I was so proud when the director explained that she wanted to tell a story of the feminine lesbian saving the butch lesbian after having seen so many queer stories do the opposite.
@@EamonWillTHIS!!! when i first saw this movie and i got to that scene it made me SO happy to see them address the stereotype of all masculine women being lesbians
I really like the fact that they made a comedy about conversion therapy because it highlighted how truly ridiculous the concept of converting someone from gay to straight is during a time when it was more of a common practice in the country. Yeah it is a serious situation, but it’s not the gay people who are the true butt of the joke. It’s the homophobes who think they can change people’s sexuality. This is similar to how The Addams Family and The Simpsons parodied the glorified traditionalist notion of the nuclear family.
@@BettyAlexandriaPride I’ll give you a hint, the phrase you’re referring to is in some way related to the place where homer has worked since The Simpsons’ first official episode premiered in 1989
The fact that Natasha Lyonne is straight shocks me to this day. It's honestly wild. She's played such iconic queer roles. We Sapphics bestowed her the title of "honorary gay".
It is one of my greatest joys in life that the voice of Zuko from Avatar The Last Airbender was in one of the most iconic queer movies in cinema history. Dante is a gift.
y’all making the connection of the separation of colors vs combined colors in the set design made me realize the plasticky costumes at the end are probably just reiterating the artificial nature of what’s happening.
Y'all just breezed past the scene that got them an NC-17 rating originally. It's literally the bit where she's leaning against the wall and touching herself over her clothes, that's it. They were able to negotiate to an R rating but the director was upset, she'd wanted to get the movie to teens who'd need this movie the most. The story is featured in a documentary about how homophobic and corrupt the MPAA is called "This Film Is Not Yet Rated." I've seen far more graphic stuff in PG-13 movies featuring men or boys in similar situations, but because the scene is of a girl it was Too Scandalous for the MPAA.
@@PinkPopcast yup! Can't be showing women experiencing pleasure, it's "obscene." They talk about that a lot in the documentary, focusing on a woman's face is "too explicit." Scenes of women being assaulted, that can get you a PG-13, but not a woman having fun on her own!
Ugh that’s so despicable. That’s like how every scene that show a woman is receiving oral sex will earn a film an NC-17 rating as well, whereas men can receive oral in a film and it will barely register. Even r*pe scenes will only earn a film an R! Women’s pleasure though? That’s apparently a problem. It’s so misogynistic.
It's purity bullshit. I can almost guarantee. People would rather a woman be assaulted, than having consentual sex, because then that means she wants it and therefore "taints" her purity more. If she were assaulted then she gets to at least maintain her spiritual "purity", but if she actually consents to it and actually has a good time, then that means she's spiritually "dirty" and that's "bad". It's sick how people would rather watch a woman being assaulted than a woman choosing to have sex or enact in sexual activity. But that's our culture, there ya go. And of course it's only for women. People would rather watch a man consensually having sex, than a man being assaulted. But that's just because if a man's assaulted then he looks "weak", and "gay" or whatever. If it's consensual then that's alright because that's just a part of being a man.
My 10 year old asked me casually (so I knew she meant business) if it’s ok to be gay or trans (we live in Florida) - I told her that it’s perfectly normal and if anyone tells her otherwise to know they’re a liar. My heart hurt when I heard her let out a huge sigh of relief.
@@onethatdoesart5650 It's not a luxury when it becomes life or death, or losing your child. Which is what it's coming down to. Obviously the ideal is doing so as safely and securely as possible, saving up cent by cent until moving is as smooth a process as it can be. But if anyone or their family are at risk, they should have a plan and be ready to bolt in case shit hits the fan, while they're still able to. It's not a matter of just hating the place you are or not being happy after all. The far right controlling states like Florida and Texas have made very clear what their end goal is and that they're willing to abuse their power to get there.
Fun fact: Melanie Lynskey is actually doing an Australian accent in this movie and has never used her actual accent. So you were right to think she was Australian at first
She uses her real accent in Heavenly Creatures, but it's the 1950s version so it's a little more british-sounding. But yeah she's known for being able to do a broad range of accents and she almost exclusively works in the USA, so not many kiwi roles.
I remember I first watched this before I came out as pan, and was like “but it’s normal to look at girls that way” and then a few years later I was like “OMG”😂
That is so funny bc thats the exact same experience i had, and im also pan. Thats so cool and funny to see someone else has experienced something like this too.
Being a teenager who was unsure of their sexuality when my group of friends found this movie was not the best. My name is Megan and trying to tell them I was NOT a ledbian ended up with them just quoting this movie at me lol
20:22 changed my life. Everyone thought I was a lesbian and I played the part because “well, I’m masculine so I must like girls”. Had a girlfriend and watched as much lesbian stuff as I could. I slowly realised I wasn’t lesbian, wasn’t into women at all, and I wasn’t a girl either. I wanted to be a man and like men. Weird story but true. I’ve been on T for 4 years and have a husband.
As a Gay man in his early 30ms, who has religious trauma this movie was very liberating for me when I was coming to terms with what I was, and remains very close to my heart.
hang in there just do whatever you can to get into a safe situation when you are old enough to leave. when things get hard just picture what you want your life to be like someday and remember that is what your goal that is what you are struggling towards. You can do it!
