But I'm a Cheerleader [1999] [DVD]

The over the top nature of it make it a very obvious parody of the "pray the gay away" gay conversion therapy culture. A risky move for the film makers, but the way that it's done makes the comedy work really well.The comedy works really well because you're laughing at how ludicrous the system is.It's also a lovely romance film which is such a rare novelty in a world where any lesbian films are aimed primarily at the straight males voyeuristic gaze! This doesn't do that.It instead legitimises the two main characters love for each other without any connotations of a straight mans fantasy, as well as the relationships between the other male and female characters.The way that it's done also makes a fine job of showing that you can't "pray the gay away"'and that you can't change who you are- and that you bloody well shouldn't have to because there's nothing wrong with being gay or bi!Natasha Lyonne is superb! In other roles, she's been very streetwise with an externally strong sense of self. In this, however, she's very naive and very easily influenced by others. So it shows how versatile her acting skills are.Well done to everyone involved in the making of this film! It's one of my all time favourites!

Okay, so the story revolves around a teenage cheerleader whose parents and friends have decided that, based on all the evidence - she’s vegetarian, she has pictures of women in her locker, she doesn’t much like her boyfriend - she must be a lesbian. As such, they’ve enrolled her in a gay conversion therapy camp to get her fixed.Although the actors are terrific - there are some pretty great performances from the ever-wonderful Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne, and I’ve always enjoyed Cathy Moriarty’s work, I must say - and thank god for it - the story hasn’t aged well.

I totally enjoyed this movie, almost didn't recognize RuPaul, did a doubletake and checked to see I wasn't imagining things.The whole movie was a hilarious double middle finger salute to those horrible, small minded 'pray the gay away' morons who want to force people to fit restrictive gender roles and live a lie that causes so much harm not only to the victims of their horrible need to force gay conversion therapy on people who are trying to find themselves.This is definitely a movie I will watch again in a few years.

firstly it's nice to see low budget independent films like these get a Bluray release especially in the UK but although the film looks good in this transfer with sharp bright colours, the audio mix lets the side down, now it would have been nice to get a 5.1 upgrade but for me the Dolby Digital 2.0 mix level is set way too low, I had to turn up the volume on my home cinema amp quite a lot to even hear some of the dialog and then quickly reach for the remote to turn it down again as the music under the title menu is so much louder.overall 5 stars for the film but only 2 for the disappointing audio.

While I think it was a good idea that lay behind this film, unfortunately the script was dull, the acting was mediocre and the plot was near to non-existent. I even found the soundtrack tedious.

I loooooooooove this film!Natasha Lyonne our lesbian icon and Clea Duvall another personal hero of mine play their roles well in this brilliant rom-com.I mean as cliche as it is about gay movies mostly always having a plot line where being gay is a problem (common for pre 2012 movies), for once I didn't slap my forehead and go 'oh no not again'.RuPaul minus fabulous wigs and dresses is in this too! It's a no-brainer!Love wins!This is definitely a favourite in my collection. :)

Natasha Lyonne plays a cheerleader who isn't really into boys & doesn’t even like kissing her boyfriend. Her parents and friends get suspicious and she's sent off to a place where 'straight is great', a place that aims to de-gay people. The problem is that Clea Duvall is also there and the two fall in love. At True Directions, the boys wear blue, the girls wear pink and the pupils must pass a series of tests in order to graduate hence proving they’ve left their gay life behind.I absolutely love this film, it’s so funny and the love story is very sweet and genuine. Other great things about it include RuPaul, some rather fantastic characters and the soundtrack.

Brilliant romantic comedy, laugh out loud with incredible touches, e.g. erotic floor cleaning. Highly aestheticised and satirical, yet manages to be genuinely romantic. The love scenes are genuine and touching. A cult classic that is worth a watch.