July 21.2Q0Û»
19th A n n u a l
Recovering lesbians learn to be real women in Cheerleader
M t . H o o d <^? a z z
F estival
p r e s e n t e d by
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P etroleum
C o r p o r a tio n
A U G 6-6 2 0 0 0
Mt. H o o d C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e • G r e s h a m , O r e g o n
PHOTO BY MARK UPSON
FEATURING
Ja m ie B abbit s d irecto rial debut, B u t
fin d s silliness in a seriou s situ atio n
by
F
O r ia n a G r e e n
eature films with a lesbian focus are as rare
as Dr. Laura at a PFLAG rally, and direc
tors who declare themselves lesbians from
H the get-go make up a very short list. So,
hey, I’m going to cut director Jamie Babbit
some slack for her first feature effort.
Tackling the sensitive subject of the ex-gay
movement is a bold move for a first-timer, and
she lampoons it with gusto. But I’m a Cheer
leader is a thoroughly queer film, and in many
ways Babbit is preaching to the choir on this
topic, which leads me to wonder who her tar
get audience is. In fact, it seems like it might
be more appealing to a straight audience, espe
cially one unafraid to laugh in the dark at silly
stereotypes of queer behavior.
Some applause is due Babbit for making a
lesbian love story from a femme perspective,
unlike most recent dyke films, which have
focused on the travails of baby hutches. Her
heroine, Megan, played with a real vulnerabili
ty by Natasha Lyonne, is a girly-girl high
school cheerleader, even if she does hang a pic
ture of a buff babe on the inside of her locker.
Which is one of the flimsy reasons her friends
and family decide to ship her off for reprogram
ming at True Directions.
Babbit visually contrasts Megan’s real subur
ban world, which is portrayed in a fairly realis
tic manner, with the surreal world of rehab,
where she and others are held captive in a
relentlessly pink-and-blue Disneyesque hetero
theme park. A campy camp for homos who are
fruitlessly attempting to turn straight, True
Directions is helmed by Cathy Moriarty and
RuPaul Charles (with no wig in sight), who
both turn in solid performances.
One of my problems with the film is trying
to laugh at the spoof of something so heinous
that still exists. (Rather like watching Hogan’s
Heroes in 1943, had absurd television programs
beamed into living rooms at that time.) Sadly,
young gay men and lesbians are being hauled
off to these POW camps by misguided parents.
In fact, reading about one of these places near
San Francisco is what inspired Babbit to write
this story.
True Directions is kxssely based on 12-step
substance abuse programs, something Babbit
knows all about, since her mother ran one
while she was growing up.
The film surely has some funny moments,
even if they often perpetuate stereotypes. The
gay boys at the camp are predictably terrible at
the macho activities they’re required to try and
couldn’t lob a pass accurately to .save their
sweet souls— but they do look cute in their see-
through blue mesh shirts. The tomboy types
struggle with classes on makeup and dusting
and look suitably uncomfortable in their cot
ton-candy-colored outfits. The funniest bits
arise from some titillating fetish references in
the costuming.
I wish the screenwriter had tried for more
insightful humor, but the absurd quality of the
activities inside True Directions is consonant
with the overall inanity of the concept in the
first place. Even handyman Rock, the son of
the camp’s leader, portrayed by hunky Eddie
Cibrian, has clearly failed the program and
teases male campers with his flexed muscles
and the long reach of his tools.
The budding relationship between Megan
and one of her fellow inmates has its sweet
moments but is, by its subversive nature, con
ducted in the margins of their lives and thus
lacks real emotional power. Played with some
grit by Clea Duvall, Graham counters Megan’s
assertion that cheerleading makes people feel
good with this reality check: “Cheers make
girls do stupid cartwheels—orgasms make peo
ple feel good.”
Since Megan appears to be a virgin, “sis
boom bah” is as close as she gets to a big O.
Nevertheless, the actresses, who are pals off
screen, were pleased with their brief lovemak
ing scenes. As Lyonne told PopcomQ Movie
News: “It was a little awkward for me and Clea,
because we’re friends. Even though I did want
to jump her hones.”
The cast is very strong, to the point of wast
ing some talented actors in minuscule roles—
Melanie Lynskey (who costarred with Kate
Winslet in Heavenly Creatures ) plays one of the
forlorn campmates, as does famous French
actress Julie Delpy. John Waters fave Mink
Stole and Bud Cort are standouts as Megan’s
well-meaning parents.
All in all, it’s a worthy first film and in
some ways feels polished compared to the usual
no-budget indie flicks. Gay men who pre
viewed the film seemed to enjoy it more than
the lesbians did.
Very few quality queer films even get made,
so if we hope to eventually have great ones, we
need to support young filmmakers with our dol
lars, which is the only thing that will keep
Hollywood open to telling our stories. There’s
plenty of eye candy for both men and women,
so open up your wallets and enjoy.
Patricia Barber • Seacock's All-Stars • Terence Blanchard • Michael Brecker
Regina C arter • Rosemary Clooney • Duke Ellington Orchestra
under the direction of Paul Mercer Ellington • Stefon Harris
Jazz Tim es 30th Anniversary Super Band featuring Randy Brecker,
Bob Berg & Joey DeFrancisco • Kevin Mahogany • Jenna Mammina
Carlton Jackson/Dave Mills Big Band with guest vocalist Linda Hombuckle
John Pizzarelli • Tower of Power • Dave Stryker • McCoy Tyner
TheYellowjackets • Denny Zeitlin & David Friesen
plus the KINK fm 102 Friday Night EUues with Clarence “Gatem outh” Brown Big Band
James Cotton • Shemekia Copeland • Lloyd Jones
Clarence
‘Gatemouth'
Paul Mercer Ellington
Tovyü1 of Power
Chucho ■Awe?
lames Cotton
Stefon Harris
a
C h eer lea d er
KOIN Cinemas.
opens July 21 at
izzarelli
ALL SEATS NOW AVAILABLE
C ho o se from the eco no m ical 3-Day G en e ral A dm ission Pass to
Single-Day Reserved and G en e ral A dm ission tickets. T ick e ts are
available at all F A S T I X X locations, plus B o rd ers Books & Music stores
(G en eral A dm ission only), on the web at w w w .m th o o d jazz.co m ,
o r by calling (503) 224-8499 or (800) 992-8499.
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