Erika

(2013-05-20 03:27:26)

Disappointment!

This was a disappointment to me. I don't know exactly what I was hopingto see(ahem, a lot more of the stripping scenes, since that's the onlyreason I wanted to see this). It was way too long, those two hours feltlike forever. A lot of the scenes just dragged on and they could'veleft a lot of scenes out, in my opinion they served no purpose in themovie whatsoever. I think they concentrated too much on Adam's sister;I didn't care about her character, I didn't care about the relationshipbetween her and Mike either. The actress also had the same expressionon her face the whole movie.Thank god the men in this movie were hot, otherwise I would certainlyhave walked out of the theater. The ending was shitty, instead ofshowing Mike and Brooke at her house, it should've ended with anamazing stripping scene. I'd give it 5 out of 10: the male cast waspleasing for my eyes, the music was mostly good and can't forget OliviaMunn's tits.

(2013-05-19 21:29:47)

a trip

emotion. as silk ladder. a love story in forbidden area. religion andrelationship. nude tale about two different men and theirsin/error/adventure/crazy act. few words. drops of gestures, looks andshadows of feelings. ball of sadness and strange happiness,vulnerabilities, courage and fear. a white paper and crumbs of letters.a stranger as seed of a dangerous experience. family, society and ayoung man from nowhere to nowhere. a ritual bath and work in a koshermeat shop. death of father and new forms of beginning. fragility of oldworld and ambiguous place in tradition circle. it is not a movie aboutgay love but only love. it is not a movie about Juwish traditional lawsbut only picture of a closed society. it is not just a movie. butimages of a trip behind ordinary expectations.

cewdda

(2013-05-18 01:51:50)

This was one of the worst movies I've ever seen

I can't believe people are giving this movie rave reviews - I cannotunderstand that one single bit. This movie goes down as one of theWORST movies I've seen in my 40 years on this earth. The main girl (who I had never previously heard of) was not only aterrible actress, but she was uncomfortable to watch.Speaking of uncomfortable, the dialogue was extremely uncomfortable andawkward. It was as if there was almost no script and the actors werejust giving a direction to go and hit certain points and from therethey had to ad lib - which they did poorly.There was not even enough "skin" to make this movie worth it. In myopinion, women who were "wooed" by this movie must not be getting muchaction in real life. My advice: get out and get a real man or at leastgo see a real strip show. I wish someone would've warned me about this before wasting my moneyAND my time (that was the longest 2 hours of my life). I'm prettyconfident my girlfriend and I (who hated this movie as well) aren't theonly ones who felt this way. When we were walking out of the theatre, Ididn't see anyone who looked liked they had a good time watching thatmovie.If you want to see the stage scenes, hit up Youtube.

rivertam26

(2013-05-17 05:47:53)

The Magic is that it's a solid flick

This was without a doubt one of the year's most anticipated films forme, being a gay man who crushes on hot hunky celebs like ChanningTatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew Bomber, Adam Rodriguez, MatthewMcConaghey and Joe Manginello I was looking for too seeing them shedtheir wardrobe and show some celebrity skin. Well I was definitely notdisappointed. But for other reasons that I would have expected. Thefilm centers on Channing Tatum as a 30 y/o male stripper/ entrepreneurwho takes on a young kid (Pettyfer) and shows him the ropes of thestripping industry. it is of course all fun and games at the beginningbefore the film moves into a cautionary morality tale of sorts with ahopeful wink. Most impressive here besides the steamy dance sequences,hard abs and sculpted bodies are the performances behind them. Thescreenplay is just fleshy enough to dive the stars some great momentsand Soderbergh makes his best film in years. Channing Tatum is reallysolid in the lead making Mike charming, easy to relate t and showing asurprising amount of range moving from a fun loving guy to anindividual more aware of his lifestyle and his choices. MatthewMcConaghey gives his best performance in years as sort of the pseudobig brother/ club manager who seems protective but has a creepy,exploitative agenda behind the facade he presents. Alex Pettyfer alsohas his best role to date managing some good moments in a small buteffective turn. Most impressive however is the newbie Cody Horn as theKid's sister and Channing Tatum's love interest. She possess that rareit factor that just makes her shine on screen. She feels real, easy torelate too and likable and has a killer moment of emotional complexity.And that's really how the film works as well because behind all thehard bodies and fantastical dance numbers the film doesn't shy awayfrom touching on the darker aspects of the material if not fullyexploring them. Soderbergh directs with his signature style ofseemingly improvised dialogue and retro close ups. The film feels raw,realistic and a little amateur which adds to the films overallunpolished effect. It's not a perfect film but a much better one thanit has any right to be especially considering the cheeky subjectmatter. The real Magic in Magic Mike though is that a good film can bemade about anything if the people involved have something interestingto say and know how to say it.

