DVD Corner

But I’m A Cheerleader 4K UHD Review

“But I’m A Cheerleader” was ahead of its time.

Penned by Brian Wayne Peterson and based on a story by Jamie Babbit, 1999’s “But I’m A Cheerleader” is a satirical queer comedy. The story revolves around a high school cheerleader (Megan) who is questioning her sexuality. Unfortunately, she lives in a religious household and her community is very old fashioned to say the least. Believing she is a lesbian, her parents and friends stage an intervention and have her sent to a 2 month conversion therapy camp called True Directions. While there, she must endure a 5-step program, but it doesn’t work and she ends up falling in love with a fellow camper (Graham). 

Since its release, “But I’m A Cheerleader” has gone on to become a cult classic. The mixture of absurd campy humor, the use of color, the sweet love story, and the John Waters esque vibe made the film stand out from the crowd. More than that, it was an ahead of its time indie queer film broaching topics that were not frequently explored in cinema at the time. Some critics have criticized ‘Cheerleader’ for stereotypes and a lighthearted tone (considering the subject material about gay conversion therapy), but this isn’t “Boy Erased.” This is a satirical comedy and a love story that comes from a personal place from director Jamie Babbit. Could the middle act have used a bit more story? Perhaps, but ‘Cheerleader’ is still effective in getting its points across.

It’s wild to see just how many stars in this movie. Michelle Williams, Melanie Lynskey, and Julie Delpy have small roles, veteran actors Richard Moll, Mink Stole, Bud Cort, and Cathy Moriarty have sizable parts, and Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, RuPaul, and Dante Basco all have significant roles. This is very much Lyonne and DuVall’s movie as their characters are the heart of the story. Really though, every character has their place. There’s not a wasted part here.

Note: This 4K disc contains the Director’s Cut version.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 2160p. How does it look? The picture is a tad bit blotchy, but there’s no denying the colors really pop on this new 4K disc.

Audio Track: Dolby TrueHD 5.1. How does it sound? The audio is a little low in spots for my liking, but this is still a solid track.

Extras:
* Digital copy
* Commentary by director Jamie Babbit, costume designer Alix Friedberg and production designer Rachel Kamerman.
* Theatrical trailer
* “Beyond The Pink And Blue: A Conversation With Jamie Babbit”- A brand new near 12 minute interview with the director mixed with behind-the-scenes footage.
* “But I’m A Cheerleader Class Reunion”- An online cast and crew roundtable discussion.
* “Making But I’m A Cheerleader…In 1999” featurette
* “But I’m A Composer…A Chat With Pat Irwin” interview
* Jamie Babbit’s student film “Discharge.”

November 4, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | 90's Movie, But I'm A Cheerleader 4K UHD Review, Cult Movie, Natasha Lyonne, Queer Cinema, RuPaul