But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)

A naive teenager is sent to rehab camp when her straitlaced parents and friends suspect her of being a lesbian.

Director:

Jamie Babbit

Writers:

Brian Peterson (screenplay) (as Brian Wayne Peterson), Jamie Babbit (story)

Stars:

Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natasha Lyonne	...	Megan
Michelle Williams	...	Kimberly
Brandt Wille	...	Jared
Bud Cort	...	Peter
Mink Stole	...	Nancy
RuPaul	...	Mike (as RuPaul Charles)
Katie Donahue	...	Cheerleader #1
Danielle Rene	...	Cheerleader #2 (as Danielle Reneau)
Cathy Moriarty	...	Mary Brown
Eddie Cibrian	...	Rock
Melanie Lynskey	...	Hilary
Clea DuVall	...	Graham
Katrina Phillips	...	Jan
Katharine Towne	...	Sinead
Joel Michaely	...	Joel

Storyline

Megan is an all-American girl. She's a cheerleader and has a boyfriend, but she doesn't like kissing him very much, and she's pretty tactile with her cheerleader friends, and she only has pictures of girls up in her locker. Her parents and friends conclude that she *must* be gay and send her off to "sexual redirection" school, full of admittedly homosexual misfits, where she can learn how to be straight. Will Megan be turned around to successful heterosexuality, or will she succumb to her love for the beautiful Graham?

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian | cheerleader | lesbian relationship | lesbian teen | lesbian kiss | 

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Taglines:

A Comedy Of Sexual Disorientation

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexual content involving teens

Did You Know?

Trivia

Melanie Lynskey was Jamie Babbit's first choice to play Hilary after the director had seen her in Heavenly Creatures (1994) and Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998). Additionally, Lynskey had already worked with Natasha Lyonne (Megan) in Detroit Rock City (1999).

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Goofs

The morning after Megan and Graham sleep together, everyone is looking down at Megan, who is lying in bed looking up. Between cuts Hilary's glasses disappear and reappear.

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Quotes

Graham: I'm Graham and I like girls. A lot.

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Alternate Versions

Two scenes were removed from the movie to obtain an "R" rating. The two scenes were:

• There was a much more longer version of Megan masturbating.
• The sex scene between Megan and Graham was toned down because it was much too explicit and would have caused the movie to receive a "NC-17" rating.

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Will Forte/Natasha Lyonne/Stephen Perkins (2015)

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Soundtracks

All Or Nothing
Performed by Miisa
Written by Chris Owen and Miisa
Published by Warner Chappell Music Scandinavia AB (STIM)
Administered by Warner Bros. Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of 404 Music Group

User Reviews

Campy on Purpose

Incredible social commentary. Yes, It's a little campy, but it's all supposed to be that way. It's an amusing look at attempting to 'rehab" homosexuals with therapy and "finding their roots". Great acting all around, excellent writing.

Personally, it was the subtle things that did it for me. Mary's son was funny, and the cut-outs (just pay attention to the boys' lessons) were Hilarious. I thought it was a great tongue-in-cheek way of saying "okay, this is stupid, we need to let them be" for the gay community.

If you're in the mood for a lot of laughing, and RuPaul out-of-drag to boot, rent this one.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Make Me Over

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$60,410, 9 July 2000

Gross USA:

$2,205,627

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,595,216

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cheerleader LLC, Hate Kills Man (HKM), Ignite Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 91 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1