Product Details

• Actors: Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams, Brandt Wille, Bud Cort
• Directors: Jamie Babbit
• Writers: Jamie Babbit, Brian Wayne Peterson
• Producers: Alexis Magagni-Seely, Andrea Sperling, Andy Kaplan, Donald Kushner, Effie Brown
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: August 28, 2001
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (195 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004YRJ1
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,916 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A promising comedy that goes awry all too early, But I'm a Cheerleader concerns a misunderstood high school kid (Natasha Lyonne) whose parents send her to a harsh, homosexual-rehabilitation camp despite a lack of evidence that she's gay. Ruled with an iron fist by a fascist counselor (Cathy Moriarty), the clinic only drives Lyonne's character toward an attraction to a rebellious tomboy (Clea DuVall), though screenwriter Brian Wayne Peterson and director Jamie Babbit are curiously intent on keeping the two apart and depriving the audience of other comic possibilities. Meanwhile, hoary clichés abound: prancing boys, butch gays, lipstick lesbians. Despite a fine cast full of young talent, and cameo appearances by Julie Delpy and RuPaul Charles, this attempt to skewer a present-day trend in "curing" homosexuals of their sexual preferences is flattened by stereotypes and unimaginative thinking. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

110 of 115 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ridiculous...absurd....hilarious!, October 15, 2000

By 

Sharon D. Spiller "book fiend" (Erie, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: But I'm A Cheerleader (DVD)

This is the most ridiculous film I have ever seen. The absolute absurdity and unbelievability of the entire plot is beyond belief. And you know what? I loved this film. Natasha Lyonne gives a stellar performance as Megan, a high school cheerleader who is sent away in order to rid herself of what her parents see as "unnatural tendencies". While there, she meets Mary, brilliantly played by Cathy Moriarty, the head of the camp who has taken over the task of ingraining heterosexual values into the ditzy high school student. During her stay she comes into contact with a motley group of people trying to go straight. Clea Duvall's portrayal of Graham as a pessimistic and brooding parental disappointment is the perfect foil for the optimistic/goody two shoes Megan and is never overblown or excessive. RuPaul's performance as Mary's assistant and Eddie Cibrian's portrayal as her son Rock, are extremely funny and absurd at the same time. Although this film is a satire on the "ex gay" movement, there are some scenes that are so accurate and true regarding love, attraction and disappontment, that the viewer ends up nodding in agreement. Do yourself a favor and watch this film. It's hilarious!

98 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute and Hilarious Fun!, September 5, 2000

By 

Andre Mason - See all my reviews

This review is from: But I'm A Cheerleader (DVD)

I really really enjoyed this gay cinderella story. Even though, the rest of America didnt enjoy this movie, because it wasn't released nationally, but I saw it when it came out in NYC and I absolutely loved it. It's was a cute satrical look at the coming of age gay girl in many middle americans, that just dont know that they are. So the main character's mom sends her to a camp to be straight again. This is where the fun begins. The camp is full of different characters each portraying some gay stereotype one way or another. Certain scenes will leave you chuckling to yourself or laughing out loud. Clea Duvall is always an enjoyable sight, but she has to be careful before she's type cast. She's already played a few lesbian characters before. Natasha Lyonne was such a believable, closeted gay character that you cant help, but laugh at her funny looks of confusion. Rupal is hilarious and is great as a man as he is in drag and it was good seeing him without the wig for a change, but the funniest character, Eddie Cibrian, who plays Rock, a gay guy trying to be masculine for his mother, Cathy Moriarty who is the head of the camp. It's funny seeing him flip flop back and forth from being butch to queen. This is definitely a movie worth checking out and something not to be afraid of watching. It's good exposure.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all-time favourite movies., August 27, 2002

By 

Claire Hennessy (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: But I'm a Cheerleader [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Not a movie that's meant to be taken terribly seriously, but a one that's fun to watch and one which at moments catches you off-guard with its insight. Natasha Lyonne stars as a cheerleader who hugs her friends too much, can't stop thinking about her fellow squad members while she's kissing her boyfriend, is a vegetarian, and has a poster of Melissa Etheridge on her wall. Her parents, boyfriend and friends decide that she needs to be straightened out, and send her off to True Directions, a sexual rehabiliation camp where she will reclaim her true heterosexuality. Girls wear pink, boys wear blue, and they must participate in a five-step program to relearn their gender roles and their sexuality.

The problem, of course, with putting a bunch of lesbians in the same (pink, pink, pink!) room is that you're bound to have some attraction. The object of Megan's affections is the moody Graham, played by Clea DuVall. (At which point most of the audience decide that this is going to be a very good movie indeed. ;))

Megan fights her attraction but soon accepts that she is who she is. Graham, despite acting brave and proud of her sexuality ("I'm Graham and I like girls. A lot.") is under pressure from her parents to 'get it out of her system' with the threat of no college fund or support of any kind if she doesn't. Megan turns out to be the one who's not ashamed of who she is - and the question is whether Graham will follow her or not... the answer to which can be found in the movie, so let me take this moment to highly recommend that you buy it.

The soundtrack's fabulous, as well. Not available on CD, but try to get your hands on the mp3s, because there are some truly amazing songs featured in the movie.

All in all - great movie, with some funny moments, some touching, some silly, some beautiful. 10/10.