Parents' Guide to

But I'm a Cheerleader

By Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

'90s satire has strong language, underage drinking.

Movie R 1999 85 minutes
But I'm a Cheerleader Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 11 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 15, 2022
age 14+

High camp at its best!

Yes on so many levels! RuPaul's performance is definitely the stand out!! The material, the tone and the aesthetics of this film lends to the fantastical, funny and satirical edge the film excellently portrays. Lyonne and DuVall know what type of film they are in and the supporting cast is up to the task. From Moriarty to Stole to Moll everyone is on the same page to uplift queer stories. High camp at its best!
1 person found this helpful.
LavenderNotion
LavenderNotion Parent of 16-year-old
August 5, 2022
age 18+
My mother and I watched this movie to see what it was about. However we did not like the results of the film. I found this movie to be extremely offensive especially if I’m a lesbian. I know it was suppose to be satire but it went too far.
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

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?

Our review:
Parents say (11):
Kids say (49):

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about satire. How does the movie use satire to make its point?

  • Talk about gender roles and stereotypes. How does the movie use these gender roles and stereotypes to express its view?

  • This movie was released in the '90s; is it still relevant today? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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