Hellmant

(2013-05-15 23:04:21)

Channing Tatum actually carries the film with charisma and some amazing dance moves!

'MAGIC MIKE': Four Stars (Out of Five) Steven Soderbergh continues to show his amazing versatility bydirecting this male stripper comedy drama film based on the actualexperiences of star Channing Tatum (Tatum was a 19 year old stripper inTampa, Florida). In the film actor Alex Pettyfer plays the rookiestripper and Tatum plays his mentor. The movie also stars MatthewMcConaughey as an aging stripper who owns and manages the club thesemale strippers work at. The film was written by Reid Carolin. The moviehas a surprising amount of emotional depth and is very involving, it'snothing like the 'chick flick' romantic comedy the trailers made it outto be! Tatum stars as Mike Lane, the lead dancer/stripper at Xquisite, whichis owned and ran by Dallas (McConaughey), a very serious businessman.Pettyfer co-stars as Adam, a 19 year old former high school footballstar who just moved to Florida to live with his sister Brooke (CodyHorn), after losing his college football scholarship due to a fightwith the coach. Adam meets Mike on a construction job, which he quitsdue to the boss accusing him of stealing soda. He later meets Mike at aclub and learns he's a stripper. Mike then gives him a job helping himand other strippers at the Xquisite that night. After one stripperoverdoses and can't perform Adam is put on in his place and does sowell he secures himself a regular job there. Mike then continues tointroduce him to his party lifestyle of lots of drugs, alcohol and sex.This doesn't sit well with Adam's sister and Mike begins to developfeelings for her. Mike also doesn't plan on staying a stripper for muchlonger as he dreams of starting his own company in custom furniture.With almost $40 million in the first weekend this definitely marksTatum as a bona fide movie star! Until now he's kind of been a risingstar and it wasn't clear how much draw and popularity he actuallycarried. This film definitely launches him to the top of the A list andin roles like this he's actually a pretty good actor (I also thought hewas impressive in 'FIGHTING' and '21 JUMP STREET'). He's about fivetimes as good in this as he was in 'THE VOW' and he actually carriesthe film with charisma and some amazing dance moves. Even actors likePettyfer look good here though due to the amazing directing of StevenSoderbergh. There's a saying that there's no bad actors just baddirectors but I think the saying should actually be there's no goodactors just good directors. Soderbergh, plus an amazing script, reallymake this movie something to remember (plus Tatum's performance). I'mcontinually baffled by Soderbergh's choices in film as of late but healways makes each project work and I'd even say this is one of his bestfilms. It's got the feel of the type of classic 80's film that made TomCruise a superstar. Maybe it'll do the same thing for Tatum.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2vhN3UBteY

MichaelDardant

(2013-05-15 14:11:18)

Magician, Magic Mike spoofs Channing's dance

Award winning New Orleans comedy magician, Michael Dardant has beenknown as "Magic Mike" since he became a magician at 13. As a responseto the recent movie about a male stripper starring Channing Tatumcalled "Magic Mike", Michael developed an act for the Fleur de TeaseBurlesque show where he spoofs Channing's Magic Mike Dance whileactually producing hilarious magic from his pants!The act was filmed by Tatum's people via cell phone! Awaiting hisreview!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfOTl-RXaBMWARNING: SUGGESTIVELY SEXUAL. NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGESHosted by Chris Lane Filmed by Gerald Mclaughlin Written by MichaelDardant Edited by Michael Dardant and Paul Carpenter Choreography byMichael Dardant, Russel Bruner, Lindsey Crow, and Paul Carpenter Musicby Genuwine Music Remix by Paul Carpentermore info at www.themagicmike.com

Julie Anne Longano

(2013-05-14 10:44:50)

Video Review (3.5mins)

Please check out my video review online at YouTube now. I'll let youknow in advance, I thought this film was surprisingly good!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6PpKwD9ifE&feature=player_embedded (Mayneed to copy/paste link into browser if IMDb doesn't read it as HTML,sorry!)When my friend Bec recently asked me if I wanted to see the new film'Magic Mike' based on male erotic dancers, I was a little hesitant tosay the least! It's not really a genre of cinema I would have in mytop-five if you know what I mean.Sometimes it's worth trusting a friend's recommendation and going forit, even if it's against your better judgment. You may just findyourself asking for more!

