Beforere reviewing the film I think it would be wise to address the consistent comment that appears on IMBD. Namely that this is a rip off of "But I'm A Cheerleader!". This movie isn't. It is based on a book. That book may have been written as a more serious version of "Cheerleader", but the movie isn't a rip off. While I understand that is a pedantic point to make, it is an important distinction as seeing repeated shouts of "It's a rip off" leads others to question if the writers even knew the book exists.
There are two fundamental issues with "Cameron Post".
Firstly, it starts halfway through the book and a lot of key factors are missed out. In fact, the camp was only about a third of the story. We lost her childhood, her upbringing and relationship with her grandmother after her parents died, her relationship with her aunt, her awakening through movies, and her first two same sex experiences, before we meet the infamous Coley. Rich story that would have added extra depth.
It does follow the same story as "Cheerleader", I cannot deny that, but possibly not only in the most obvious ways of storyline and side characters in the camp. "Cheerleader" is a campy, overly colourful, attempt to make a story about a hard subject, but failed as it kept trying to stick to the humour to drive it, possibly because it was too terrified of the backlash it might receive. Didn't want to upset religious groups, didn't want to push too hard on the subject, and wanted to keep it light it case it came back they could laugh it off that it was just good fun. No harm meant.
"Cameron Post" follows the same pitfalls. While it stays on the side of drama, it, too, tries not to push anything too far. It, too, is afraid of the potential shadow it might cast. And it, too, didn't want to upset anyone. As it was some people were upset and took trying to slam screenings. It is a shame as the material the movie is based on, had much more to offer.
Review of The Miseducation of Cameron Post
