Imagine this, you just walked around every floor of your dorm hall.  Searching for a place to watch a movie because you were too broke to bring a flat-screen to college.  And just when you find the perfect set of couches in front of a black awaiting led screen, one of the members of your party refuse to set up shop in the rec room because two people used the communal kitchen to make broccoli cheddar soup at 9:30 pm, on a Wednesday. 

So, you take the rickety old elevator back up to your floor to watch a dated 1990s movie on the floor with all the extra pillows your mom insisted you bring when friends come over. 

This was my night leading up to watching the satire But I’m A Cheerleader.  This movie was recommended to me, by said member of the party, every day I’ve known her.  I was going in blind, only learning it was made in 1999 and had an R rating seconds before hitting play.  Fair warning, I might be talking about major plot points so if you haven’t seen it… Go watch it, the hour and twenty-five minutes is a great break between your math homework and chemistry.  

With the context that this was made at the turn of the century and used Conversion Camps as a way to make both the worst, and best movie that has lesbians since Kristen Stewart stopped playing a straight woman, I’m baffled at how much I enjoyed it.  And can we talk about how Natasha Lyonne has played a gay woman, not once but twice?  Back to the main point, Lyonne’s character is Megan, a goodie two shoes, Christian cheerleader dating a football player. However, she has some “strange” quirks. After staging a huge intervention her parents and friends send her to True Directions, the setting for most of the movie.  Here is where the colorful cast of soon-to-be A-to-B-list celebrities resides. Every. Single. One. Of these characters are gay stereotypes, but I’m here for it.  But that might also be because Gram is one of the hottest women I’ve ever seen.  

This movie gave me the feeling that old, Disney straight to TV, movies would give little eight-year-old me.  I knew the budget wasn’t that big, but they used it well. The house that holds True Directions is super cute and unsettling at the same time.  Most of the decorations are shiny, plastic, and childish. And it is a theme throughout the movie, Megan is dressed in childish clothing in the first half of the movie. This also translates to the decorations and bedding in the girls’ room of True Directions. This changed later as Megan learns to accept herself and wears more “adult” clothing, if that’s even a thing. Just something funny I noticed.  

Honestly, I don’t think this movie could have been made any better, and I don’t think it will.  The copious use of gays slurs definitely dates this movie and puts it in a category where many feel uncomfortable talking about its themes.  Looking past the change in culture since the movie’s release, it was a great use of satire and romance.  I could feel the pain Graham felt when she had to turn her back on Megan. 

Would watch again, 8/10!