Marie Hood

(2013-05-13 12:27:18)

Oh, the shame.

Do you enjoy watching beautiful man bodies? Either way, this movie isnot for you. It's not for anyone.The only saving grace is the fact Tatum Channing can dance. That's it.He has earned an entire one of my two stars.Matthew McConahay, I'm assuming, took the role to show off hisdespite-my-age body and brag about it. Kudos, now please get off myscreen. Every time he opened his mouth it was like nails on achalkboard.The worst acting was done by Cody Horn. Once I read her bio Iunderstood how she got the role and why she was the only woman to notshow her boobs. Thanks dad! This story line was as thin as the paper the script was written on. AndI use the term written loosely, as the dialog was so lacking it wouldhave been better released as a silent film. That way the blah-blah-blahwouldn't have detracted from the shaved and oiled bodies.The end of this cinematic achievement was as unsatisfying as a legallap dance.

Richard

(2013-05-13 04:03:16)

Truly Dreadful

I found nothing to like about this movie. It is billed firstly as acomedy and then as a drama. There was no comedy. I didn't laugh. Thescript was dreadful. There was no drama. Why did anyone think it wouldbe a good idea to make this film? This is the worst film I have seenthis year. My only purpose in writing this review is to warn you not togo and see this film.The acting was wooden. The story line weak. The soundtrack abysmal. Thedialogue dire. I was bored. I kept hoping the movie would have at leastone redeeming feature. It fails miserably on all counts. I want mymoney back.

bstrembicke

(2013-05-12 09:38:29)

A well done, raunchy and fun film. No Spoilers.

This movie actually really surprised me. I think we all expected it tobomb, (I know I did), and that's part of the films charm. I went inwith incredibly low expectations, and was pleasantly surprised. Now letme say this: Magic Mike did not wow me. What wowed me was the qualitythat came out of it. Which isn't to say I didn't have problems with it;I had big problems with it. Firstly, I was not impressed with StevenSoderbergh's direction. I found the scenes that take place insidevehicles oddly lit, and cramped visually. I found majority of the partyscenes physically hard to watch, massively confusing, and somehowalways found myself worrying about any epileptics in the audience. Thatsaid, Soderbergh has his moments; the one that particularly jumps outat me is the tender moment between Mike and Brooke (his KristenStewart-wannabe-love-interest) on the terrace, which is litromantically and shot with a modicum of talent. I also found the plotto be predictable on a ranging scale. I guessed a lot of things. Ididn't guess others. Honestly, my biggest problem with the film, wasits hypocrisy. Despite being a film about male strippers, it depictsfar more female nudity than male, which is an incredible testament tohow sexually biased Hollywood is. I really cannot explain beyond thatwhy I was so infuriated by it, and honestly, it helped contribute to myoverall mixed feelings about the movie as a whole. On a positive note,the film was hilarious. Drop dead, laugh out loud hilarious. I alsoreally enjoyed the cast. The performances range from passable to great,with the majority being decent to well done. The most surprisingaspects of the cast by far though, are Tatum and McConaughey. I'm notat all a fan of Tatum, I've yet to see him give a truly impressiveperformance, but this is the closest he's come so far. Part of mewonders if that was because of his personal experiences as a stripper,which adds realism and to his character, and I would wager "yes" is theanswer, but either way, I left the theatre very impressed with the GIJoe star. And McConaughey is the star of one of my least favouritefilms of all time (2006's "Failure to Launch", which co-stars theequally abysmal Sarah Jessica Parker), but also starred in one of myall-time favourites (1997's "Contact"), so I've been torn on himbefore. I wasn't torn here. He gave a really good performance, a reallyfun performance; which is really how I'd define this movie. Pure, sexy,wild, unadulterated fun. Overall, the film is enjoyable. I had a good time watching it, and wasgenuinely surprised by the quality of the product. It deserved the goodreviews it got, and while it is in no way, shape, or form among thebest films of 2012, it was a good film. Well worth six stars out often, maybe even seven, but I feel the need to judge it with an air ofharshness because its flaws were so predominant. It was still a goodfilm. Good enough to warrant an eventual, and inevitably god awful,sequel.