@@palomadorrego3266 But please don’T be fooled by groomers who want to take you in. There is unfortunalty some stories of this happening. Hope you figure it out honey (-3-)
I rented this movie by accident one day. It was during my Bring It On stage and saw it was a cheerleading based movie and thought I'd try it. I thought it was weird they asked for my I.D but didn't think much of it really. Went home my parents were gonna be gone most the night so I watched it and when I realized what it was about I wash so embarrassed lol. This movie was my coming to terms with my sexuality though. I had the idea before that I was bisexual but didnt think to much about it tried to ignore it. Nope cause the two girls kissing scene really nailed it in there lol.
this film was one of my first experiences of a fun gay movie with a happy ending. so it'll always have a special place in my heart. and also natasha lyonne is wifey so there's that lol! i'm so glad yall enjoyed it
I fucking hate that all our movies are filled with horrible shit and no happy endings!! They’re all made by straight people who just want to write gay trauma porn, so irritating
I'm cis and straight, and I grew up obsessing over LGBTQ+ cinema. This has been one of my favorites since it came out, and I still watch the ending cheer whenever I need a good happy cry. It's incredibly beautiful and that song Glass Vase Cello Case by Tattle Tale is so romantic.
I love but I’m a cheerleader! My favorite part is when they are doing the “military-esqe” training the the way they walk around so femme gets me every time!
i love this film so much, it really cemented Clea Devall as an Icon to me. She wasn't out yet, but she was part of the community in her own way. in a way setting her struggles as Graham, just gives it a more layered performance, knowing how closeted she was. And she admitted how it was whilst filming. Also seeing RuPaul as a conversion counsellor, there was something so unsettling and surreal about this, that just made it work.
I loved this because of the p!ss taking on small minded people and conversions therapy. And unless you see the trailer, you dont realize its a lgbtqia+ movie.
@@Gloria2001-k8vI respectfully have to disagree with you. The comedy was on point, the acting was great, and the plot was well done. It perfectly executed the “not your average teenage high school movie” trope w/o the cringe.
I am contractually obligated to mention that Dolph is played by Dante Basco who voices Zuko in The Last Airbender and when I saw the clip of him saying "Dolph, homosexual vasity wrestler" I pissed myself laughing.
I fomd it kinda funny how the first step is admitting you're a homosexual, like tgey are essentially helping these ppl to realise who they actually are
First step is admitting you're not straight, second step is coming to terms with your gender identity. With the right people in charge, this could be a freaking sanctuary for queer teens.
This is actually a very underrated movie. If you want a story about conversion therapy that’s not as tragic as Boy Erased, this is a good other option.
‘But I’m a Cheerleader’, ‘Saved,’ and ‘Juno’ were really influential in my teenage years. I don’t know if I actively thought about their messages or just naturally took in the themes through osmosis, but I am glad they were there to shape me.
This movie made me the gay I am today and I mean that in the best way possible, it came out (pun very much intended) in a time when being queer really wasn't all that accepted and conversion camps were sometimes the first resort to "fix" people, it not only showed the kids' defiance and 'I am who I am' attitude but also shown a light on how obscure and harmful conversion camps were by making the camp feel fake and almost doll-like to point out the absurdity of it all. I love the way the set was designed, cast, and how they shot everything, the entire movie is so surreal and it's actually one of the first movies that made me realize I want to be part of the movie making process someday. Also I put 65% of the blame on Graham for making me pan
same! (about natasha lyon though lol) I actually met the actress that plays Graham clea duvall she is really nice it was back in 2008 in silver lake at a show the band was queer i also met the actress who played shane from the L word that night (the most embarrassing moment i shook her hand and said "i really love your work" and walked away it still haunts me sometimes right when i am about to fall asleep)
"It's really easy to be a prude when you're not attracted to him" hit so hard. I was such a "good girl" growing up and then "demure" later but it was basically just a warped interpretation of my asexuality. The funny thing is, my mom was very realistic about teenagers having sex AND I was already a very outspoken feminist, including condemning the toxicity of purity culture and double/unrealistic standards for women's sexuality. Meanwhile, most of my friends were very much into purity culture but rounding the bases with their boyfriends on the basement couch while their Christian parents sat upstairs. I still get a tragic chuckle from the fact that I, the sex-repulsed ace, was the only teenager in my friend group to get the HPV vaccine.
So accurate lol. I grew up Christian and never understood why everyone else had such a hard time waiting for marriage. Just don't have sex, it's so easy! Turns out most other teen girls aren't grey-ace lesbians 😂
My parents divorced after I came out and my father tried to convince my mother to send my to a conversation camp he apologized last year we still don't talk tho ❤
I just love how fun and non-toxic you two are. Your reviews make me so happy because you seem to just enjoy working together and riffing off each other so much. I'm really glad i found your channel.
I was sent to conversion therapy when i was 14 by foster parents. I'm not even gay. It wasn't fun like this and we weren't able to get to know the other kids without a "mentor" nearby. They would hose us in freezing weather and make us kneel on grits or rice and pray. One girl turned 18 and still wasn't allowed to leave. It was shut down eventually but it was a rough 5 months and i was so glad to get back to my meth head parents. 😂
Not me gasping at "is she Australian" then sighing in relief when you googled and corrected haha. Love that you guys watched this, such an iconic movie. Melanie and Natasha recently did one of those actors on actors chats about this movie (and other things they've done) totally recommend looking it up and giving it a watch on UA-cam.
I gotta join in the huge number of sapphics here saying how influential this movie was for me lol!! The "I thought everybody had those thoughts" I feel like was my number one eye opener at sixteen for like, "Wait....other girls don't all think about each other like this?"
Holy shit - I watched this when I was younger and didn’t realize Rufio was in it! I recognized his voice because he also played Zuko in the Last Airbender
As someone who grew up in a dirt poor, conservitive town in Northern Connecticut it's fair to say this movie compleatly changed my life when I first saw it in 1999.
now that it's streaming, i think a "theater camp" reaction would be hilarious!! it's super funny and pretty heartwarming, the cast is great and the kids are CRAZY talented!!!!
FTR the "when you get back from Switzerland" is probably meant to imply Graham's parents told everyone she was on a trip to switzerland rather than conversion camp, so no one would know she was ever gay.
