Editing But I'm a Cheerleader (section)

===Critical response===
At the time of its initial release ''But I'm a Cheerleader'' polarized critics. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], it has an approval rating of 43% from 91 reviews, with the site's critical consensus stating, "Too broad to make any real statements, ''But I'm a Cheerleader'' isn't as sharp as it should be, but a charming cast and surprisingly emotional center may bring enough pep for viewers looking for a light social satire."<ref>{{Cite web |title=But I'm a Cheerleader |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/but_im_a_cheerleader |access-date=2025-02-28|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219162307/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/but_im_a_cheerleader |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[Weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 39 out of 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/but-im-a-cheerleader|title=But I'm a Cheerleader Reviews|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=July 17, 2019|archive-date=September 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908055531/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/but-im-a-cheerleader|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Elvis Mitchell]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised Lyonne and DuVall for their performances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Elvis |author-link=Elvis Mitchell |date=2000-07-07 |title=Don't Worry. Pink Outfits Will Straighten Her Out. |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/070700cheer-film-review.html |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421205255/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/070700cheer-film-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Kevin Thomas]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described the movie as having "jaunty, superficial humor" that "tends more to confirm homosexual stereotypes for easy laughter than to skewer the horror of [conversion therapy]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Kevin |author-link=Kevin Thomas (film critic) |date=2000-07-21 |title='But I'm a Cheerleader' Works Against Its Goals |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-21-ca-56534-story.html |access-date=2022-08-31 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> [[Emanuel Levy]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' described it as a "shallow, only mildly entertaining satire".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Levy |first=Emanuel |author-link=Emanuel Levy |date=1999-09-23 |title=But I'm a Cheerleader |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/but-i-m-a-cheerleader-1117752174/ |access-date=2022-08-31 |magazine=Variety |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831124339/https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/but-i-m-a-cheerleader-1117752174/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Roger Ebert said "It feels like an amateur night version of itself, awkward, heartfelt and sweet".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=But I'm A Cheerleader movie review (2000) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/but-im-a-cheerleader-2000 |access-date=2023-09-24 |website= |language=en |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503153357/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/but-im-a-cheerleader-2000 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Reviews from [[List of LGBT periodicals|gay media]] were positive, and the film has undergone a critical reassessment over time. ''[[AfterEllen|AfterEllen.com]]'' named it "one of the five best lesbian movies ever made";<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.afterellen.com/movies/454739-sapphic-cinema-im-cheerleader|title=Sapphic Cinema: "But I'm a Cheerleader" |date=September 25, 2015|website=AfterEllen|access-date=June 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052700/http://www.afterellen.com/movies/454739-sapphic-cinema-im-cheerleader|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> the site had considered the movie's story "predictable" and characters "stereotypical" in its initial 2006 review.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-01-18 |title=Review of "But I'm a Cheerleader" |url=http://www.afterellen.com/Movies/2006/9/cheerleader.html |website=AfterEllen |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118101848/http://www.afterellen.com/Movies/2006/9/cheerleader.html |archive-date=January 18, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Curve (magazine)|Curve]]'' called the film an "incredible comedy" that "redefined lesbian film."<ref>"Women to Watch in Film". ''[[Curve (magazine)|Curve]]''. November 2003. p. 22.</ref>