But I'm A Cheerleader

Jamie Babbit, USA, 1999, 85 minutes

Megan (American Pie's Natasha Lyonne) is a model student: "I go to church, I get good grades... I'm a Cheerleader!". There's just a slight problem. Everyone (except Megan herself) thinks she's a lesbian so she's shipped off to True Directions where Mike (RuPaul relishing his "I was once a gay" lines) and Mary (the scene stealing Cathy Moriaty) are ready to get her back on the (straight) "path to righteouness"!

A broad satirical swipe at the chilling real life True Directions equivalents, But I'm a Cheerleader is a quirky, fun and rather fabulous film. Natasha Lyonne proves she can do incredulous convincingly as the perpetually baffled but well-meaning Megan but, aside from old pros RuPaul and Moriaty, it's the fellow inmates that provide most of the fun here. Amongst the handful of eccentrics are Clea DuVall as the sulkily sexy and unapologetic Graham, Melanie Lynskey (of Heavenly Creatures) as posh pert Hilary and Katherine Towne as masochist Sinead.

The cast is complimented by a series of great in-jokes and cameos. RuPaul, Lynskey, DuVall and even Lyonne are all playing with former screen incarnations. Meanwhile Julie Delpy, Michelle Williams (of Dawsons Creek fame), Ione Skye and Mink Stole (Hairspray) all turn up in great (and presumably tailor-made) mini roles.

Writer/Director Jamie Babbit has every cliche in the book (particularly all those angsty lesbian issues) in her sights - most brilliantly realised with each characters "route" to gayness - giving But I'm a Cheerleader a kind of John Waters innocent cynicism at its heart. To fit with that the film's look is pure kitsch from the cheerleaders bouncing around to a fantastic Serge Gainsborough track at the start, to the frankly frightening gauche decor of True Directions' odd little time-warped (again with funky retro music to match) pink Psycho-style mansion.

But I'm a Cheerleader is a warm and hugely enjoyable film - it's also a completely original breath of fresh air to the usually po-faced angst of lesbian cinema.

Review by Nicola Osborne
Written for EUFS Programme Autumn 2003

Dear reader, (assuming you are straight) what do you think caused your heterosexuality? Don't you think that your heterosexuality is just this phase that are going through? Is it possible that it stems from a neurotic fear of the same sex?

Well, for Megan, a bright and intelligent cheerleader, things are a bit different - her parents think that she is gay. After all, she is a vegetarian and listens to Melissa Etheridge. Her friends and family are alarmed and make her go to True Directions, a cheery rehab camp where young homosexuals are helped so they won’t be recruited any further into homosexual life-style: Yes, it is is just a phase they are going through.

Megan and her inmates have to go through an easy five step programm that will help them to embraced their true selves. The programme includes among other things rediscover your gender identity, demystifying the opposite sex, and finally simulated sexual lifestyle. How that works? Easy: the boys play war, the girls learn to change nappies etc.

Of course Megan is not alone on the programme and makes friends with another girl – or is it more than friendship?

Have a look for yourself. The story is excruciatingly amusing, Natasha Lyonne’s and Cathy Moriaty’s performances are hilarious, and even the visually highly inventive production design will have you rolling in the aisles! (Pink for the girls, blue for the boys).

Review by Sarah Stark
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2002