Review of But I'm a Cheerleader (2000) by Virginia F — 19 Jun 2008

What a quirky refreshing movie this is! It's certainly not great, it's flawed and some of the acting is not-so-great, but the story and screenplay are very original and they make this little indie comic gem so fun to watch. Lesbian filmmaker Jamie Babbit's debut feature 'But I'm a Cheerleader' takes place in a small American town. Young Megan Bloomfield is a high school cheerleader with a football player boyfriend and loving Christian family. When family and friends start to notice things like Megan is a vegetarian, listens to Melissa Ethridge and has bed sheets feautring Georgia O'Keefe vagina flower art, they can only assume the worst...she's a lesbian. In order to rid the gay evil out of her, they send her to a True Directions, a sexual re-orientation camp run by a fiercly funny and scary Cathy Moriarty. There Meghan tries to become straight but falls in love with a rather masculine young lady named Graham (Clea DuVall.).

'But I'm a Cheerleader' totally pokes fun at re-orientation camps. I mean, it really reams them. Let's just say it's no mystery that filmmaker Jamie Babbit HATES the whole notion of re-orientation camps. And she should. The whole message of the film while certainly not original is a beautiful and powerful one -- you are who you are, and nothing can change that. While most of the film is hilarious, there are parts where it becomes very sad and a bit scary because the viewer realizes these camps really do exist.

The best part of the film is the screenplay. It's quirky, fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. The acting is pretty solid as well. Natasha Lyonne is great in her role as is the always reliable Clea DuVall. Cathy Moriarty is hysterical as is RuPaul (not in drag). Bud Cort and Mink Stole have small roles as Megan's parents, but the rest of the kids in the movie seem funny but over-the-top and not the least bit believable. When it's all said and done, Jamie Babbit does a fine job crafting her first film. 'But I'm a Cheerleader' is an awfully predictable but thoroughly enjoyable way to kill 90 minutes. I recommend it. Grade: B-.