DreamRedeemer

(2013-05-12 08:37:11)

Starts Great, Then Steadily Goes Downhill!

I went to see this movie with a major fan of Channing Tatum's, who wasvery excited about it and hoped that it would be a fun, exciting, andsexy film and thought it looked promising based on the trailer. For amovie with so much promise, it became disappointing about half- waythrough with a pooper ending so bad, that you leave the theatresfeeling totally let down.PROS: - Channing Tatum as a male stripper :) - True Blood's mainwerewolf as a stripper :) - Matthew McConaughey as a stripper :) -Great Performances (costumes & music etc.) - Story is paced well with aunique'ish feel to it - Beginning is fun, exciting & HOT!CONS: - Half way through, it starts getting worse & worse - Thestoryline embraces an exhausted theme - The lead, Channing, pays foranother's mistake* - Ends abruptly in a universally-disappointing wayIt is my belief that if either of us knew how the whole movie was goingto be like, we might have waited for the 'cheap' night at the theatresor possibly until it came out on video. Truly, for a movie that lookedso good and started so wonderfully, neither one of us who went knewwhat the writers, producer(s), or director were thinking with how theydecided to end it. Is it worth seeing? Yes..... eventually.

Lynne Grummitt

(2013-05-11 16:04:13)

A Potential Not Quite Reached

(May Contain Spoilers)While this movie had the potential of becoming every woman's (and gayman's) favourite movie of all time, it failed dismally. Instead ofbeing something to bring out and watch on 'girl's night', it has becomesomething to laugh about when friends look back and remember that onetime they wasted 2 hours of their life. The dancing and stripping where the only highlight of the whole movie.The story line was poorly thought out and it never reached the heightsit could have gone to. The base line was there, it just never elevated. The acting was terrible...absolutely shocking! Never again will Isilently reprimand the makers of Twilight for casting Kristen Stewart.She is miles better than anything I saw in this film. Which is verysurprising considering that Matthew and Channing are somewhat talentedstars. So here I would have to blame the Director - Steven Soderbergh.The set, lighting and sound were very poor as well. I can only hopethat it was a failed attempt at making it seem more like a real lifedocumentary than an American Box Office hit. Otherwise there would beno excuse! A huge disappointment all round. I was not expecting highgraphic 3D male parts to jump out at me of course, but it could havebeen a lot better. The film was clearly very low budget and what I fear may have been arushed project. It was like they thought "Hey, who gives a crap if thismovie is any good...women and gay men all over the world will see itjust for Channing and Matthew. Let's push to screen it in July whilethe summer holidays are still in play and we can make a quick buck."Here is hoping it has not ruined it for any better ideas involving malestripping going forward!

Josh Ryan

(2013-05-09 20:27:40)

Good movie, but one thing kept ruining it.

I work at a movie theatre that housed this film. Out of sheercuriosity, I went to a late night employee showing of this movie. I hadno expectations other than: "It's a movie about a bunch of malestrippers. Channing Tatum is in it." I went in expecting just that andgot a bit more than I expected. Big spoiler: There's a bunch of guy'sasses thrown about the stage while Matthew McConaughey, the owner ofthe male strip club, flaunts his 'I'm-better-than-you'-ness to all ofthe screaming women that go to these events. I had fun watching thewomen's reactions and seeing how it all works back stage, andMcConaughey and Tatum play their roles quite well. There is goodtension, humor, drama, and it was very entertaining. One thing keptruining it for me. Cody Horn plays the sister of the new guy to theclub, and main focus of the story, Adam (Alex Pettyfer). It was painfulwatching her forced emotions and hearing her fake laughs while seeingher awful timing ruin a lot of the immersion I thought I was havingduring the movie. Tatum's character, unfortunately, develops a loveinterest as absolutely painfully as possible. He went from the gorgeousand goofy Olivia Munn to a very uptight, unpleasant, downrightcardboard-cutout overprotective-big-sister. By this, I mean, she neversmiled during the entire movie, her lines sounded like they were readthrough a Microsoft-speak program, and she showed no interestwhatsoever to the possibility of a relationship until the last fiveminutes of the movie. And even then, the wordplay is painful at best asshe waits for an awkward thirty second before lunging onto Tatum inclichГѓВ© 'credits-roll' romanticism.Overall, I did enjoy the movie. I didn't expect to, so that is good onthe movie's part. To describe the experience, however, imagine this:You have a plate of food in front of you. There's everything you likeon it cooked very well, but right on the edge of the plate is a tinypiece of feces. You can enjoy the meal however you want, but theexperience is lessened as you try to figure out why that crap was puton your plate in the first place.