Honestly, I remember watching this movie as a child. I’d borrow movies from this family friend to watch every time I’d make good grades in school lol what I love so much now as an adult is knowing that I watched this movie and felt the love and connection without any programming from society at the age of 7. Like, that’s cool to know that love exceeds male/female bodies. It’s energy ❤
It's ironic because our homophobic parents introduced my little sisters and I to this movie as kids (thinking the cutesy image = cutesy movie) and my sisters and I fell in love with it (my littlest sister being Bi and I Asexual) and we still love this movie to this day because the camp really reminded us of the John Water's movies we watched growing up, as well; Natasha Lyonne's character's mother is even played by Mink Stole who is a primary actress used by John in his films. Honestly, despite the theme, the characters are great and I love the campiness; we need movies mocking stuff in a similar way like this because these movies just stay classic forever and never seem to offend people cause those easily offended are too dumb to get it's making fun of them.
My coming to terms that im a lesbian was not long after stumbling onto this movie, felt really validating to see someone who shared the same romantic feelings I do, when i came out I lost all my friends (crazy they where theater kids thought they would understand)
When I was in high school (2005-2009) the theater kids were actually very hit or miss in terms of being progressive. Several of the guys were libertarian, anti-feminist weirdos and more than a few of the girls were uptight, conservative Christians. It was odd.
@Aster_Risk well I just graduated this year, they pretend to now until your actually fully into the same gender, Bisexuals are OK to them since their seen as spicy straight
i love that this movie gave us the friendship of natasha lyonne and clean duvall, every few years they'll come up with a way to act together, again, i just love it. although the most recent one, they played sisters, and i was like no this is wrong, you must be lovers lmao
Fun fact: Natasha Lyonne got involved with the movie due to her friendship with Clea Duvall. She noticed the script in Duvall's car one day was like "I wanna do this!"
The reason why they were all wearing plastic was because once they graduate they are "straight" which isn't true so the plastic is supposed to represent the fakeness of it.
Natasha Lyonne's character's father is played by Bud Cort who was in Harold and Maude. I remember watching the film in high school and half the room thought no way would he sleep with an 80 year old and the other half arguing, "well, what else does lovers mean???" when reading the back of the dvd
this was the first gay movie i watched as a youngin, and i can't help but see it through rose-colored glasses because it helped me to realize i liked girls
When I watched it I was sure that they were trans! like when they had the realisation about being straight I got so excited cause I thought they would be like "I'm a straight man!" but no. Although, I do like that their character went against stereotypes. You can be a masc girl without being queer.
I was in high school when this movie came out, never saw any trailers for it (wasn’t allowed to watch broadcast TV...ever, just VHS tapes my parents approved), so I had no idea what it was about. I do remember seeing the cassette box in the video rental store and thinking “ew, another cheerleader/yay team spirit/Bring It On clone”. ....welp, this video was quite a surprise.
13:30 I also recognized him from Remember the Titans. I was about to say that at 12:12 but you guys beat me to the punch. Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine!
OH MY GOD EXTREME DAYS I had entirely forgotten that movie but I watched it SO MUCH as a teenager. holy cow unlocking core closet-days memories with The Pink Popcast???
This movie is FUCKIN PHENOMENAL! I AM SO GLD YOU INTRODUCED IT TO ME I WAS LIKE TWO MINUTES IN AND THAN WATCHED IT MY SELF SO THANK YOU! ITS LITERALLY MY NEW FAVORITE!
I was rased Mormon and had some conversion therapy, although it was not at a camp like that. Once a week I would be in an office with two other teens working on being more feminine. We talked about "Heavenly Father's plan" and how we had to choose to fight sin. None of that works! The first time I saw this movie, I just cried. I had to take breaks. Now, I smile abd proudly admit I am a pansexual, nonbinary person into Polyamory. Happy Pride Everyone!
22:46 This song right here has been a fixation of mine since I first watched this movie in 2022, the song isn’t on Spotify and it just hurts so baddddd. I love this song so much it’s so beautiful😭
I would recommend the film Pride. It's a true story about a group of queer people who are raising money for a mining town in Wales and it's really sweet
This movie has been my favorites for yearssss. Clea Duvall made me realize a lot of things...She's just so cuteee. Rizzo is right the set design is so cool and dreamlike it makes it less scary. I will say this movie gets me crying from 50 different emotions throughout the 1 hour and 24 minutes
I'm so happy you guys watched this movie literally one of my favorite movies and a very underrated queer classic also Benji's right the son of the conversion lady was one of my Awakenings 🤡💅🏾
When I watched the film, I was actually delighted by how dark some parts of the film are. I really expected a lighthearted comedy, but there were some moments that were almost veering goth, where Megan is literally covered in shadow in some dimmer lit rooms and the horrified expressions on her face by the abuse she’s being exposed to
I'm a huge Melanie Lynskey fan. I recommend Peter Jackson's early film "Heavenly Creatures" starring a very young Lynskey and Kate Winslet. Great movie.
I always forget that Dante Basco is in this movie, because I only really know him as a voice actor from American dragon and Zuko from Avatar the last Airbender. I only ever remember when he’s thanking Megan
I haven't seen this movie in ages, but I think I first saw it at the age of maybe eleven. Being young and straight, this was actually the first queer movie I ever saw, my first introduction to queer media, and the first time I became aware of what conversion therapy is. I actually fully believed that it was part of this ridiculous fictional world, because that's where that kind of thinking and practice belongs. I was stunned and horrified to learn that this was something that not only ever existed, but that it was something people STILL DID (and do). So while I know that this movie could never mean as much to me as it would to a young gay person actually in that kind of situation, this movie still means a lot to me. I credit it with informing the younger me about the topic, and believe it shaped me into a better, more empathetic person overall. And this video was a fun watch, so I had to subscribe for more :) Cheers!
