But I'm a Cheerleader

The film manages to take these dark feelings of shame and confusion, of family rejection and religious persecution and betrayal, and make it funny and cool and even a little romantic.

But I'm a Cheerleader is a smug little comedy that tries to mock other people's self-righteousness while ignoring its own.

I would have preferred to know more in documentary terms about the actual reality of these terrible camps, rather than sit through this heavy-handed and oddly lenient comedy.

First-time feature director Jamie Babbit's pink-drenched comedy is amusing and good-natured, but necessarily thin.

Lyonne blends hyperbole and sincerity in perfect proportions.

But I'm a Cheerleader fizzles out of fresh ideas early on.

1999’s 'But I’m a Cheerleader' had all the potential to be a devastating drama. With just a little tweaking here and there, the film’s campy, satirical edge could have been blunted into something more dire and harder to watch.

The film is infused with high-octane energy, larger-than-life humor and a cheeky John Waters aesthetic.

This new release has been given a great Blu-ray transfer, but this 90's teen comedy remains a vanilla pantomime.

Not everything comes off, but its sheer inventiveness and vibrancy is hard not to like.