But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)

by Rizzy

This movie is my second favorite gay film of all time right behind Hedwig and the Angry Inch. In fact, the two films make up the occasional gay movie night double feature that I show. When people are looking to get into gay cinema, but don't know where to start this is usually the film I recommend just because it's really more of a comedy than anything else. The film is about Megan Bloomfield who comes home from school one day to discover her friends and family are convinced she's gay and so send her off to rehab so that she can become straight again.

Meet Megan (played by Natasha Lyonne) and her family.  Good solid Christians who eat their meals together which consist of meat, potatoes, vegetables, bread and milk. Nothing fancy here.  The colors?  All tans, browns, golds, and 70s oranges.  Everything about this family SCREAMS classic, perfect family values. Right down to the need to pray before every meal.  This film does any AMAZING job over stereotyping everything within it for the sake of humor. They aren't afraid to make every bit of the screen count towards the story they are telling and they take everything from the music to the wardrobe to the colors seriously.

Welcome to True Directions.  Where girls where pink and boys where blue, because girls are supposed to wear pink and boys are supposed to wear blue. Really though, what I have to compliment here is how well each character is automatically stereotyped and at the same time stands enough on their own where they don't feel flat so much as amusing and lovable. Everybody does such a great job in this film, especially Clea DuVall who plays the love interest in the film.  She at the same time embodies the hardness and softness of a woman all in one.

As if the great characters weren't enough, this film does a great job of hiding gay imagery everywhere as he kids go through "straight school" by basically playing house and shop. In the end the message they are sending out to you is being beaten into you repeatedly, but in such a new and fresh way you're too busy laughing to notice. That message? That there is no right way to be a man or woman, straight or gay. There is no proper role for yourself and no amount of faking can make you anyone but who you are supposed to be.  This entire film is really not a gay film so much as it is a film about accepting who you are as an individual.

Ok,  I can't talk about this film without talking about the directors of True Directions, because they are both a riot and completely steal the show. To the left? Does he look familiar? Well maybe that's because he should, that talk, dark and handsome man is actually RuPaul out of drag. No joke! He plays an ex-gay who helps convert the boys to being straight, too.  Really it's just great to watch him be completely obviously attracted to men and hiding it.  He doesn't a great job and is a fine actor.

Though the real star of this show is definitely Cathy Moriarty who plays Mary J. Brown the founder of True Directions. With such great lines as "Foreplay is for sissies, real men go in, unload and pull out" and "Andre, we don't use profanity or double negatives here at True Directions." it's no wonder she ends up stealing every scene she is in.  Here is a woman with a purpose and she's not afraid to stand up for it.

Though, really, if you haven't already noticed the real reason to watch this show is just for the absurdity of it. This film teeters that fine line of sentiment and preposterous with an art that heightens both the humor and the affection of it. Though really I'm a fan of any film that can send out a message in such a light-hearted and comedic way.

Even if you aren't gay, I'd definitely recommend this film.  It's got lesbians it (for the guys), romance (for the ladies) and lots of laughs for everyone involved. Plus, it's got a killer soundtrack and you can't mess with good tunes in a film.  This film is a great way to force you to take a second look at yourself and really ask yourself if you are true to who you are and accepting of others in a light-hearted way. If you are gay and/or a fan of gay film or looking for an extra treat recommend Hedwig and the Angry Inch with this film and watch this than that.  That's an experience for you, a journey into your soul.