23:56 Rock jamming out to a RuPaul song lmaooooo. Loved this movie when I was in high school. Just really highlights the stupidity of talking about causes and cures of being queer. Also, partially agree with you guys now about that ending. In hindsight it feels very abrupt, but I think at the time it was made, it would have been kind of unrealistic to trail into a happy ending beyond that immediate moment. I think for the people in conversion camps or just very oppressive environments, just because you get out of that and accept yourself, doesn't mean the outside world will. The "slice of life" or "moment in time" style of a character's life works for the period the movie came out.
I was so proud when the director explained that she wanted to tell a story of the feminine lesbian saving the butch lesbian after having seen so many queer stories do the opposite.
And the most masculine AFAB wasn't even a lesbian. I love how she managed to disrupt so many stereotypes at once.
@@EamonWillI felt so awful for her tbh she didn’t deserve being stereotyped
OMG YESSS
@@EamonWillTHIS!!! when i first saw this movie and i got to that scene it made me SO happy to see them address the stereotype of all masculine women being lesbians
I really like the fact that they made a comedy about conversion therapy because it highlighted how truly ridiculous the concept of converting someone from gay to straight is during a time when it was more of a common practice in the country. Yeah it is a serious situation, but it’s not the gay people who are the true butt of the joke. It’s the homophobes who think they can change people’s sexuality. This is similar to how The Addams Family and The Simpsons parodied the glorified traditionalist notion of the nuclear family.
The Simpsons aren’t just a nuclear family, they’re a nuclear power family
@@AcidlibWhat do you mean by power?
@@BettyAlexandriaPride I’ll give you a hint, the phrase you’re referring to is in some way related to the place where homer has worked since The Simpsons’ first official episode premiered in 1989
@@Acidlib Oh, I should've seen that one coming. 🤦🏾♀️
@@BettyAlexandriaPride totally understandable, happens to the best of us lol,
The fact that Natasha Lyonne is straight shocks me to this day. It's honestly wild. She's played such iconic queer roles. We Sapphics bestowed her the title of "honorary gay".
She’s straight!?!? I could have SWORN she’d said she was queer! At least I have a chance with her now 😂😂😂 - Rizzo
Say it ain't so 😂
@@Bliss-l1tp
actually, shes pretty unlabeled. she recently said this last pride month that shes not quite gay or straight, but a "secret third thing"
@@violetmaritime what’s behind door number three!?!?
It is one of my greatest joys in life that the voice of Zuko from Avatar The Last Airbender was in one of the most iconic queer movies in cinema history. Dante is a gift.
Wait who?
@@nexrosi9189Dante Basco plays Dolph, the guy who gets kicked out of the conversion camp after he's caught making out with another guy
RUFIO!! 😍
it’s so funny to me
That was my first reaction! I heard his voice and immediately went 'Zuko?!' but I'm glad I discovered this movie
“My mother got married in pants.” Like, I can’t with this movie. Lol
Right!?
Also 'I was born in France.'
Y'all sleeping on "i liked balls"
so did mine... 🐸
y’all making the connection of the separation of colors vs combined colors in the set design made me realize the plasticky costumes at the end are probably just reiterating the artificial nature of what’s happening.
So true! I was trying to make a connection there
Y'all just breezed past the scene that got them an NC-17 rating originally. It's literally the bit where she's leaning against the wall and touching herself over her clothes, that's it. They were able to negotiate to an R rating but the director was upset, she'd wanted to get the movie to teens who'd need this movie the most. The story is featured in a documentary about how homophobic and corrupt the MPAA is called "This Film Is Not Yet Rated." I've seen far more graphic stuff in PG-13 movies featuring men or boys in similar situations, but because the scene is of a girl it was Too Scandalous for the MPAA.
THAT is the scene that got them NC-17!?!? THAT!? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING!?!? That scene is so tame we barely registered it OMG
@@PinkPopcast yup! Can't be showing women experiencing pleasure, it's "obscene." They talk about that a lot in the documentary, focusing on a woman's face is "too explicit." Scenes of women being assaulted, that can get you a PG-13, but not a woman having fun on her own!
Ugh that’s so despicable. That’s like how every scene that show a woman is receiving oral sex will earn a film an NC-17 rating as well, whereas men can receive oral in a film and it will barely register. Even r*pe scenes will only earn a film an R! Women’s pleasure though? That’s apparently a problem. It’s so misogynistic.
@@sarahd.5244 that’s so fucked up
It's purity bullshit. I can almost guarantee. People would rather a woman be assaulted, than having consentual sex, because then that means she wants it and therefore "taints" her purity more. If she were assaulted then she gets to at least maintain her spiritual "purity", but if she actually consents to it and actually has a good time, then that means she's spiritually "dirty" and that's "bad". It's sick how people would rather watch a woman being assaulted than a woman choosing to have sex or enact in sexual activity. But that's our culture, there ya go. And of course it's only for women. People would rather watch a man consensually having sex, than a man being assaulted. But that's just because if a man's assaulted then he looks "weak", and "gay" or whatever. If it's consensual then that's alright because that's just a part of being a man.
My 10 year old asked me casually (so I knew she meant business) if it’s ok to be gay or trans (we live in Florida) - I told her that it’s perfectly normal and if anyone tells her otherwise to know they’re a liar. My heart hurt when I heard her let out a huge sigh of relief.
When kids ask those nonchalant questions, your know, it is really serious! You handled that great!
MOVE OUT OF FLORIDA!!!
