Watch The Cheerleaders

The Cheerleaders from 1973 is a hilarious and raunchy teen comedy that follows a group of cheerleaders who pledge to help the school football team win their games through any means necessary. This movie threw caution to the wind and pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in 1970s cinema. The movie begins with a group of cheerleaders, including squad leader Debbie (Jovita Bush), Janice (Therese Pare), Mary Ann (Cheryl Smith), and Patrice (Brandy Woods), who decide to start helping the school football team win their games by any means necessary. They devise a plan to seduce and distract the opposing team's players, leading them to victory.

Soon, their tactics become widely known, and they draw the attention of the school's administration, as well as the media. The school's principal, played by John Quade, tries to shut down their program, but the girls are determined to keep their cheerleading program alive.

Along the way, they face several hurdles, including blackmail from a rival cheerleading squad, an unplanned pregnancy, and competing against their male counterparts in the annual cheerleading competition.

One of the great aspects of this film is the character development. Despite being an exploitation film, the characters aren't just caricatures. Each character is given their own personality traits, and the actors flesh out these roles to add a sense of authenticity to the overall plot.

The Cheerleaders also features a killer soundtrack filled with classic hits from the 70s. The soundtrack helped create the perfect ambiance for this movie, highlighting every moment of the film's intense action. The movie also includes several fun montages, including a scene where the girls practice their routines while wearing nothing but lingerie.

In addition to being a fun and engaging movie, this film holds a significant place in the history of teen film-making. It is an exploitation film that explores issues such as drug addiction, sex education, and pregnancy while also depicting cheerleaders as smart, independent young women. These themes were groundbreaking for the time in which the movie was made, and it is significant that a film like this could be commercially successful and resonate with such a broad audience.

The Cheerleaders has even been cited as an influence on the modern-day cheerleading world. The film helped to create the iconic look of cheerleaders with their short skirts, white sneakers, and sweatbands, which became staples of cheerleading uniforms in the coming decades.

Overall, The Cheerleaders is an entertaining film that seamlessly blends teenage drama with the underbelly of 70s exploitation. It's a hilarious and engaging coming-of-age story that includes all the classic elements of a teen comedy: sex, drug use, and a killer soundtrack. Whether you're a fan of cheerleading or not, this is one movie that deserves to be watched.

The Cheerleaders is a 1973 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4.