When Jamie Babbit’s But I’m A Cheerleader was released in 1999, it received a less-than-pleasant reaction from the general public. Even now, the film sits at a 43 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes
among film critics. Despite this, the film was and still is hailed in the queer community as a cult classic,
watched and talked about 25 years later. Why is this? And why was Variety wrong to deem it “only mildly entertaining” at the time?
The film opens in a classic picture-perfect American high school setting. The protagonist Megan (played by Natasha Lyonne,) is a star cheerleader with a jock boyfriend. All is well until alarm bells
begin to ring: a strong fascination with her fellow cheerleaders’ dancing, a repulsion towards kissing
her boyfriend, enjoyment for Melissa Etheridge’s music, and worst of all – she’s become vegetarian. This is all the evidence of lesbianism that her parents need to perform an intervention, shipping her off to True Directions, a conversion camp.
What ensues next at True Directions is a satiric, hilarious masterpiece. The camp is run by Mary Brown (Cathy Moriarty) and Mike (RuPaul), both entirely unconvincing “straight” leaders. The members embark on a journey aimed at leading them back to the “true” path of straightness. The boys learn
how to fix cars, while the girls learn to clean and cook — the satirical performance being a clear critique of the artificiality of traditional gender norms. Meanwhile, Megan meets Graham (Clea DuVall), her roommate and surly polar opposite, who it is clear she will fall for.
At the turn of the century, queer films, let alone lesbian films, were pretty rare. But, for director Babbit, the film was aimed to be “a gay Clueless,” serving as a light-hearted comedy amidst the AIDS crisis. “Comedy was important because if you don’t laugh, you’re crying,” said Babbit in an interview with the BBC, with queer films at the time often being arthouse and bleak. Despite its campy, comedic elements, But I’m a Cheerleader still tackles very real issues pertinent to the queer community: conversion therapy, rejection by parents, identity struggle, and self-acceptance. The film is a classic not only because it’s a comedy, but also because it stands for so much more.
In the cinematic climate of Fight Club, The Matrix, and American Psycho, But I’m a Cheerleader was an obvious outlier. Despite a lack of overtly sexual scenes or vile language, the film was originally rated at NC-17 (for adults only), forcing Babbit to cut scenes to make it more appropriate — unsurprising at a time when gay marriage was yet to be legalized. The film easily could have faded to the background, in a culture dominated by thriller, macho films. However, it has only grown in popularity.
It’s relatable, it’s funny, and it’s truly ridiculous. The characters have stand-out pink and blue costumes, alongside a great soundtrack, truly encapsulating what “camp” is. Heteronormative society and gender stereotypes are playfully questioned, interrogating what is considered normal. Ultimately, Babbit shows us that normal is whatever you want it to be — a message that continues to resonate today, within and beyond queer communities.
While But I’m a Cheerleader isn’t a critically-acclaimed cinematic sensation, it captures the hearts of the queer community. But I’m a Cheerleader makes you feel part of something bigger than you, and is the perfect watch as Queer History Month draws to a close.