@@wingtubMOVING IS A LUXURY MOST PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD 😢 AS A TEXAN THAT HATES TEXAS I CAN CONFIRM 😅
@@onethatdoesart5650 It's not a luxury when it becomes life or death, or losing your child. Which is what it's coming down to. Obviously the ideal is doing so as safely and securely as possible, saving up cent by cent until moving is as smooth a process as it can be. But if anyone or their family are at risk, they should have a plan and be ready to bolt in case shit hits the fan, while they're still able to.
It's not a matter of just hating the place you are or not being happy after all. The far right controlling states like Florida and Texas have made very clear what their end goal is and that they're willing to abuse their power to get there.
@@wingtub ANIHILATE FLORIDA!!!
Fun fact: Melanie Lynskey is actually doing an Australian accent in this movie and has never used her actual accent. So you were right to think she was Australian at first
That’s so wild!
She uses her real accent in Heavenly Creatures, but it's the 1950s version so it's a little more british-sounding. But yeah she's known for being able to do a broad range of accents and she almost exclusively works in the USA, so not many kiwi roles.
shes so talented i am so in love w her
@@mercuresis She's all kinds of Nifty.
wow really? it sounds very new zealand lol
I remember I first watched this before I came out as pan, and was like “but it’s normal to look at girls that way” and then a few years later I was like “OMG”😂
😂😂😂 amazing
Lol, are you me!? 😂
That is so funny bc thats the exact same experience i had, and im also pan. Thats so cool and funny to see someone else has experienced something like this too.
@@PatheticManEnjoyerI love that someone gets it 😂😂
Ur so pretty btw!!!
Being a teenager who was unsure of their sexuality when my group of friends found this movie was not the best. My name is Megan and trying to tell them I was NOT a ledbian ended up with them just quoting this movie at me lol
Oh nooo 😅
20:22 changed my life. Everyone thought I was a lesbian and I played the part because “well, I’m masculine so I must like girls”. Had a girlfriend and watched as much lesbian stuff as I could. I slowly realised I wasn’t lesbian, wasn’t into women at all, and I wasn’t a girl either. I wanted to be a man and like men. Weird story but true. I’ve been on T for 4 years and have a husband.
I'm so proud of you! I know a couple gay trans men with similar stories
@@Indomita506Not at all. This is queer asf ^^
@@Indomita506OP is a man tho and married to a man
@@Indomita506 Not at all.
WOAH I jumped there and I can't believe I jumped there. That was so deep.
RuPaul as a str8 camp counselor was absolutely GENIUS 🤣💙🚹
😂😂
As a Gay man in his early 30ms, who has religious trauma this movie was very liberating for me when I was coming to terms with what I was, and remains very close to my heart.
❤️❤️🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
as a survivor of conversion therapy, this film is actually my favorite queer film! it handles the topic in such a great way
Thats so horrible babe 😭 I dont know you but im so happy you're still here 💜💜
💜💜💜
As a bisexual girl with homophobic parents and preference for girls, this movie is meaningful to me
hang in there just do whatever you can to get into a safe situation when you are old enough to leave. when things get hard just picture what you want your life to be like someday and remember that is what your goal that is what you are struggling towards. You can do it!
@@anitacrumbly Thanks :)
@@palomadorrego3266 But please don’T be fooled by groomers who want to take you in. There is unfortunalty some stories of this happening. Hope you figure it out honey (-3-)
I rented this movie by accident one day. It was during my Bring It On stage and saw it was a cheerleading based movie and thought I'd try it. I thought it was weird they asked for my I.D but didn't think much of it really. Went home my parents were gonna be gone most the night so I watched it and when I realized what it was about I wash so embarrassed lol. This movie was my coming to terms with my sexuality though. I had the idea before that I was bisexual but didnt think to much about it tried to ignore it. Nope cause the two girls kissing scene really nailed it in there lol.
That’s such a funny story!
this film was one of my first experiences of a fun gay movie with a happy ending. so it'll always have a special place in my heart. and also natasha lyonne is wifey so there's that lol! i'm so glad yall enjoyed it
🥰🥰🥰
I fucking hate that all our movies are filled with horrible shit and no happy endings!! They’re all made by straight people who just want to write gay trauma porn, so irritating
I'm cis and straight, and I grew up obsessing over LGBTQ+ cinema. This has been one of my favorites since it came out, and I still watch the ending cheer whenever I need a good happy cry. It's incredibly beautiful and that song Glass Vase Cello Case by Tattle Tale is so romantic.
The amount of times I rented this from Blockbuster, and it raised zero flags for my mom because of the title 😂
😂😂 mission accomplished haha
@@PinkPopcast have to shoot my shot: what about a commentary of The Faculty? It's not queer, but also it just kind of is.
I love but I’m a cheerleader! My favorite part is when they are doing the “military-esqe” training the the way they walk around so femme gets me every time!
😂😂
And the cardbox cutouts 😂😂had to watch the movie the second time to catch that second meaning
i love this film so much, it really cemented Clea Devall as an Icon to me. She wasn't out yet, but she was part of the community in her own way. in a way setting her struggles as Graham, just gives it a more layered performance, knowing how closeted she was. And she admitted how it was whilst filming. Also seeing RuPaul as a conversion counsellor, there was something so unsettling and surreal about this, that just made it work.
Yeah, there was really so much more to this than meets the eye
RuPaul playing the counselor in the Brady Bunch movies is very funny too.
I loved this because of the p!ss taking on small minded people and conversions therapy. And unless you see the trailer, you dont realize its a lgbtqia+ movie.
Benji sure didn’t lol
Yea the cover and title don’t give a lot away lol
Well, if having RuPaul playing that couch doesn't give you a hint... 🤦
omg we need you two watching "bottoms" next time please 👀
Yes please!!!!!!!
