Customer Reviews

But I'm a Cheerleader

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This movie is one of the best gay movies I've seen in the last few years. Yep, it includes just about every gay sterotype there is (the softball player, the goth girl, the boarding school girl, the social outcast, the actor/dance/singer, the retail worker, etc.), but underneath it all there is the underlying message of acceptance and the pride in the fact that you are who you are, and you have to learn to embrace it. Cathy Moriarty makes a great turn as the head of a program to "cure" teens of their homosexuality, without realizing that her own son is dancing to showtunes while mowing the lawn. Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall carry the movie wonderfully, and you actually believe the connection between the two of them (as opposed to a lot of other gay film leads). I loved the colors in this movie. I loved the music. Whenever I need a laugh, this is one of the movies I turn to.

My friend and I got this video out as a joke, as it looked light-hearted and funny. It turned out to be a rather dark comedy, which I really enjoyed. Lots of laughs were had at the sake of stereotypes and overall I really enjoyed the movie. However, the REAL drawcard of the movie was the AMAZING soundtrack. I sat & wrote down each & all of the songs after I had watched the video and downloaded them the next day. I have searched all over the net to buy a copy of the soundtrack, with no luck. If you too were hooked by the soundtrack, here is a list of all the songs.Chick habit by "April March", Just like Henry by "Dressy Bessy", If u should try to kiss her by "Dressy Bessy", Together forever in love by "Go Sailor", Ray of sunshine by "Go Sailor", Funnel of love by "Wanda Jackson", Evening in Paris by "Lois" and We're in the city by "Saint Etienne"... Hope you enjoy! =)

I felt this film didn't reach the potential of its concept or its superb cast, although it was enjoyable. The sets and costumes are good, almost carrying the film through an aura of 1950s innocence and hypocrisy. And there were some hilarious scenes (my favourite is the wooden cut-out of the soldier pointing his *ahem* gun at another kneeling in submission).

But most of the humour is based on the same stereotypes that I expected the film to subvert. For most of the movie, there was no attempt to portray the campy gay boys in a thoughtful way. Actually, there was little character development altogether, but most infuriating was this seeming self-contradiction -- the film succumbed to the misconceptions of the homophobic institutions it was also attacking, but without any obvious awareness of this paradox. As a result, I'll admit I didn't find the film very funny or clever.

The best thing about this movie, for me, was the soundtrack. It kicks off with a wonderful kitschy, girly, faux-retro-pop song by April March called "Chick Habit", which is infectious and delicious as sin. There are some gorgeous Go Sailor songs like "Ray of Sunshine" which highlight the cute, first-love factor. And during the love scene (which is one of the best I've seen), "Glass Vase Cello Case" by Tattle Tale provides the most beautiful music for the sweet and pretty cinematography.

I don't think there's a soundtrack available, so maybe this film is worth listening to, at least. Although, just to be shallow, the cast is very aesthetically pleasing so you may as well watch it too.

This movie has *everything*. The actors and actresses did an impeccable job. I first saw this movie online and I realized that I wanted to own it myself. It's not very often that a movie can be serious, funny, and hopeful all in one, but I'm A Cheerleader does just that. I'd recommend it to anyone.

"But I'm A Cheerleader" tells the story of Meghan, who at first glimpse is a model teenager ("I get good grades, I go to church...I'm a cheerleader!"). But Meghan's parents and friends think something is up: she has a picture of a girl in a bikini in her locker, a Melissa Etheridge poster in her bedroom, tends to hug her cheerleading friends a little too much, is a vegetarian, and doesn't enjoy kissing her football player boyfriend. So to Meghan's indignation, she is sent to True Directions, a camp with a four-week program designed to turn any young gay or lesbian who has "gone astray" back on to the straight path. The misadventures that follow bring Meghan to a point of self-discovery. Inevitably, like in any good coming-of-age story, the characters must decide whether to do what is expected of them, or to be true to themselves and do what is right for them.

