100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 101: Magic Mike XXL

Director: Gregory Jacobs

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Elizabeth Banks, Amber Heard, Donald Glover, Andie MacDowell

Description: Three years after Mike (Channing Tatum) bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, he and the remaining Kings of Tampa hit the road to Myrtle Beach to put on one last blow-out performance.

Review: Channing Tatum broke through as the lead in a dance movie called “Step Up”and returned to his ‘roots’ in “Magic Mike”. This Steven Soderbergh directed movie was loosely based on Tatum’s past as a stripper. The movie was a hit and fans were really excited about a sequel. This time without Matthew McConaughey and director Soderbergh, but some extra women in the cast and more sexy dance movies and six-packs.

Like the character that Donald Glover plays says in the movie: “All we got to do is ask them what they want”. And that is “Magic Mike XXL”. We get more naked body parts and lap dances. The ‘Kings of Tampa” have to practice for their last performance, where Mike returns after being absent for three years. During their road trip they get in trouble a couple of times and they meet some colorful people along the way. Like Rome, played by Jada Pinkett-Smith, the owner of a club. She actually outplays all the guys in the film.

There isn’t as much humor in this film as the first. The story on the other hand, has become more important. This takes the pace out of the movie, it drags a bit. And that final dance act should be the highlight of the film. For many people it probably is, but I hated it. Male strippers should look masculine, but for me it’s a big turn off.

For the fans of the first movie, they get what they want: more half naked men and more sexy moves. But for the people who want a bit more, like humor and pace, it’s a letdown. The movie was saved by the women, pretty strange when it’s about stripper men.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 23: Magic Mike

Director: Steven Sodenbergh
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez, Oliva Munn, Kevin Nash

Description: Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) is a thirty-year old living in Tampa, Florida. By day he works as a roofer whilst at night, as Magic Mike, he is the star attraction of the Kings of Tampa, a group of male strippers. Secretly he wants out in order to further a projected furniture-making business, but instead he teaches the young Adam (Alex Pettyfer) how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.

Review: No, he isn’t a magician, Magic Mike is a stripper. Channing Tatum based parts of the film on his own life, because he started out as one. Tatum had woman swooning for him in movies like “Step Up” and “She’s the Man” and this film is right up his alley. But it’s not as cliché as I thought. This comedy, with a semi-original theme, is entertaining and light and it sometimes even hits a nerve.
Mike is the center character, who is a thirty-year old playboy who performs as a stripper in a club called Xquisite, runned by Dallas. Mike meets Adam, a young guy who wants to explore the exciting night life. It appears he also has potential as a stripper and he joins the group.
It’s an outstanding theme. Although there are movies about the stripper profession, but it’s mostly women who take off their clothes. So the fact that it’s about male strippers makes the movie unconventional. Between all these half-naked guys there is also a love story, where Mike falls for Adam’s sister Brooke. It seems to go into the same old direction, but the movie avoids all the sweetness and cheesiness. Channing Tatum and Cody Horn don’t really seem to have that much chemistry though. Horn isn’t the best choice for the role.
The movie goes in a different direction then the audience would expect. That makes this a surprising movie. Although for woman it’s a joy to watch all those handsome men getting rid of their clothes, I never found male strippers very masculine, but it’s not just a movie about male strippers. It has more layers, which makes it bearable to watch for men and women. It’s a lovely, fresh film.

Rating: 3/ 5