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

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

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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: [after Megan sees Graham and Sinead dancing] Megan, it's not what you think.
Megan: That's why we came here, right? So *you* could be yourself.
Graham: I don't like Sinead that way.
Megan: Which way is that, clothed?
Graham: We weren't doing anything.
Megan: Oh, when you were going like this, you weren't doing anything.
Graham: No we, I wasn't, I wasn't doing that!
Megan: It doesn't matter.
Graham: Why are you freaking out?
Megan: It's none of my business. Do what you want.
[...]

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Alternate Versions

The version that ran in theaters had the Lion's Gate logo, then the Fine Line logo, and then the credit: "Fine Line Features presents." This wasn't changed in time, as a deal with Fine Line and the film's production company fell through. On the DVD release the Lion's Gate logo appears and then there is a new credit: "Lion's Gate Films presents." No mention of Fine Line appears.

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Connections

Referenced in Death Proof (2007)

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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

Satiric delight

This film is a biting and hilarious parody of people who not only force themselves into artificial molds but also feel the to make other people fit the same stereotypical molds. The main attack of the satire is on the delusion that homosexuals can be cured by people who are themselves repressed homosexuals.

Deliciously silly victorian roles of males and females are superimposed on the teenagers who struggle not to be who they really are. But the garishly-colored costumes of the 1950's "Father Knows Best" and "Leave It To Beaver" style are as incongruous as the fake role-playing. In the end, at least some of the young victims of this cruelty escape to face a life of being themselves.

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