guy-nicholas

(2013-05-09 06:42:00)

Better than I thought. And by that, I mean it was pretty good.

I will come out and say it...I did NOT want to see this movie, like,no, no, no. Only people who say the movie will get what I just did. Butanyways, this is the movie of the year that I did not want to see. Iwould rather see Battlefield Earth Part 2. For the longest time, I didnot think our theater would get this movie, because, as I've said in myother reviews, our theater is a crappy one. At the most, we'll getthree movies at a time. But one day I was driving past it, and I saw inbig letters: "FRIDAY-MAGIC MIKE!" I wasn't going to see it, I didn'twant to see it, I had no interest. But I saw it anyways. Like Ice Age4, the same lady friend I talked about wanted me to go see this. Infact, she was practically dying to see it. I had seen one trailer, andthat was all I needed for me to think this was going to be a crappymovie. I did some research, it got mixed user reviews, and a prettygood response from critics (72/100 on MetaScore). So on one drearySunday evening, me and my friend went and saw it. I was the only man inthe theater. It was not a perfect movie, but it was still good.The plot. Eh. I'd say there's two plots. That's what's complicatedabout this movie, and also one of the reasons I deducted some stars.But I'll get to the negatives and positives in a bit. On IMDb, for theplot, it says: A male stripper, Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) teaches ayounger performer (Alex Pettyfer) how to party, pick up women, and makeeasy money. Okay, I agree with this. But the trailer makes it out to beabout a male stripper who wants something more with life. He wants tokick off his custom furniture business and have a normal lifestyle, andalso try to find love along the way. Or, at least, that's what I gotfrom the trailer. I also think this is kind of true. But the plots arenot definitive. It doesn't primarily focus on just one, it goes backand forth. Some of the time it is about Alex Pettyfer's character,Adam, and his struggles with his new lifestyle as a stripper. Some ofthe time it is about Mike, and his struggles with his life and how hewants more out of it.This movie is quite good, for a few different reasons. One, ChanningTatum. No, not his abs, his butt, or any other skin you see on him. Ithink it's about time we come to terms with the fact that we've allbeen hiding: Channing Tatum is an ACTOR. He is a GOOD actor, too.Earlier this year we had 21 Jump Street, where he teamed with JonahHill and made a hilarious movie, and that also showed that he could docomedy. Channing Tatum is a GOOD actor, who sometimes picks BAD movies.But, he's starting to learn now. I like Tatum, I think he's got himselfa good career in his future, if he continues to pick the right movies.Another reason this movie is good is that it is one of the moreoriginal movies to come along this year. That always helps. The movieis also masterfully written, and directed by Steven Soderbergh, whonever disappoints.Now, the bad. There is one primary bad thing that really kind of madethis movie not as good as it could've been. This movie doesn't havelike a destination point. It doesn't really have anywhere that it'strying to go. Most movies go from Point A to Point B. This movie has aPoint A, but it doesn't have a Point B. It has it's takeoff, butthere's no specific way or lesson it's trying to teach. It leaves uswith a few questions that are left unanswered. There are a few hints ofsome lessons to be learned, but they aren't carved into stone by theend of the movie. Do you see what I'm saying? I'm trying to make myselfclear. There were so many things I wanted to know by the end of themovie. That was the main bad, and really the only complaint.Overall, this was a good movie. I enjoyed it a lot more then I thought,and yes, I am a heterosexual male. I'll be anxious to see what ChanningTatum can give us in the future, and I hope he provides us with moregood movies. I liked it. It was good, with good acting, good writing,good directing, and, yes, good dance scenes. They were pulled offreally well and choreographed nicely. I'm not going to lie.7/10

edwards_trina-560-690634

(2013-05-08 04:02:53)

