Hey folks, Harry here with a look at a very early screening of CHEER FEVER, a Kirsten Dunst film from the director of the TV remakes of THE COMPUTER THAT WORE TENNIS SHOES and THE LOVE BUG. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like it's going to be as great as REVENGE OF THE CHEERLEADERS or THE SWINGING CHEERLEADERS... but nobody makes movies up to that standard today! This film isn't due out till FALL 2000, so while reading this review... Realize that this film will have a new soundtrack, probably endure some reshoots and additional editing. The film is FAAAAR from being over. So, we'll continue to watch it in case they decide to do the right thing and turn the film into a Cheerleading Exploitation film. :) Talk atcha later...
Hey Harry,
Some movies just need to go away.
I attended a packed screening tonight at Universal of a new movie featuring Kirsten Dunst entitled "Cheer Fever" which was honestly a mix of "Showgirls" and "The Baby Sitter's Club." It never decided whether or not it was a pre-teen's dream-come-true 'Cheerleaders 4Ever!' movie or a post-"American Pie" T&A film filled with gratuitous shots of teenage girls walking around (for no apparent reason) in their underwear while talking about blowjobs and sex.
This kind of movie wasn't what I was expecting in the post-"Heathers," post-"Election," or hell, post-"Varsity Blues" filmgoing experience. Even most kid's movies are sharper than this as evidenced by Nickelodeon's "Harriet the Spy" or even the underrated "Good Burger" which is good for a larf. "Cheer Fever" was a straight-up good, white, suburban cheerleaders against East Compton High cheerleaders in a race to the cheerleading nationals, but with a feel good, schmaltzy ending that only a fan of the Olsen Twins would like.
That would be fine if that was the target audience. I have no problem with kid's movies. The problem came from the fact that there's non-stop swearing (that is humorously out of place), lotsa innuendo and other antics that make it for a slightly older audience. Also, there are plot holes big enough to drive a truck through that just seem to fly by and are never brought up again.
So who will like it?
Probably only the midnight "Showgirls"/"Rocky Horror Picture Show" crowd or MSTies who might adopt this, however unlikely. The dialogue was just so awful and at times downright bigotted and racist (again done in a humorous 'who cares?' fashion). The gay and black stereotypes would have seemed anachronistic 20 years ago. I feel bad for Kirsten Dunst who will have this on her resume next to films like "The Virgin Suicides," "Lolita," or even "Drop Dead Gorgeous" which was solid comedy gold next to this. And no, "Cheer Fever" is in NO WAY a satire or a cleverly crafted joke.
Avoid paying much for this barely interesting train wreck. I doubt that they'll be able to go theatrical with this and it may end up on y'er local video shelves gathering dust. An HBO or Showtime premiere is out because it's for the kiddies and a Fox Family premiere is out because of the language and innuendo. However, if you want to see a lot of exposed PG-13 Kirsten Dunst-flesh, knock yourselves out and see this when it squirms into release. Otherwise, just rent "Grease 2" or "Race the Sun."
Sign me,
Samuel Byck
