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?

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

A Comedy Of Sexual Disorientation

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexual content involving teens

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

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Graham's tattoo is the Chinese character for "star".

---

Goofs

The top of a crew member's head appears at the bottom of the screen just after Megan and Dolph get out of the pick-up, in army clothes, to go and save their respective lovers from the diploma ceremony.

---

Quotes

Dolph: I'm doing this for you, not for Clayton!
Megan: Yeah, right.

---

Alternate Versions

Two scenes were removed from the movie to obtain a "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.

---

Connections

Featured in This Is What Love in Action Looks Like (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Evening in Paris
Written and Performed by Lois Maffeo (as Lois)
Published by Lois Maffeo (BMI)
Courtesy of K Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

NOT your usual angst-ridden coming out film...

This is a completely different take on any 'coming out' movie I have ever seen - but with RuPaul as a former homosexual turned 'conversion therapist,' it would pretty much have to be!

Mink Stole is delightfully smarmy as Amanda's (Natasha Lyonne) mother who sends Amanda the cheerleader to `True Directions' a homosexual deprogramming camp - camp being the key word - mostly based on the fact that she doesn't like her quarterback boyfriend's extremely wet and sloppy kisses and (heaven forbid!) she has a poster of Melissa Etheridge in her bedroom.

The camp is a wonderful, non-stop visual joke.

The girl's bathroom has literally thousands of daisies attached to the walls. Their bedroom is a riot of pink satin, ribbons and lace worthy of Mae West.

The girls have to wear pink uniforms and do housework; the boys are in blue and have to learn to chop wood, work on cars and learn football. Watching RuPaul work on a car is worth the price of admission alone.

Each of the kids has a 'root,' - the reason they became gay: ranging from `a traumatic bris' to `my mother got married in pants.'

Larry and Lloyd (Richard Moll and Wesley Mann, respectively) are priceless as two of the first clients of True Direction and are now self described ex-ex-gays. They rescue kids via the 'underground homo railroad' with the message `that no matter who you are, be yourself.'

They are an absolute delight.

The final 'graduation scene' which wraps up the film very nicely is a real gem - I didn't know they made lavender fatigues!

There were some real standout performances - Dante Basco as Dolph and Clea DuVall as Graham deserve special recognition.

Don't run out as soon as the credits start rolling: There is one last scene that seals this film with just the perfect touch.