“But I’m a Cheerleader” released in June of 2000, is an old film about LGBTQ+ teens being sent to conversion therapy. Despite the age of the movie, it is still loved by many this long after its release. This movie is targeted towards teens and high schoolers. The main character, Megan, is your average cheerleader. After a somewhat long conversation, she is sent to conversion therapy which is where she surprisingly begins her queer journey.

Many students, including a senior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Reese Sypowicz, still loves this movie years after its release. Sypowicz expresses her love for this movie, “I watched the film on YouTube, and at first it drew my interest because I love comedies. Overall it was a good film, it balances the comedic and serious topics at hand well. The objectively best part of the movie is when Megan goes back and saves Graham from the camp. Overall go watch ‘But I’m a cheerleader,’ it is really good and funny.” Sypowicz showed a lot of love for this film, just like many others do. It’s very comedic and simultaneously shows different things about the system, without making anyone watching feel bad about their own identity.

Another senior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School named Izel Carrasco also talked about “But I’m a Cheerleader,” “I found the movie on YouTube and had no clue what it was about. I feel as if it still really holds up after 1999. The only downside I can talk about is how the pacing feels off, but I still really enjoyed the movie. My favorite were the counselors, and how RuPaul was there.” Carrasco went into the movie with no idea how it would go but was extremely surprised when RuPaul was there. She expressed how she was a fan of the movie and loved it.

Personally, I enjoyed the movie. I was recommended to watch it by a friend and there were no mistakes in watching it. Of course, I had critiques such as the pacing and how it felt kinda rushed at the end. But overall I enjoyed the movie, there was a comedic way of showing how society sees gender roles. The way the movie ended was okay, but the overall message was great and there were almost no moments where I wasn’t laughing.