But I'm A Cheerleader

Rating:
Summary: Lesbian Power Expressed
Review: "But I'm a Cheerleader" stars Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, RuPaul Charles, and Oscar nominee Cathy Moriarty. This explores coming out and coming into terms towards one's own homosexuality. The plot is highly original and brilliant. This combines comedy and drama wonderfully. Sometimes, one's expressed more than the other, which is always done at the perfect times. The intensity builds the moment Megan enters "rehab"(notice the quotes). Romance lingers in the air as she falls in love with a fellow patient. Every scene displays the realisms of gay issues and the harsh ex-gay movement. Such topics are proven researched thoroughly by the producers and the writers. Though in real life, most homosexuals do not act as portrayed in the movie, it still has its entertaining aspects.

Natasha Lyonne plays her lead character, Megan, wonderfully. She offers "But I'm a Cheerleader" the added comedy and drama in the perfect places. The highly underrated Clea DuVall proves in her role as Graham, fellow patient and Megan's lover, that she'll become a big name actress soon. Her acting is flawless. RuPaul Charles performs beautifully and hilariously without his drag queen persona in his role of Mike, the counseller. His role alone portrays the ex-gay movement realities accurately. Cathy Moriarty's role as the evil "rehab" president gives the movie its conflict vibe wonderfully. All other actors also perform great.

"But I'm a Cheerleader" is a great movie for many audience types. This is a great gay pride movie. Many viewers will be highly entertained. Those looking for more gay pride themes should also watch "Get Real". The two combined offers an unforgettable experience.

Rating:
Summary: Cute move, but the soundtrack is the best part
Review: "But I'm A Cheerleader" is a light movie that tries to be both comedy and drama. It succeeds more as a comedy, somewhat in the style of John Waters, but does not go as over-the-top as a Waters film.

Natasha Lyonne plays the main character, Megan, mostly by balancing her headful of Big Hair effectively and pouting mightily throughout. Cathy Moriarty is the hetero Nazi drill sargeant at the sexual orientation "rehab" camp Megan attends. Moriarty is a bit tense and intense, clad in pink with perfectly starched hair, doing her best Faye-Dunaway-as-Joan-Crawford. Ru Paul (NOT in drag) plays her best lieutenant at the camp, trying to bark the male camp attendees into proper heterosexual manhood. The only really good acting is by Clea DuVall, who plays one of the queer girls at the camp...she does a lovely job of modulating her anger and her attraction and, well, being lovely to boot.

Director Jamie Babbit curiously has drawn the male characters more as swish caricatures, while the female "campers" are permitted more normal range, less vicious stereotyping. Because the movie doesn't quite escape mediocrity, this double standard is not a critical flaw.

The soundtrack has some real gems, and it's a crime it's not separately released. It's generally a great collection of edgy pop music by female performers (except for "Party Train" by Ru Paul). "Glass Vase Cello Case" by Tattle Tale is the real winner - somewhat Sarah McLachlan-esque ballad that's not too soft nor too edgy. Go Sailor contribute "Ray of Sunshine" and "Together Forever in Love." People are scouring the internet for mp3's of this soundtrack. However you might come across this soundtrack, I encourage you to glom onto it!

"But I'm A Cheerleader" is a thoroughly watchable movie that just misses its ambition to be high camp. If you keep your expectations in check and pay attention to the soundtrack, you'll be well-pleased with this entertaining film.

Rating:
Summary: must see,must own-I loved it
Review: "But I'm A Cheerleader" is a rarity in the current era of filmmaking.It is brilliantly hilarious and poignant at the same time.I wish I saw this film in the theaters, but was fortunate to rent it and hopefully soon-buy it. The entire cast is brilliant.Natasha Lyonne(Slums of Beverly Hills) and Clea DuVall(Girl, Interrupted, The Faculty)both give their best performances yet by far.The rest of the cast is genius as well with Cathy Moriarty in her best role since "Raging Bull" and "Soapdish". The kids are all amazing with their moments to shine, among them Melanie Lynskey{"Heavenly Creatures","Ever After","Coyote Ugly"),Joel Michaely("Can't Hardly Wait"-the geek on the roof with the afro and the retainer looking much better and different),Katherine Towne (M.Y.O.B.-the lead girl on that show looking very wild and goth),Eddie Cibrian ("Third Watch"), Doug Spain("Star Maps"),Kip Pardue("Remember the Titans"-the good-looking gay quarterback). Each of these kids really shined and help take this film to great comedic heights. RuPaul and Mink Stole also help to keep this film rolling. It tackles a sensitive subject with great fun and tenderness. Thank you to Jamie Babbitt for directing it and to Roger Ebert for his glowing recommendation so I was able to be aware of and enjoy this gem of a film. Go see it now. I'm going to buy it on video when I can-but a film like this, I can't wait to see again. It might be worth buying a DVD player so I can buy "But I'm A Cheerleader" now.

Rating:
Summary: clever, cute comedy
Review: ***1/2 As gays and lesbians have achieved more and more acceptance in our society, a countervailing force - led mostly by conservative religious organizations - has been rearing its head in recent years. The movement is often referred to as "reparative therapy," the rather absurd notion that, with just a little grit, determination and behavior modification, homosexuals can be "cured" of their "illness" and groomed to take their place as fine, upstanding members of the heterosexual community. Certain "treatment centers" dedicated to this dubious cause have even begun to spring up in areas around the country, modeling themselves after 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous.

