Magic Mike

On the surface, Magic Mike delivers everything you'd expect a movie about male stripping to deliver. First and foremost, there is a lot of male stripping, numerous dance numbers, plenty of butt shots and a surprisingly small amount of peen.

Being a Steven Soderbergh movie though, one shouldn't be all that surprised that Magic Mike goes beyond the stripping and gives us an insightful character study about a guy who just happens to strip for a living.

First, I have to get my one little nitpick out of the way. Obviously, the movie is called Magic Mike so of course this is his journey and it's a good one at that. But I really wanted to spend more time with his co-workers. With actors like Matthew McConaughey, Joe Mangaiello of True Blood fame, Matt Bomer and even wrestler Kevin Nash, we're given a chance to really get a feel for their group dynamic. Each actor really brings something interesting to their character, even if they only have a scene or two to do it, and as a result I really wish I could spend more time with them. McConaughey especially shines as the owner and announcer of the strip club. Not only is he hilarious as the creepy ring-leader, but he is also able to keep the characters true intentions at bay just enough to keep you guessing at what is really going on in this guy's head. It really is a great performance in a year full of great McConaughey performances.

Speaking of a good year, Channing Tatum is riding high after this, 21 Jump Street and his other Soderbergh collaboration in Haywire. Oh yea, The Vow came out too but I have yet to see it, but it made a shit load of money as well. I've touched on this before, but I really didn't used to care for Tatum, but something has snapped in him for whatever reason, because he has gotten really comfortable in front of the camera. Yes, he can dance like nobody's business, but his Mike is completely charming and ambitious. He is a smart and nice guy who realizes what he does is ridiculous, but it totally OK with it because the money is good. Oh, and girls. What he really wants though, is to start his own business making custom furniture. So for him, stripping is a good time, but also a means to an end.


After spending a lot of good times with these guys, things start to get a little hairy after Mike takes Adam under his wing. Played by Alex Pettyfer, Adam is an aimless 19 year old who gets caught up in the stripping world after getting fired from Mike's day job on a construction site.

In one of the few unsurprising plot beats, Adam gets into sex and drugs and completely forgets the people who got him there in the first place. Pettyfer is OK in the role. He does what is expected of him and nothing more, which is to mainly act as a plot device for Mike's arc. It's not a big issue by any means, but it stands out as a little cliche in a movie otherwise filled with strong character work.


I really hope Soderbergh doesn't retire as has been reported, because here he proves what he can do with even the most ridiculous plots for a movie and turn it into a funny and smart human story filled with strong performances. Or in other words, he is one of the few filmmakers left who is constantly delivering the unexpected.

Alright dudes, I'm seeing The Amazing Spider-Man this week. I don't have very high expectations, but who knows? Then there is some other stupid movie coming out about a guy bat or something. Between those two I should also have another marathon so hopefully I'll get on here and share with you fools. Until then, suck it.