Nick Brady and Shawn Colfax are two popular football players at the fictional Gerald R. Ford High School who manage to get out of football camp and later con their way into the cheerleading squad after overhearing a conversation about the camp's abundant female population of three hundred cheerleaders.

Shawn develops feelings for the head cheerleader, Carly Davidson, and Nick chases after Diora, their camp coach's wife.

Carly and the rest of the squad soon find out about the boys' true motives for attending cheer camp.

While attending a party at their friend's house, the guys discover that they are genuinely fond of cheer camp and want their squad to succeed.

[citation needed] Some of the South Pasadena Tigers Football team's gear such as pads, were borrowed for use in the film.

[4] A common criticism,[5][6] addressed by director Will Gluck in the film's commentary track, is that the filmmakers "casted a little bit older."

Lead actors Olsen and Nicholas D'Agosto were playing high school students at the ages 30 and 27 at the time of filming, respectively.

One of the more positive reviews, from Hollywood.com, admits the film is satisfying for the audience it is aimed towards: "An outrageous, sex-obsessed teen comedy that's something to cheer about -- especially if you're 16."

It opened up to the U.S. box office at number 9 with $5.4 million behind films like Paul Blart: Mall Cop, which was in its sixth week of release at the time, and Confessions of a Shopaholic, in its second.

[7] On the DVD commentary, the business it did (or lack thereof) is discussed, with director Will Gluck stating, "In retrospect, we probably should have done R, but I kind of like the idea of doing a movie that everyone can go see, and not just 'over 18 or have to sneak into it.'"