The makers of "But I'm a Cheerleader" have chosen to have a little fun with the concept, imagining one of these centers in almost surrealistic terms. Sweet-faced Natasha Lyonne stars as Megan, a regular teenager happily content to give her all to her cheerleading squad and only mildly confused as to why she can't seem to get quite as excited by her boyfriend as by thoughts of her buxom cheerleader buddies. Suspecting her of being a lesbian - long before Megan herself does, actually - her "concerned" parents, friends and boyfriend cart her off to True Directions, a treatment center tucked safely away in the country. In this bucolic setting, Megan and a group of other "deviants" are put through the rigors of a 5-step therapy program which includes admitting their homosexuality, undergoing gender role playing and even "practicing" man/woman sexual behavior under the stern tutelage of the mistress of the place. In keeping with the near-surrealism of the subject matter, the center is done up in an almost Montessori school motif, with bold colored walls and furniture somehow emphasizing the cold, inhuman sterility of the setting.

"But I'm a Cheerleader" is, by no means, a great or entirely successful comedy. Its attempts at humor, particularly in its opening scenes, seem a bit forced and heavy-handed at times. Moreover, the tone shifts a bit uneasily every so often, running the gamut from stylized absurdity to heartbreaking seriousness. Still, the undisciplined messiness is really part of the film's overall charm. It removes the work from the same category as all those ultra-slick bubble-headed comedies about teens that major studios seem to release with frightening regularity. And the movie does have many laugh-out-loud moments of inspired lunacy, showing to what preposterous lengths many straights and even some pressured gays will go in order to "correct" the uncorrectable. We see the girls being given instructions on how to use a vacuum cleaner, wear makeup and change diapers. The boys are instructed in the fine arts of wood chopping, throwing a football and fixing cars. These scenes work, in particular, not only for their comic effectiveness but their underlying poignancy, as these scared youngsters - many threatened with disownment by their parents if they don't "straighten up" - give it their all, against all hope, to truly change, to deny the very person their raging hormones are screaming at them to be.

The movie also manages to make the gay characters seem real and believable. Thanks to a superb cast, many of the teens emerge as touching, three-dimensional people rather than the cartoon characters that they might have become in a similar film of this kind - particularly when it would be so easy for them to become so in the face of the caricatures of parents and camp counselors who swirl around them in this highly stylized setting. Prime among these is Cathy Moriarty, brilliant as Mary, the prim and proper leader of the establishment, a woman whose righteous wrong-headedness the actress captures to a comic tee. In contrast, Rue Paul, out of drag for once, gives a superbly understated performance as an "ex-gay" now working for the enemy. Among the teens, Lyonne and Clea DuVall, as the girl Megan falls in love with, are the obvious standouts. They turn these potentially cardboard comic characters into full-sized, instantly recognizable young women filled with yearning, confusion and a desire to both please others and be true to themselves.

And that is the ultimate message of this film. Though done in an absurd way, the movie strives to point out that all of us must be allowed to be who we are and to live the life that best suits us. Whether we are gay, straight or whatever, that's a philosophy of life we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

Rating:
Summary: 1, 2, 3, 4... you're the one that I adore!
Review: 5, 6, 7, 8... watch this movie, cause it is GREAT! Hey, I should be a cheerleader! OK maybe not. :) I loved this movie... have it on DVD. It's very well made and entertaining. Natasha Lyonne is SO wonderful in this film... I've never seen her look so beautiful. Her and Clea DuVall make a very cute, convincing couple (the love scene is awesome). Basically, people think Natasha's character Megan is a lesbian because of various superficial reasons. Her parents send her to a camp, in hopes they can transform her into a heterosexual. Megan is in complete denial ... never thought of herself as being gay. But she soon realizes some feelings during her stay at the "Straight is Great!" camp (the camp is actually called "True Directions," RuPaul (as a guy) plays one of the camp employees who used to be gay, but is supposidly straight now (sure, we believe that). This movie is incredibly unique and colorful and I just love it. But... I'm a cheerleader!! ;)

Rating:
Summary: That Certain Feeling
Review: A cute little romantic comedy with some biting satire, beautiful love scenes and a great performance by Natasha Lyonne. Unfortunately the film falls apart in the second half. For a better take on the lesbians in love plotline check out the much superior "Lost and Delirious." I must say though it is delicious to see Kip Purdue playing gay.

Rating:
Summary: Clea DuVall steals the show
Review: a hilarous movie. shows how america is still as homophobic as ever. with an NC-17 rating that the director cut a sceene to make into a R rating on a movie that should be PG. Look at the movie America Pie and see a movie with a ton more language, sexual scenes and still it is only rated R. Clea DuVall as usual makes it worth seeing no matter what. she has a performce without mistakes.

Rating:
Summary: Good, quirky fun
Review: A lovely original little movie with lots of charm, that manages to expertly take the piss, while also having serious thought-provoking dramatic moments.

Its only fault lies in the fact that it overreaches its self too much at times.

In spite of this (or perhaps due to it?) it's a quirky comedy/drama ideal for gay or straight viewing!

Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne are excellent.


Rating:
Summary: Strait is great!
Review: A twisted black comedy about a young cheerleader who is forced into a Homosexual Rehab center by her friends and family. And what better a place to have a love story. If you like odd indie films this one is for you. It has a John Waters-ish feel and I'm sure it will make you laugh to the point of soiling yourself.... well, maybe not that much. Either way it's a great movie and I think everyone will enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Don't even think about it
Review: An absolute clunker, with nothing to redeem it except: a
snippet of Wanda Jackson singing " Funnel of Love ", and
the awareness that many of these actors have seen better
days...Natasha Lyonne ( " Slums of Beverly Hills " ), Clea
DuVall ( " A Girl Interrupted " ), Cathy Moriarty ( " Raging
Bull " ), Julie Delpy ( " Voyager " ), and Bud Cort ( " Harold
and Maude " ).

The five star reviews you'll find here were all written by
the director's relatives. This thing smells like a hamster's
diaper.