YES i think they would love the absolute absurdity and gay shenanigans in that one too
Bottoms really isn't that good
Lol I initially read this as: “we need you two bottoms watching next time please” and I was like: wait what? Hahaha
@@Gloria2001-k8vI respectfully have to disagree with you. The comedy was on point, the acting was great, and the plot was well done. It perfectly executed the “not your average teenage high school movie” trope w/o the cringe.
I am contractually obligated to mention that Dolph is played by Dante Basco who voices Zuko in The Last Airbender and when I saw the clip of him saying "Dolph, homosexual vasity wrestler" I pissed myself laughing.
Baby that’s rufio!
I fomd it kinda funny how the first step is admitting you're a homosexual, like tgey are essentially helping these ppl to realise who they actually are
Right!?
First step is admitting you're not straight, second step is coming to terms with your gender identity. With the right people in charge, this could be a freaking sanctuary for queer teens.
my favorite gay movie! watched this at 14 and finally realized that not everyone is grossed out by their boyfriend kissing them lol
This is actually a very underrated movie. If you want a story about conversion therapy that’s not as tragic as Boy Erased, this is a good other option.
Holy crap I did NOT expect Zuko’s va to be in this???? I had to rewind and then pause to think lmaoo 8:42
Natasha Lyonne the Fun Aunt of the Entertainment World. She’s so cool and awesome!
Agreed!! ❤️
‘But I’m a Cheerleader’, ‘Saved,’ and ‘Juno’ were really influential in my teenage years. I don’t know if I actively thought about their messages or just naturally took in the themes through osmosis, but I am glad they were there to shape me.
Saved is one of my all time favorite movies
I saw this at the age of 9 because I always wanted to be a cheerleader but that obviously wasnt where the movie went but i still liked it😄
Haha I feel like the title threw a lot of us off 😂
This movie made me the gay I am today and I mean that in the best way possible, it came out (pun very much intended) in a time when being queer really wasn't all that accepted and conversion camps were sometimes the first resort to "fix" people, it not only showed the kids' defiance and 'I am who I am' attitude but also shown a light on how obscure and harmful conversion camps were by making the camp feel fake and almost doll-like to point out the absurdity of it all. I love the way the set was designed, cast, and how they shot everything, the entire movie is so surreal and it's actually one of the first movies that made me realize I want to be part of the movie making process someday. Also I put 65% of the blame on Graham for making me pan
same! (about natasha lyon though lol) I actually met the actress that plays Graham clea duvall she is really nice it was back in 2008 in silver lake at a show the band was queer i also met the actress who played shane from the L word that night (the most embarrassing moment i shook her hand and said "i really love your work" and walked away it still haunts me sometimes right when i am about to fall asleep)
"It's really easy to be a prude when you're not attracted to him" hit so hard. I was such a "good girl" growing up and then "demure" later but it was basically just a warped interpretation of my asexuality. The funny thing is, my mom was very realistic about teenagers having sex AND I was already a very outspoken feminist, including condemning the toxicity of purity culture and double/unrealistic standards for women's sexuality. Meanwhile, most of my friends were very much into purity culture but rounding the bases with their boyfriends on the basement couch while their Christian parents sat upstairs. I still get a tragic chuckle from the fact that I, the sex-repulsed ace, was the only teenager in my friend group to get the HPV vaccine.
So accurate lol. I grew up Christian and never understood why everyone else had such a hard time waiting for marriage. Just don't have sex, it's so easy! Turns out most other teen girls aren't grey-ace lesbians 😂
My parents divorced after I came out and my father tried to convince my mother to send my to a conversation camp he apologized last year we still don't talk tho ❤
I’m so happy your mother refused that nonsense and took your side.
@@amandadougherty6615 thank you, she always does she if my like my bestfriend
Thank goodness she didn’t listen ❤️❤️
The ironic part is that would have Megan even explored and accepted being gay unless her parents never sent her away.
watching Elvira: Mistress of the Dark would be soooo fitting for October
Omg I had a friend who was obsessed with her lol
rightfully so! She's ICONIC!
yes! I'd love this :)
I literally just watched this now. My friend l, who is so...who obsessed with it, made me watch it. It's good
@@PinkPopcastI second this recommendation. It's one of the great camp cult classics of all time. And Cassandra Peterson is a bisexual icon.
I just love how fun and non-toxic you two are. Your reviews make me so happy because you seem to just enjoy working together and riffing off each other so much. I'm really glad i found your channel.
Thank you so much!
I was sent to conversion therapy when i was 14 by foster parents. I'm not even gay.
It wasn't fun like this and we weren't able to get to know the other kids without a "mentor" nearby. They would hose us in freezing weather and make us kneel on grits or rice and pray. One girl turned 18 and still wasn't allowed to leave. It was shut down eventually but it was a rough 5 months and i was so glad to get back to my meth head parents. 😂
Not me gasping at "is she Australian" then sighing in relief when you googled and corrected haha. Love that you guys watched this, such an iconic movie. Melanie and Natasha recently did one of those actors on actors chats about this movie (and other things they've done) totally recommend looking it up and giving it a watch on UA-cam.
I gotta join in the huge number of sapphics here saying how influential this movie was for me lol!! The "I thought everybody had those thoughts" I feel like was my number one eye opener at sixteen for like, "Wait....other girls don't all think about each other like this?"
Holy shit - I watched this when I was younger and didn’t realize Rufio was in it! I recognized his voice because he also played Zuko in the Last Airbender
OMG THAT IS HIM
this film was genuinely my gay awakening. so glad to see you guys watch it and enjoy it
🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
I love But I’m a Cheerleader. I literally clicked just to make sure it wasn’t being slandered. It’s such a gem
❤️🏳️🌈😄
i’ll never get over dante basco being in this movie 😭
Yeah, we were really surprised when we saw his name in the credits, but it got cut out lol
As someone who grew up in a dirt poor, conservitive town in Northern Connecticut it's fair to say this movie compleatly changed my life when I first saw it in 1999.