No Magic at All

I could not watch this movie all the way through. I obviously knew thatthe movie was not written all about the stripping life. The dancescenes were good. The story line between Tatum and the girl he screwswith on and off was motionless to me. I didn't feel like it needed tobe in the movie or I just didn't like the way it was presented. I don'tthink the girl that played his love interest was good looking either. Idid however like her character somewhat. I know I shouldn't becommenting on this since I didn't finish watching it but if you arelooking for an entertaining movie to have a movie night with, THIS ISNOT THE MOVIE. But if you just need something to fill time, I say goahead.

davidgee

(2013-05-07 17:44:14)

Bump and grind

Wow, the crappiest movie of the year (so far)! Hard to believe this isfrom the director of ERIN BROKOVICH and TRAFFIC and CHE.Channing Tatum kind of looks as if he was assembled from 'off-cuts' ofMark Wahlberg and Tommy Lee Jones. What little plot the film hasconcerns Magic Mike's 'mentoring' of new-stripper-on-the-block Adam(Alex Pettyfer - yes, girls, it's Alex Rider in just his Calvins!).Mike falls for Adam's sister Brooke (Cody Horne), who's not happy withher brother's new career move. There's a lot of male bonding and manlyhugs but a disappointing lack of homo-erotic subtext which might havegiven the film an extra 'bite' (poison at the box-office perhaps?).Best seen as a companion piece to Paul Verhoeven's lamentableSHOWGIRLS, this is something Mr Soderbergh may want to edit from itsCV. Watching Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey andhunks out of CSI Miami and TRUE BLOOD bump and grind in butt-clenchingthongs is clearly a bit of a turn-on for the ladies, but this is a filmwhich manages simultaneously to go too far and not far enough!

rovace86

(2013-05-06 01:05:30)

Ordinary people learning from each at best

Warning Spoilers! After seeing many of the recent Channing Tatum movieslike The Eagle, J.I. Joe, and Dear John, I can say he has come alongway since his Abercombie modeling days. This film to me is consideredindie with the fact that its a low budget movie and not a lot ofrecognizable actors. the film gives the intension that the main plot isto deal with life and issues strip club's members face but no quite.It's really about growing up. It shows what happens when you take achance in knowing someone at their best and worst and it makes Channingtatum change for the best. I understand the kid's issue was finish andno clue what would happen to him if he does stay with Dallas(MathewM.). But Mike(channing) could only go so far teaching him wisdow andmoral values the rest is up to him. As he said to his sister its easyfor him because he is young. Channing Tatum had the character, themotivation, and determination for success. he only need one more lifechanging experience to see past all the BS from Dallas and the was thekid's sister.

pencritical

(2013-05-05 17:29:24)

No plot and horrible acting

I was really looking forward to this film. I wanted to see a funny anduplifting movie and I thought this sounded awesome. It wasn't. It wasjust awful. A waste of 90 minutes or so of my life. About the only thing good about this film is the dancing, which, was atbest, just OK. The script should have ended up on the junk pile. Themovie goes absolutely nowhere and is filled with characters I couldn'tcare less about. Channing Tatum was mediocre, but then he always is. I can't see whatanyone sees in him besides the body. He's not attractive and afterseeing several films he has starred in, I'm still unconvinced he hasany acting talent at all. I watched him in 21 Jump Street and almostthrew up when he stuck out his tongue (ever hear of a tongue scraperdude? - OMG - NASTY). But, he shines in comparison to Alex Pettyfer,who's character portrayal was one of the most boring performances Ihave seen on screen in ten years. The no name that plays Pettyfer'ssister wasn't much better. Over the top line delivery of over the toplines. Matthew McConaughey was gorgeous, but even he couldn't pull a rabbitout of that script. The writing was excruciatingly bad and completelyunbelievable. I wouldn't recommend it. Not even if you are really bored. Go for awalk instead, or go watch grass grow. I guarantee you it will be morefun.