First off, it must be said that the humour in the film DOES rely heavily on the stereotypes that it appears to deconstruct; there's the typical "butch" lesbian, the goth girl, and the musical theatre-loving gay guy. But it's a SATIRICAL comedy, so that's kind of the point! It is amusing all the same, and the movie ultimately has a good message of loving yourself for who you are.

The casting is excellent; Natasha Lyonne and Clea Duvall are very convincing as a lesbian couple, and the supporting cast, including Cathy Moriarty, is great as well. The soundtrack is fun and upbeat.

The copy I ordered from Amazon was delivered promptly. The ONLY thing I would point out is with the particular seller I bought from, they only bubble-wrapped one side of the DVD, and hence when it arrived one side of the movie case was slightly bent. The disc still played perfectly, and this is the first time I've ever received a DVD like that from Amazon (and I've ordered a lot of DVDs from Amazon!), but I figured it was worth mentioning.

Overall, I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a cute, romantic, feel-good kind of movie!

But I'm a Cheerleader, was entertaining however it had a low buget feel and fell short of it's comedic ability. The story had a lot going for it and the talent was there to be had. Ritchard Mull, who played Bull in the T.V. sitcom Night court, plays a militant gay who is trying to undo the damage this True Directions facility is doing. Clea DuVall did a great job as a angry lesbian and the rest of the cast did a good job. I noticed many chances to get a comic jab but they passed without a laugh. I feel this is good enough to add to a Gay themed collection but not a top ten pick. I had high hopes but felt a bit let down. Rent it if you can and make your own call if you want to buy or buy a used copy.

I love this movie, I managed to buy it despite the fact that my whole family is homophobic. It is an awesome movie, I think it is good for teenagers because it is less seriouse then other lesbian movies. Almost all of the characters are a gay and lesbian stereotype, including the all famouse lesbian softball player and the gay wrestler. The movie is about a girl, Megan, whos friends and family suspect she is a lesbian and send her to a gay camp called "true Directions" in order to turn her straight again. She ends up falling in love with other camper Graham Eaton who is played by the wonderfull Clea DuVall. It is a great movie, very funny at times, and very seriouse a others. It is a good movie for anyone, gay or straight. Even if you dont like the plot line, the soundtrack is awesome and the cast is very easy on the eye. So everyone should watch it.

If you're in need of proclivity-evaluation, need reassurance that it's okay to be you despite others who would repress you ... or perhaps just generally yearn for a romantic comedy with gay characters ... then BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER does everything it's supposed to do. And in that regard, it also serves as polished, professional filmmaking.

But if you want a movie that's entirely gratifying on its own terms (even a gay-themed movie), look elsewhere. There's a confusion of tone -- sometimes it's light comedy, sometimes it's John Waters-type camp, sometimes it's more humanist comedy-drama -- and it's not as if those different aspects can't co-exist (Josh Whedon's series BUFFY and ANGEL, for example, mix storytelling styles constantly) but these relatively young filmmakers haven't found the balance here.

Ultimately the biggest disappointment of the film is that, by the end, it feels slight. The story is a slender, attenuated one, and the message is delivered with such a sledgehammer approach that the phrase "preaching to the converted" comes to mind. (You wonder how effectively CHEERLEADER can soften prejudice when the victims are painted as total innocents and the repressers are painted as total idiots ... )

In any event, BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER is mild and harmless and maybe a nice thing for some confused kids to encounter and ultimately forgettable.

this movie is one of my favourite it's very very funny and "cute". when this dvd will be released in france so i can watch it with my friends (they don't understand english...)??? i recommand it to everyone who love comedy especially to gay people ang gay friendly

this movie is one of my favourite it's very very funny and "cute". when this dvd will be released in france so i can watch it with my friends (they don't understand english...)??? i recommand it to everyone who love comedy especially to gay people ang gay friendly