🙌🙌🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
I really think you guys would love “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” for Halloween.
Stay tuned 😜😜😜
@@PinkPopcast omg YES!
That movie was such a let down at the end
I loved this movie. It was a relief to find one featuring two lesbians where lingering melancholy or arthouse despair wasn't a major component
Exactly! It’s surprisingly wholesome, sincere and full of hope for an edgy, late 90s comedy about conversion camp 😅
now that it's streaming, i think a "theater camp" reaction would be hilarious!! it's super funny and pretty heartwarming, the cast is great and the kids are CRAZY talented!!!!
Oh my gosh, we saw that in theaters and loved it!
@@PinkPopcast watched it the other day in covid isolation, as a theatre major i felt so lovingly called out lol
FTR the "when you get back from Switzerland" is probably meant to imply Graham's parents told everyone she was on a trip to switzerland rather than conversion camp, so no one would know she was ever gay.
My favorite part is when megan catches Dolph and Clayton hooking up and her reaction and their reaction to being caught i find extremely hilarious.
Everyone has those thoughts.. right? This movie made me realize I’m not bi, I’m a full blown lesbian. Sooooo funny too.
I'd like a show about a 17yo escaping conversion therapy and figuring out independence in a makeshift foster home for gays
rizzo accidentally saying the f slur caught me off guard 😭
Caught me off guard too! Had no clue what I was reading 😭😭😭
It caught him off guard to 🙃
off with his head!!
@@alechappito8765 no no. he didn’t know 🤷🏻♀️
Rizzo was quoting the sign, im perfectly fine with that. He was not using it to insult someone or something. The context is always important.
This movie was my first queer movie, after escaping a cult I grew up in. It's dark, and it was perfect
Oh wow...
I grew up in a cult too, sorry for your experience but congratulations on your escape.
Honestly, I remember watching this movie as a child. I’d borrow movies from this family friend to watch every time I’d make good grades in school lol what I love so much now as an adult is knowing that I watched this movie and felt the love and connection without any programming from society at the age of 7. Like, that’s cool to know that love exceeds male/female bodies. It’s energy ❤
Oh, let me add that as a child I completely overlooked any sexual activity in this movie and thought it was normal human affection lol
It's ironic because our homophobic parents introduced my little sisters and I to this movie as kids (thinking the cutesy image = cutesy movie) and my sisters and I fell in love with it (my littlest sister being Bi and I Asexual) and we still love this movie to this day because the camp really reminded us of the John Water's movies we watched growing up, as well; Natasha Lyonne's character's mother is even played by Mink Stole who is a primary actress used by John in his films. Honestly, despite the theme, the characters are great and I love the campiness; we need movies mocking stuff in a similar way like this because these movies just stay classic forever and never seem to offend people cause those easily offended are too dumb to get it's making fun of them.
My coming to terms that im a lesbian was not long after stumbling onto this movie, felt really validating to see someone who shared the same romantic feelings I do, when i came out I lost all my friends (crazy they where theater kids thought they would understand)
When I was in high school (2005-2009) the theater kids were actually very hit or miss in terms of being progressive. Several of the guys were libertarian, anti-feminist weirdos and more than a few of the girls were uptight, conservative Christians. It was odd.
@Aster_Risk well I just graduated this year, they pretend to now until your actually fully into the same gender, Bisexuals are OK to them since their seen as spicy straight
i love that this movie gave us the friendship of natasha lyonne and clean duvall, every few years they'll come up with a way to act together, again, i just love it. although the most recent one, they played sisters, and i was like no this is wrong, you must be lovers lmao
😂😂😂
Fun fact: Natasha Lyonne got involved with the movie due to her friendship with Clea Duvall. She noticed the script in Duvall's car one day was like "I wanna do this!"
@@TheMetrored love that
This is actually one of my favorite movies of all time!! I’m so excited to watch this video
🙌🙌❤️
The “bye rufio” got me 😂 I also can not un hear zuko every time I see Dante Basco
The reason why they were all wearing plastic was because once they graduate they are "straight" which isn't true so the plastic is supposed to represent the fakeness of it.
Natasha Lyonne's character's father is played by Bud Cort who was in Harold and Maude. I remember watching the film in high school and half the room thought no way would he sleep with an 80 year old and the other half arguing, "well, what else does lovers mean???" when reading the back of the dvd
natasha lyonne is such an icooooon. in my head, a good queer movie has to have lyonne, tilly or mullally, or it's not a good one
That’s a solid criteria to hold!
True!
this was the first gay movie i watched as a youngin, and i can't help but see it through rose-colored glasses because it helped me to realize i liked girls
20:24 ok but jan’s character is so trans coded it hurts 😭 i wish the movie touched on it just once more
coded? they had a mustache! the audiences back then just weren’t ready
They were part of my egg experience
When I watched it I was sure that they were trans! like when they had the realisation about being straight I got so excited cause I thought they would be like "I'm a straight man!" but no. Although, I do like that their character went against stereotypes. You can be a masc girl without being queer.
Y'all are assuming Jan is NB
@@Indomita506 true, we should be using she/her based on the info the film gave us
i had no idea there was an extended version of this movie! now i need to watch it for myself! great video as always 🎉
We definitely didn’t know there was a difference lol
@@PinkPopcast i've never seen the scene with the introductory video or the sing-a-long scene before so i assume there must be two different versions!
samee i would like to see the extended version@@m00n_beetle
I was in high school when this movie came out, never saw any trailers for it (wasn’t allowed to watch broadcast TV...ever, just VHS tapes my parents approved), so I had no idea what it was about. I do remember seeing the cassette box in the video rental store and thinking “ew, another cheerleader/yay team spirit/Bring It On clone”.
