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Natasha Lyonne, Cathy Moriarty, Bud Cort, Mink Stole, RuPaul ... see more see more... , Clea DuVall , Melanie Lynskey , Eddie Cibrian , Julie Delpy , Kip Pardue , Dante Basco , Rachelle Carson , Wesley Mann , Richard Moll , J. Eddie Peck , Robert Pine , Ione Skye , Michelle Williams , Douglas Spain , Katharine Towne , Kyle Thatcher , Robert P. Farrior , Charles Braden , Katie Donahue , Joel Michaely , Katrina Phillips , Danielle Reneau , Brandt Wille

In this satire, parents who are worried that their children might not be walking the straight and narrow path discover a rehabilitation camp designed to curb alternative lifestyles. Megan (Natasha Lyo... read more read more...nne), a high school student and member of the cheerleading squad, seems like an ordinary enough teenage girl, but her habit of honestly expressing herself and lack of romantic enthusiasm for her boyfriend convince her very repressed parents, Peter (Bud Cort) and Nancy (Mink Stole), that Megan is becoming a lesbian. So Megan is shipped off to True Directions, a camp for gay and gay-leaning teens, where Mary Brown (Cathy Moriarty) attempts to deprogram kids with homosexual tendencies. The first step in the process is to get each teen to admit to their homosexuality, which Megan is loath to do, since she doesn't believe she's a lesbian -- or at least she didn't think so before she met her new friend Graham (Clea DuVall), who seems quite sure that she likes girls. Meanwhile, Mary's son Rock (Eddie Cibrian) may be exempt from the camp's activities, but he turns more than a few heads among True Directions' male inmates. Noted female impersonator RuPaul appears as a camp guide, and Julie Delpy has a cameo as a "lipstick lesbian." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

73% liked it

39,597 ratings

Critics

34% liked it

47 critics

R, 1 hr. 21 min.

Directed by: Jamie Babbit

Release Date: June 23, 2000

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DVD Release Date: October 3, 2000

Stats: 2,369 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,369)

  • hunterjt13
    December 7, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A lesbian cheerleader goes to a faith-based camp to "reform" homosexuality.
    When Ted Haggard claimed that he could essentially "pray the gay away," I thought that not only was it one of the most ridiculous things I had ever heard but that it would also work as fantastic fodder fo... read morer satire. But I'm a Cheerleader should be that satire. It isn't. It ultimately fails because it reduces its homosexual characters to stereotypes that we've seen many times before, and the "villains," the evangelists who attempt to guide the main characters away from their tendencies, are reduced to hypocrites rather than earnest people committed to a social/cultural mission. Thus, every character becomes a type rather than a person, and the situations are so contrived and over-the-top that it becomes difficult to understand if the film takes its own subject matter seriously.
    Overall, I like the idea for this film, but the execution was sorely lacking.
  • jennifxu
    April 28, 2011
    jennifxu
    The title is much more interesting than the actual film, which can be quite dull given its subject matter. Definitely could have milked it more for the laughs.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    January 18, 2010
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    Very clever and very funny. I don't know why I had this listed as "Not Inteested." I've seen it twice already!
  • FilmFanatik
    December 21, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    Interesting love story.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    June 23, 2009
    LoughnerWasLucid
    wait a minute! this was actually pretty funny. (and hot) im starting to like Natasha Lyonne.
  • purplemegan
    January 25, 2009
    purplemegan
    It was pretty campy but I guess that was part of the point. I love Clea Duvall, she was perfect.
  • Redlats
    January 8, 2009
    Redlats
    I don't know if I praise this film for glorifying homosexuality before many other films or degrade the film for being just so stupid.

    I think I lean on the side of stupid - it is just a silly film
  • puffchunk
    October 5, 2007
    puffchunk
    Got about half way through it, someone came over and I got embarassed to be watching it and turned it off. Not that sad about it either.
  • cosmo313
    August 20, 2007
    cosmo313
    Superb performances from a great cast, wonderfully chosen music, and a realistic and human story highlight this sleeper satire that is both hillarious and deeply touching and heartfelt, often simultaneously. I highly reccomend this film,which is quite comparable to Saved!- anothe... read morer great film that everyone should see.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 9, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Fantastically hilarious.

View All But I'm A Cheerleader Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
May 10, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Broadly conceived and schematically directed (or is it non-directed?), this is a shallow satire, basically a short extended into feature length movie, about a rehabilitation camp for gays and lesbians... Full Review

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

But I'm a Cheerleader is funny. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
January 1, 2000
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

Dumb, heavy-handed satire.

Amy Taubin
January 1, 2000
Amy Taubin, Village Voice

Too often she substitutes petulance for the curiosity and determination the role requires. Full Review

Gemma Files
January 1, 2000
Gemma Files, Film.com

Ungainly sentiment and unnecessary stylization.

Owen Gleiberman
January 1, 2000
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Any self-respecting lesbian should rear up in horror at [this movie]. Full Review

Heather Boerner
December 18, 2010
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media

Gay love satire for mature older teens and up. Full Review

Michael Dequina
January 7, 2010
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Very quickly grows repetitive and groan-inducing. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
August 11, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

The movie blows it by (A) trading in witless stereotypes and (B) not being remotely funny. Full Review

Moira Sullivan
May 11, 2003
Moira Sullivan, Movie Magazine International

But I'm a Cheerleader may seem too elementary to a sophisticated crowd Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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But I'm A Cheerleader Trivia

  • What is the name of the movie containing the quote, "straight is great"?  Answer »
  • Who is in The Grudge, The Faculty, She's All That, and But I'm a Cheerleader?  Answer »
  • In what movie was a teenager sent to a camp for being a lesbian?  Answer »
  • Name the movie that had Natasha Lyonne as a lesbian Cheerleader, RuPaul as a 'reformed' gay man, and the future voice of American Dragon Jake Long Dante Basco as a gay wrestler.  Answer »
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