But I’m a Cheerleader

⭐⭐⭐⭐

85 minutes ‧ R ‧ 1999
Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams
Director: Jamie Babbit
Genres: Comedy, Queer

But I’m a Cheerleader, directed by Jamie Babbit, is a comedy so absurd that it keeps you smiling from start to finish. It features pink walls, fake smiles, and exaggerated characters, all without apology. However, what catches many viewers off guard is the genuine heart beneath all the humor. Amidst the laughs, it tells a story about fear, shame, and the impact of others trying to shape you into someone you’re not.

The movie follows Megan, a high school cheerleader who seems to have the picture-perfect life — complete with a boyfriend and a squeaky-clean family. The trouble starts when the people around her decide she might be gay, mostly because she doesn’t act the way they expect. Her parents ship her off to a conversion therapy camp called True Directions. The whole place is built around rigid ideas of how boys and girls are supposed to be, and the film turns it all into one big joke. The girls wear pink and learn housework, while the boys wear blue and play sports. It’s so exaggerated you can’t take it seriously — which is exactly the point. By making everything look this fake and silly, the movie laughs right in the face of how artificial those gender roles really are.

At the camp, Megan meets Graham, and their relationship gradually becomes the film’s central focus. Graham appears tougher and more confident — at least outwardly — and seeing their bond grow adds a layer of tenderness beneath the comedy. What begins as Megan’s confusion evolves into honesty, making her journey complex and genuine. She is scared, awkward, and in denial for much of the story, which makes her relatable and humorous.

Natasha Lyonne is a huge reason the film works. She gives Megan a lost, innocent quality that makes you root for her right away, and she’s hilarious without ever trying too hard. Clea DuVall is just as good, playing Graham with a dry, deadpan cool that bounces perfectly off Lyonne’s wide-eyed panic. Their chemistry keeps everything grounded, even when the world around them is so cartoonish. Cathy Moriarty is loud, controlling, and gloriously over-the-top as the adult running the camp, and RuPaul steals every scene he’s in, playing a so-called “ex-gay” counselor with a wink that makes the whole thing even funnier. The supporting cast is just as impressive: Michelle Williams, Melanie Lynskey, Mink Stole, Richard Moll, and Bud Cort (of Harold and Maude fame) all bring their own unique energy and humor to the mix.

Mink Stole, Bud Cort, and Natasha Lyonne / IMDb

The movie wasn’t a big hit when it came out, pulling in around $2.6 million worldwide, and the reviews were all over the place — many critics didn’t know what to make of the comedy. But this is one of those movies that found its real life later, passed around by word of mouth and home video to people who got the joke and fell in love with it.

In summary, viewers repeatedly return to But I’m a Cheerleader because it genuinely captures what it is — a witty, playful, heartfelt comedy. It isn’t just camp for fun; it makes you laugh while subtly conveying a meaningful message. If you haven’t seen it yet, rent it. You’ll be glad you did.