....welp, this video was quite a surprise.
i’m obsessed w this movie it’s so camp😭😭
Classic camp 🙌
8:42 i’ve never watched this movie, so when i heard his voice, i just yelled “ZUKO???”
If you want to… it’d free on UA-cam!
Rizzo catching Benji lusting over the gardener 😂😂
😂😂🥵
I literally adore your guys's videos SO MUCH ❤
🥰🥰
this movie is amazing. especially for the time. nothing to go “yikes” over.
clearly a lesbian classic
13:30 I also recognized him from Remember the Titans. I was about to say that at 12:12 but you guys beat me to the punch. Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine!
😁😁😁
OH MY GOD EXTREME DAYS I had entirely forgotten that movie but I watched it SO MUCH as a teenager. holy cow unlocking core closet-days memories with The Pink Popcast???
This movie is FUCKIN PHENOMENAL! I AM SO GLD YOU INTRODUCED IT TO ME I WAS LIKE TWO MINUTES IN AND THAN WATCHED IT MY SELF SO THANK YOU! ITS LITERALLY MY NEW FAVORITE!
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Oh! Another recommendation for a similarly absurd iconic sapphic film from this era is D.E.B.S.! I would love to see you two react to that!
I was rased Mormon and had some conversion therapy, although it was not at a camp like that. Once a week I would be in an office with two other teens working on being more feminine. We talked about "Heavenly Father's plan" and how we had to choose to fight sin.
None of that works! The first time I saw this movie, I just cried. I had to take breaks. Now, I smile abd proudly admit I am a pansexual, nonbinary person into Polyamory. Happy Pride Everyone!
22:46 This song right here has been a fixation of mine since I first watched this movie in 2022, the song isn’t on Spotify and it just hurts so baddddd. I love this song so much it’s so beautiful😭
I’m so happy my parents are supportive but ..to people who have gone threw this I’m sorry you are loved
I would recommend the film Pride. It's a true story about a group of queer people who are raising money for a mining town in Wales and it's really sweet
I went into this film completely unaware of what this was about and ended up loving it more than I thought!
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I LITERALLY LOVE THIS MOVIE!! I’m so glad y’all watched this!
This movie has been my favorites for yearssss. Clea Duvall made me realize a lot of things...She's just so cuteee. Rizzo is right the set design is so cool and dreamlike it makes it less scary. I will say this movie gets me crying from 50 different emotions throughout the 1 hour and 24 minutes
I'm so happy you guys watched this movie literally one of my favorite movies and a very underrated queer classic also Benji's right the son of the conversion lady was one of my Awakenings 🤡💅🏾
😂😂 he wasn’t helping her goal at all
I can’t hear Dante Basco talk without hearing Prince Zuko. Takes me out every time 😂
i honestly really like this film after rewatching it last year, the satire is so funny.
Every dante basco scene,, my brain just keeps going "zuko, zuko, zuko--"
When I watched the film, I was actually delighted by how dark some parts of the film are. I really expected a lighthearted comedy, but there were some moments that were almost veering goth, where Megan is literally covered in shadow in some dimmer lit rooms and the horrified expressions on her face by the abuse she’s being exposed to
i know donte bosco from atla, when I first saw the movie I shouted "ZUKO?"
😂
ahhh when I saw u guys where watching this I got SO EXCITED
We’ve been waiting to finally do this one lol
I had a bad day today and this is making it better I love this movie and you guys
🥰🥰🥰
Every time I see someone doing a reaction to this movie it makes me so happy as it is one of my all time favourites.
I'm a huge Melanie Lynskey fan. I recommend Peter Jackson's early film "Heavenly Creatures" starring a very young Lynskey and Kate Winslet. Great movie.
I always forget that Dante Basco is in this movie, because I only really know him as a voice actor from American dragon and Zuko from Avatar the last Airbender. I only ever remember when he’s thanking Megan
He and his voice are iconic lol
@@PinkPopcast Zuko is one of my favorite characters from anything so I have to agree
He's also rufio in hook
I bought this dvd off of ebay when i was 18 and just graduated in 2000. I had to hide the dvd from everyone cause i lived in the south.
So many iconic actors. Including Bud Cort and Mink Stole as her parents. And of course, Clea DuVall.
I haven't seen this movie in ages, but I think I first saw it at the age of maybe eleven. Being young and straight, this was actually the first queer movie I ever saw, my first introduction to queer media, and the first time I became aware of what conversion therapy is. I actually fully believed that it was part of this ridiculous fictional world, because that's where that kind of thinking and practice belongs. I was stunned and horrified to learn that this was something that not only ever existed, but that it was something people STILL DID (and do). So while I know that this movie could never mean as much to me as it would to a young gay person actually in that kind of situation, this movie still means a lot to me. I credit it with informing the younger me about the topic, and believe it shaped me into a better, more empathetic person overall. And this video was a fun watch, so I had to subscribe for more :) Cheers!
23:56 Rock jamming out to a RuPaul song lmaooooo. Loved this movie when I was in high school. Just really highlights the stupidity of talking about causes and cures of being queer. Also, partially agree with you guys now about that ending. In hindsight it feels very abrupt, but I think at the time it was made, it would have been kind of unrealistic to trail into a happy ending beyond that immediate moment. I think for the people in conversion camps or just very oppressive environments, just because you get out of that and accept yourself, doesn't mean the outside world will. The "slice of life" or "moment in time" style of a character's life works for the period the movie came out.
Yeah, you’re right, it was mainly about escaping, and the “happy ending” would look very different from what we would expect to see now
Was NO ONE gonna tell me that ZUKO was in this movie ??????