary: An anachronistic spin on homosexuality, with humor
Review: I was shocked that I had never even heard of this movie. The film itself is difficult to describe. The main character, a cheerleader, has been fantacizing about her fellow cheerleaders. She has been considered a lesbian by her family and friends, so they decide to send her to a camp called "True Directions" (the recruiter being RuPaul). Both the male and female homosexuals of the group at "True Directions" are your cliché lesbians and gays. The humor lies in the anachronism of a plot; these clichés; the therapies involved; the colors used symbolically. For example, the boys must learn how to fix automobiles and chop wood to learn their gender roles, while the girls have to learn how to change diapers and vacuum. The entire time, both sexes are fantasizing about their co-campers of the same sex and it is obvious that the therapy is not working.

The end is a bit rushed and pointless, but overall the entertainment value was high.

Rating:
Summary: John Waters Lite
Review: At its heart, "But I'm A Cheerleader" is a good natured, clever "idea" of a film with an appealing cast, but is ultimately defeated by its own conceit. Within the first 10 minutes of the film, cheerleader Natasha Lyonne (the "budding" young woman from "Slums Of Beverly Hills") gets packed off by her well-meaning parents to a "deprogramming" camp for gay (or suspectedly gay) teenagers. Hilarity ensues....right? Well, after this quick setup for an amusing social satire and gentle lesson about acceptance and tolerance,the director suddenly seems in a rush to get to the titillation of the romantic scenes, at the expense of character motivation and plot development. The director's central conceit seems to be that the film will be viewed only by gays, which is a shame, because it shuts out a potentially wider audience inclusive of open-minded "straight" viewers. This is the lesson Jamie Babbit should have taken from John Waters (an obvious influence here) who has mastered the art of appealing to the mall crowd, while still remaining cleverly subversive.

Rating:
Summary: The soundtrack is the best part of this movie
Review: BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER suffers from trying to ply the viewer with a comedy-drama. It doesn't work here, mainly because of the director's heavy hand with the movie's preachy tone. What could've been a raucous look at the teenage years and sexuality, is instead more of a dirge.

The soundtrack lifts some of the gloominess with that 60s Lesley Gore kind of music. If you've seen John Water's HAIRSPRAY, then you'll know what I mean when I say that music can make all the difference.

Rupaul is seen here (out of drag) as a rehab counselor. He is a very underappreciated and underused actor. Kathy Moriarty is effectively frightening as the clinic's headmaster. She reminds me of Faye Dunaway's portrayal of Joan Crawford in MOMMY DEAREST. A bit heavy on the facial expressions, but worth watching for a few laughs.

There are many better gay/lesbian comedies out there. This is OK but not something to recommend too highly.

Rating:
Summary: I laughed, I cried... no, seriously, I did!
Review: This is a truly excellent movie. It chronicles the coming-of-age (and the coming-out-of-closet) of Meghan (Natasha Lyonne), the sweet-as-pie daughter of old-fashioned parents. They panic when they notice what they perceive as oddities in her behavior, and ship her off to straight-is-great camp. The big joke of the movie is, of course: What happens when you throw a bunch of repressed gay kids into camp together? Yup. This hilarious comedy develops into a heartwarming romance, and you'll be rooting for Meghan the whole time. Clea Duvall was especially impressive, turning out a convincing and nuanced performance as Graham. RuPaul (out of drag) was good at consistently drawing laughs, and Natasha Lyonne was spunky and engaging as always. This film is funny without being stupid, interesting without being boring, and sweet without being sickening. It's a must-see!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely hilarious!
Review: This was the funniest and most uplifting gay movie I've seen so far. The characters are easy to like and laugh along with, and the setting is so ridiculous that you can't help but hem and haw about True Directions. It's not very serious, so don't expect any pungeant attacks on the system that oppresses homosexuals in society -- just a lot of laughs and a happy ending.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet story, fun movie
Review: This film features a neat, quirky score and ten minutes of closeups on different cheerleader body parts. What's not to like? But seriously, it's an interesting movie with a nice message and a sweet story. As you might already suspect, Natasha Lyonne and Clea Duvall each shines in her role. Definitely worth the time.

Rating:
Summary: A lot of Fun
Review: This movie makes fun of people gay or straight without discrimination. It looks at our society and the "other" as a label we put on each other in a humorous way. I think often people get too passionate about their "beliefs" and their "ways" so that they separate themselves from "the other" by demonizing the other. I laughed at myself in this movie and had fun...

Rating:
Summary: CLEVER satire. BEAUTIFUL color.
Review: I saw this movie 3x in the theatres in NYC when it came out... and bought the DVD as soon as it came out. This is a hilarious satire on a puritanical view of homosexual life, as the main characters try to "cure" themselves. There is a very JohnWaters-esque feel to the colors and costumes. The dialog is witty and funny, especially if you are/know a homosexual. "But you're a vegetarian," is an accusation, the main character gets as proof that she's a lesbian - to me, a very funny lesbian stereo-type. This movie gently makes fun of stereo-types, but also makes it clear that it's ok to be who you are. The filming/costuming/sets are beautiful - and the color is breathtaking. Clea DuVall steals the picture, but sadly, it is Natasha Lyonne that solely gets the credit for it on the movie posters (and even on the Amazon search). ENJOY this wonderful film... i have... many many times.

Rating:
Summary: A lighthearted and fun look at a controversial subject
Review: This 1999 comedy is lightweight, but it tackles a unique theme forHollywood, that of a "re-education" school for gayteenagers. Starring Natasha Lyonne as a high school cheerleader whosefamily and friends have identified as gay, she is hustled off to"True Directions" where something like a 12-step program isoffered. The film is a fun romp, making fun of itself as well ashomophobia by making all the characters stereotyped caricatures. In abrilliant bit of casting, RuPaul plays the role of a formerly gayinstructor who tries to teach the boys how to act like "realmen". I didn't recognize him until the credits rolled howeverbecause he is NOT in drag. This is, after all, a comedy, and it'sbest not to look too deeply for meaning.

Like many other comedies,this is a one-joke situation. After the first 20 minutes, the filmdrags (no pun intended). Surprisingly, the acting is not bad. Iparticularly liked the performance of the young Clea DuVall, who alsoplayed a troubled teenager in Girl Interrupted. Cathy Moriarity, whomade her acting debut in Raging Bull in 1980, played the role of ownerof the school. She was always dressed in a bright pink suit, her hairwas teased into a beauty parlor hairdo. Just looking at her in herperfect makeup was enough to bring out a chuckle. This was certainlynot a great film; it wasn't supposed to be. It tried hard through anddid grapple with a controversial subject in a lighthearted way.Certainly, it isn't for everyone. And so I give it a qualifiedrecommendation.

Rating:
Summary: What an incredibly disappointing & completely boring movie.
Review: I'm so shocked that people could actually sit through this video. The plot is completely outrageous. A girls parents decide she's gay because she's a vegetarian and she has a Melissa Ethridge poster on her wall? Firstly, tons of kids are vegetarians these days. Secondly, how would two conservative parents know that Melissa Etheridge is a pop icon who appeals to the gay community slightly more than to straight people? That would be like if a normal guy who happened to be a school teacher, ran out of chalk, and everyone kept accusing him of eating it. It's like, "Well, if you didn't eat the chalk, what did you do with it? We're sending you to the clinic, sicky." What a ridiculous conclusion to come to for no reason! Now I'm all about Krazy Komedy in movies, but there was nothing funny about this film. I don't think gay people are funny just because they're gay. That's rude. It's like saying, "You like Girls? God, that's a riot." So if you're into really bad movies with no redeming qualities whatsoever, you've struck gold.