But I'm a Cheerleader (R)

Gay love satire for mature older teens and up.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Lions Gate Entertainment
  • Directed By: Jamie Babbitt
  • Cast: Clea Duvall, Natasha Lyonne, Cathy Moriarty, Ru Paul
  • Running Time: 85 minutes
  • Release Date: 07/10/1999
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 07/22/2003
  • Genre: Comedy
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: sexual situations and adult subject matter

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie depicts teenage gays and lesbians in their first sexual experiences. There's kissing and making out by boys with boys and girls with girls. There's also implied masturbation and one sex scene (handled discretely -- you don't see anything). Teens go to a gay bar called the Cocksucker. Parents reject their children for their sexual orientation and the teens must find a place to live when they fail to become straight. There's also some cursing, smoking, and drinking.

Families can talk about their feelings about homosexuality and the gay reform movement. They can also talk about gender roles and stereotypes, and whether or not they feel the pressure to conform to such rigid standards.

Message

Social Behavior:

Pokes fun at anti-gay reform groups.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Megan's love interest is always smoking and the whole group sneaks out, gets fake IDs, and drinks at a bar.

Violence

The teens participate in an anti-gay rally. Graham throws a bottle at one boy.

Sex

Gay sexual relationships, including kissing, making out, and one sex scene.

Language

Characters curse liberally.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Heather Boerner

In BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER, Megan (Natasha Lyonne) is an innocent. As she says, "I'm not perverted! I go to church, I get good grades... I'm a cheerleader!" But her parents and friends suspect she has an "unnatural" attraction toward other girls. Their proof? She's vegetarian, she listens to Melissa Etheridge, she has pictures of girls in her locker, and she hates kissing her boyfriend. They whisk her off to True Directions, a campy version of real-life ex-gay ministries, to straighten her out. Surrounded by fey boys and some tough girls, Megan realizes she's attracted to girls and starts a relationship with one of the girls (Clea DuVall). Meanwhile, True Directions instructors Mike (de-dragged RuPaul) and Mary (Cathy Moriarty), try to bring them back into the heterosexual fold with instruction on proper gender roles and talk therapy.

Is it any good?

3
But I'm a Cheerleader is a satire, and as such, is over-the-top. Girls aren't just girls -- they wear pink and live in sickeningly pink bedrooms. Boys aren't just boys -- they all should learn how to fix cars and play sports. And they definitely shouldn't be gay. But behind all the camp, this is a love story between two girls. It's the classic girl meets girl, girl loses girl, girl tries to get girl back.

But the obvious creepiness of True Directions gets tiring. Director Jamie Babbitt doesn't trust you to understand their icky tactics. Instead, she has Mary "planting" plastic flowers and everyone wearing ridiculously gender-specific colors (pink and blue, natch). In the end, if you can get past the preaching and the campiness, what you have is a love story and a lesson for teens about being true to who you really are -- no matter how strong the pressure is to be otherwise.

Other choices

All Over You
The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

5

Posted on 11/30/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Could be watched by mature teens

I am 15 and I don't totally understand why this movie has such a bad rating. I didn't find anything too bad about it. There is one sex scene, but it is VERY tastefully done and you can't see too much besideds kissing. It is a comedy, and I think you can't take this movie too seriously. There are a few curse words, but anyone who would watch this wouldn't be shocked by them. If you are a parent and your teen wants to watch this, I would watch some of it first and see if you think they are mature enough. It could open up a good conversation about homophobia.
5


Posted on 07/25/08 by oyuky m Kid contributor, age 13

Realistic

this islife you know? homophobic america needs to wake up
Age 17+
4


Posted on 04/24/07 by satan0wnz Adult contributor

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

Age 17+
4


Posted on 04/24/07 by satan0wnz Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5

Posted on 11/30/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Could be watched by mature teens

I am 15 and I don't totally understand why this movie has such a bad rating. I didn't find anything too bad about it. There is one sex scene, but it is VERY tastefully done and you can't see too much besideds kissing. It is a comedy, and I think you can't take this movie too seriously. There are a few curse words, but anyone who would watch this wouldn't be shocked by them. If you are a parent and your teen wants to watch this, I would watch some of it first and see if you think they are mature enough. It could open up a good conversation about homophobia.
5


Posted on 07/25/08 by oyuky m Kid contributor, age 13

Realistic

this islife you know? homophobic america needs to wake up
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