The Cheerleaders

The Cheerleaders is a low-budget raucous American teenage comedy film released in 1973 and directed by Paul Glickler. This film, exuding the era's carefree spirit, features Stephanie Fondue, Denise Dillaway, and Jovita Bush. Their performances, along with the rest of the cast's, contribute to an uncensored exploration of the cheerleader stereotype, American high school culture, and uninhibited teen humor of the early 70s.

Stephanie Fondue, in her only film appearance, headlines the cast as Jeannie, an innocently naïve high school student. Jeannie is trying to get on her school's cheerleading squad, serving as a moral counter-point to the cheerleaders' not-so-innocent antics. Jovita Bush delights as one of the more experienced cheerleaders, exhibiting an almost cynical knowledge about the power she and her fellow cheerleaders wield over the male students, teachers, and even the football team members. Denise Dillaway, a budding actress of that time, gives an impressive performance by taking on the role of a cheerleader determined to protect her turf and influence.

The Cheerleaders is an unabashed representation of the wide-open sexual attitudes of the era. It does not shy away from portraying the cheeky endeavors of the Amorosa High School cheerleaders to leverage their attractiveness for their and their football team's advantage. The storyline mainly revolves around a high school cheerleading team that believes they've discovered a foolproof strategy to ensure their football team's victory. How? By ensuring their rival team's players are too exhausted to play effectively. However, their plan spirals into a series of misadventures that lead to much hilarity.

Set in fictional Amorosa High School, the movie offers a snarky take on the sexual revolution, innocent crushes, teenage dreams, subversion of authority, school spirit, and rivalry, all wrapped up in one. The Cheerleaders explicitly capitalizes on the sexual curiosity and lax attitudes of that time, making it a markedly adult-oriented film. It combines biting satire with teen comedy, highlighting the era's distinctive flair for salacious humor.

The movie's plot is raucously humorous, provocative, and at times, ridiculously far-fetched. The story may seem superficial on the surface, but it invariably attempts to challenge societal norms and question the sexual conservatism of that time. The viewer gets hooked with the unexpected turns of events, the audacious cheerleaders' outrageous scheme, and the overall playful spirit the movie encapsulates.

While The Cheerleaders may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it possesses a sort of charm and likeability that contributes to its cult classic status. Being an exploitation comedy of the '70s, it is filled with over-the-top sequences, scandalous innuendos, and unexpected laughs. Strikingly audacious and unapologetically bawdy, The Cheerleaders delivers a wholehearted amusement that adds to its cult classic appeal.

The director, Paul Glickler, confronts the traditional narratives surrounding Americana, education, adolescence, and the institution of sports, particularly football, in 'The Cheerleaders'. Glickler's direction exposes the hypocrisies within these institutions as the film boldly ventures into themes of teenage sexuality, manipulation, and societal norms. The film’s presentation and deliberately slow pacing mirror the relaxed, free-spirited attitudes of the ’70s, making The Cheerleaders a nostalgic trip back in time for modern viewers.

Detailed characterization sharpens comedic elements, with each cheerleader having distinct personalities; there's the innocent newcomer, the experienced mastermind, and the territorial cheerleader, among others. The movie humorously twists the conventional high school experience and the sports film genre, juxtaposing athletic determination with teenage mischief.

With generous doses of humor, titillating scenes, and an amusing storyline, The Cheerleaders is essentially a time capsule of the liberated ’70s. Though viewers should understand that the film reflects the freewheeling attitudes of a different time, it's a fascinating look back at an era where rules were meant to be bent, and freedom of expression held the utmost significance. While the film may not be everyone's cup of tea, it remains an iconic and notorious teen exploitation comedy of its time, worth watching for fans of kitschy retro films. It's a seminal entry in the cheerleader movie genre, raw edging, and an undeniably brazen spirit that embraces its audacious premise with unabashed glee.