DICK STEEL

(2013-05-04 02:03:13)

A Nutshell Review: Magic Mike

Fans of Channing Tatum wouldn't miss him much even if the summerblockbuster GI Joe: Retaliation is now undergoing some massive postproduction 3D, or as rumours have been buzzing about a major re-writeand reshoot so as to have Tatum's character play an expanded role thanoriginally intended. After all, his star is beginning to shine, and itwould be foolish to write his character off. Thankfully then that MagicMike did indeed make it to Singapore, and boy will it please his femalefans to see a lot more than they would have bargained for, togetherwith a number of hunks in a male revue to tease and titillate.Based loosely on Tatum's own experiences as a male stripper when he was19, Magic Mike takes us into the world of the men behind their personaand on-stage antics, which naturally comes complete with a fullrepertoire of phallic motions, pelvic thrusts and almost dry humpingfor customers who turn up in droves to watch their male fantasies inaction. And there's some truth in what the owner of the Xquisite club,Dallas (Matthew McConaughey), says about money being made from thesefantasies, as he shows the ropes to rookie Adam (Alex Pettyfer),recruited by Tatum's titular character when they met during one of hismany day jobs.And for someone down and out, but willing to do anything it takes toearn a living, this lifestyle may seem like a good option to make thatquick buck, parted easily when providing a little cock and tease tolegions of screaming fans who want to have a piece of you. The given isto be blessed with good looks, with diligence put into hours of workout sessions to sculpt a body worthy of a god. And then with the rightcontacts and chance, the doors get opened. This is the tale of two men,one a self-appointed mentor to the other, and how some get led astraybecause of availability and opportunity.But of course Adam's story comes packaged with the usual pitfalls thatcome to haunt those looking, and are eager for, quick success. Thelifestyle of drugs, women, and money from illicit means rear their uglyhead, as if to reinforce stereotypes of those engaged in the businessthat it comes part and parcel of, and it's extremely difficult torefuse unless one quits the scene totally. There are of course those,personified by Mike, who are in need as a means to get a different end,which in his case is to raise enough capital to get credit for a customfurniture business. Hopes and dreams also extend to relationships onetry to establish, especially when they usually develop from somethingsexual, and are hardly the permanence anyone is looking for. Forconvenience, Adam's sister Brooke (Cody Horn) becomes the object ofmutual attraction for Mike, as he figures out his on-off openrelationship with Joanna (Olivia Munn).Steven Soderbergh has crafted what would be one of his most profitablefilms to date, with production costing about 7 million, but havingalready raked more than 100 million at the box office. Shot in a stylethat's almost documentary in nature, the line is never crossed here,with those looking for hard sexual scenes needing to look elsewhere.Most of the time the performers stay very close to the line againstindecency, with dry humping and simulated sex being routines of choice.Some portions of the film do turn dry at times, especially when scenesaren't centered at the men, but to develop the budding relationshipbetween Brooke and Mike, and then explode when routines get theirscreen time. The dramatic scenes serve as fillers for the real feastfor the eyes, and the revue sequences were definitely a lot more fun,with various uniformed routines bound to elicit laughter from allsections of the audience, and probably tease the female crowd at thesame time as well.Until Channing Tatum returns to street dancing like from his Step Updays, Magic Mike is probably the closest a dance fan can watch him inaction, or for his fanbase to catch some of the routines he hadprobably performed when he had yet to burst onto the Hollywood scene.

patsworld

(2013-05-03 12:06:33)

Dancing Wasn't Bad, The Rest Of It Was!

The only good thing about seeing this movie was that I saw it at a$4.50 matinée price. Had I spent any more than that I would have beenreally bummed out. This is one stupid movie. No plot to speak of.Channing Tatum can dance but he certainly can't act…he proved thathandily in The Vow….and I have almost lost my interest in MatthewMcConaughey. His character was distasteful and....well, for thatmatter, so was the entire movie. Goodness knows we gals were alllooking forward to a chick flick with male strippers dancing. Why not?Some good clean fun on the big screen? So the dancing alone was okay,but this movie proved a huge disappointment to everyone in the group Iwent with. Save your money, gals. This one is not worth spending on.