BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER R
Starring Natasha Lyonne, RuPaul Charles, Michelle Williams, Cathy Moriarty, and Richard Moll
Eric says: ******** (8)
A rarity. This comedy aimed at the young actually hits its mark. A sweet hybrid comedy/satire that just happens to be about homosexuals. This film doesn't linger on the characters' sexual orientation, even though its also the focal point.
Lyonne is the central character, a high school senior whose a member of the cheerleading squad, dates the star quarterback, and generally is leading the "ideal" teen existance. All of this changes when her parents and friends start to suspect that she's a lesbian, a conclusion that her character hadn't even thought about. She mistakes her sexual abstinance for religious and moral discipline, excuses her dis-interest in her boyfriend's physical advances as just his fault, and honestly thinks that what she sees in her fellow cheerleaders is how all the girls feel.
Once she is forcibly sent to a "re-orientation" camp headed by "reformed" homosexuals, she first realizes that she is, indeed, a lesbian. The camp is headed by Moriarty as a bitter head-mistress. Her flamingly gay son assists in the curriculum, along with RuPaul Charles (as a man!). Lyonne's character then falls for a fellow "misunderstood" girl. Making the blossoming relationship even more painstaking than a teen's first true love (and lust) is the fact that everyone around her is trying to convince her that what she's feeling is somehow unnatural and wrong. Eventually falling in with a happily gay couple (Night Court's Moose is 1/2 of the couple), she vows to make the relationship work based on the most important barometer - love.
Before seeing this film, I saw the director Jamie Babbit on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. She matter-of-factly stated that she, too, was a lesbian. It showed in the honesty of the work. Just like many will and do argue that only someone like Spike Lee (ie African-American) could do justice to Malcolm X, the same can be said for this subject matter. Even most authors write what they know. Former lawyers write courtroom suspense novels. Medical doctors write about hospitals. Just look at the super-niche category that mystery writer Dick Francis has mined - who knew that so many stories could be written that center on horse racing?
Babbit writes from her heart in this story of a confused teen - and weren't we all - who just wants to fit in and follow her heart. Unfortunately, that will involve making a choice. The main character isn't especially smart - just average. That only help[s make the story feel tangible. These aren't perfect people having outlandish proble,ms that seem to wrap themselves up in the span of 120 minutes. Instead this is the beginning of a long journey of difficult choices that await this innocent, sweet girl. While the "reformed gays" supplt their share of laughs, I recommend this mainly as a touching love story. Go see it with the same-sex person that you love today!
-Current Movies-
-What Lies Beneath-
-Scary Movie-
-Hollow Man-
-Art of War-
-The Cell-
-X-Men-