Better Late Then Never

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

I'm usually not a person who goes for romantic comedy or romantic drama for that matter. There have been a few exceptions over the years. This was one of them.One evening I was channel flipping and came across But I'm a Cheerleader on the Indie Channel. What the hell, there wasn't much else on so I decided to watch. Natasha Lyonne plays Megan, all-American cheerleader and all around good girl. John Waters fans, Mink Stole plays her mother. Bud Cort (Harold and Maude) plays her father. Suspecting Megan is gay, they stage an intervention with her friends and Mike from True Directions, played hilariously by RuPaul not in drag.The True Directions campus is every stereotype you could imagine. Pink for the girls, blue for the boys among other things. Here, Megan meets Graham (the amazing Clea DuVall) and begins her journey through sexual re-identification or whatever you want to call it. Other faces you may recognize, Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull), Melanie Lynskey (Rose from Two and a Half Men), Eddie Cibrian (who plays one of the gayest characters in the movie), and Richard Moll (Bull from Night Court).All around, I found this movie campy, silly, funny, touching, a little of everything. When, in spite of the best (or worst) attempts to turn her around, Megan embraces and owns who she is and professes her love for Graham, I was left utterly raw. But in a good way. Three subsequent times I watched the movie and felt the same way. If this movie doesn't touch, you have no heart. For the record, I'm a straight, bearded, tattooed, Republican veteran.

MPAA rating for this film is lousy and way off base, as usual. But hey what do you expect from a bunch of 40 to 60yo, when this should be reviewed by 25 to 35yo.s I would have ratted this film somewhere between PG13, and R. Get real people, the stuff depicted in this film is actually much cleaner than anything you would see in a sex ed video in jr. high. Plus kids are much more aware of gays and lesbians in society than most people think, and they should be educated about same sex unions in the same class on opposite sex unions, it just makes sense. I would highly recommend this film to anyone. the frivolity of it all is very nice simple and straight forward. two thumbs way up. Now we just need a film about transsexuality for jr high school kids and we will be all set.

A brilliantly funny lampoon of the ex-gay movement and a heartfelt plea for authentic love for all - not only heterosexuals. "But I'm a Cheerleader" offers some tender moments of awakening love which simultaneously expose the cruel absurdity of religious extremists who think they must wield their anti-gay agenda against everyone within their circle of influence. The agenda involves excessively dogmatic parents sending their gay sons and daughters away to a reprogramming camp (can you say "delusional"?); there the young adults are indoctrinated, lied to and manipulated in ways that would gladden the heart of a "sanitarium" director from the old U.S.S.R.The amazing thing is how funny this movie is. That's quite an achievement considering the issues dealt with. Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne give excellent performances and the chemistry that develops between them is sweet and poignant.To be sure, "But I'm a Cheerleader" also pokes fun at gay advocates and the modern gay version of the Underground Railroad; nevertheless, the real-life struggles it addresses couldn't be more serious.Give this triumphant appeal to sanity a chance; gay, bi or straight, watching this film will make you a happier, wiser, more sensible human being and a better American.Great job with this one.

Essentially, this movie is a fun time and a good coming-out movie for those young members of the LGBT community, or older ones still trying to figure out their identity. The movie chronicles a group of LGBT teenagers sent to an ex-gay camp by their unacceptable parents. It's good for those struggling with their identity, or perhaps LGBT people just looking for a good laugh. I'm not sure if I can recommend this for the heterosexual community at large, mostly because I reiterate the comment about it being a little campy and at time it seems corny and more like a low-budget film if you're not interested in the subject matter. I found it a little awkward at times, especially with one sex scene of course. So a little corny and a little dorky, but overall the movie is feel-good, funny, and a great commentary for those of the LGBT community. I enjoyed it overall!