But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 satirical romantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit and written by Brian Wayne Peterson. Natasha Lyonne
stars as Megan Bloomfield, an apparently happy heterosexual high school
cheerleader. However, her friends and family are convinced that she is a
homosexual and arrange an intervention, sending her to a residential inpatient conversion therapy
camp to cure her lesbianism. There Megan soon realizes that she is
indeed a lesbian and, despite the therapy, gradually comes to embrace
her sexual orientation. The supporting cast includes Dante Basco, Eddie Cibrian, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty, RuPaul, Richard Moll, Mink Stole, Kip Pardue, Michelle Williams, and Bud Cort.
But I'm a Cheerleader was Babbit's first feature film. It was inspired by an article about conversion therapy and her childhood familiarity with rehabilitation programs. She used the story of a young woman finding her sexual identity to explore the social construction of gender roles and heteronormativity. The costume and set design of the film highlighted these themes using artificial textures in intense blues and pinks.
When it was initially rated as NC-17 by the MPAA, Babbit made cuts to allow it to be re-rated as R. When interviewed in the documentary film This Film Is Not Yet Rated Babbit criticized the MPAA for discriminating against films with gay content.
Many critics did not like the film, comparing it unfavorably with the films of John Waters and criticizing the colorful production design. Although the lead actors were praised for their performances, some of the characters were described as stereotypical.
Original film poster
But I'm a Cheerleader was Babbit's first feature film. It was inspired by an article about conversion therapy and her childhood familiarity with rehabilitation programs. She used the story of a young woman finding her sexual identity to explore the social construction of gender roles and heteronormativity. The costume and set design of the film highlighted these themes using artificial textures in intense blues and pinks.
When it was initially rated as NC-17 by the MPAA, Babbit made cuts to allow it to be re-rated as R. When interviewed in the documentary film This Film Is Not Yet Rated Babbit criticized the MPAA for discriminating against films with gay content.
Many critics did not like the film, comparing it unfavorably with the films of John Waters and criticizing the colorful production design. Although the lead actors were praised for their performances, some of the characters were described as stereotypical.
| Directed by | Jamie Babbit |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Leanna Creel Andrea Sperling |
| Screenplay by | Brian Wayne Peterson |
| Story by | Jamie Babbit |
| Starring | Natasha Lyonne Cathy Moriarty RuPaul Charles Clea DuVall |
| Music by | Pat Irwin |
| Cinematography | Jules Labarthe |
| Editing by | Cecily Rhett |
| Studio | Ignite Entertainment The Kushner-Locke Company |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
| Release date(s) | September 12, 1999 (TFF) July 7, 2000 |
| Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | US$1 million |
| Box office | $2,595,216 |
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