Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Olivia Munn, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn
Running time: 110mins
Synopsis: Hard-working Magic Mike (Tatum) is the prize bull of the Xquisite strip club and takes wayward slacker The Kid (Pettyfer) under his wing, introducing him to the male stripper’s world of money, women and good times. But Mike soon falls for The Kid’s sister Brooke (Horn), who forces him to consider his way of life…
A film about male strippers? You’d have to be some sorta weirdo to watch a bunch of muscle-marys prancing around in their pants – right?! Wrong, Mr Meathead. Here in the 21st century we take a more measured view of the world, and one need only take a peep at this show to realise its brilliance. Directed by contemporary veteran Soderbergh, MAGIC MIKE is an expertly presented package, bulging with hilarious cock jokes, blossoming romance, and inspiring introspection. Channing Tatum is an actor on the up in Hollywood and whilst it’s easy to scoff at a chisel-chinned jock, the man has undeniable gravitas exemplified in MAGIC MIKE. This film is a case of art imitating life; Mike is Mr Perfect – handsome, hardworking and one hell of a dancer. This movie is practically Tatum’s biopic (including his brief pre-Hollywood stint as a male stripper).
Refreshingly, MAGIC MIKE isn’t as much a by-the-numbers boy-meets-girl film as it appears. Narrative-wise, the film takes a naturalistic meandering approach that belays Soderbergh’s indie roots and gives the film the feel of a static road movie. Through beach parties, narcotic-fuelled raves and riotously-funny strip acts, Soderbergh creates an on-screen party world of sun-drenched hedonism and youthful exuberance that’ll have you yearning to return to your own salad days (if you’re over 30). This is one of the film’s biggest successes – it creates an exciting, charged atmosphere that makes it the kind of movie-world you’d like to live in.
At the centre of MAGIC MIKE is Xquisite; a small-time shack of a strip club boasting a loyal stable of studs with big dreams (and dicks to match). This ragbag of rogues is led by the affably-arrogant owner/stripper Dallas (McConaughey) and bloody hell, he’s fantastic! This film should be called Magic McConaughey because he’s so darn good. Not only is that lax southern drawl of his hypnotic, but he minces, preens, and gyrates his way through each scene to insatiably funny effect (watch out for the nod to his 1999 bongo related arrest). Whilst the odd strip scene actually showcases some of Tatum’s serious dance skills (lest we forget his first major role in 2006’s dance-tacular STEP UP) this locale is mostly for laughs. The routines we see throughout the film are absurdly brilliant. The strippers are just as humorous off the stage where we observe great blokish banter centred around a vocation that requires an amusing blend of butchness and vanity. This is also the setting for an expertly framed cock in a penis pump shot – it’ll take you a second to realise what you’re looking at but it’s a genuine filmic gem and THN’s second favourite comically framed cock (2nd only to Joe Lo Truglio’s ‘wakeup call’ in WANDERLUST).
Although this film inevitably falls into the rom-com category, it’s far better than that. There are no ridiculous gross-out gags or awkward sex-ploits, and it’s not overpowering schmaltz. It’s actually a realistic representation of how crushes form when two people’s lives intersect. Mike pursues Brooke with caddish charm but she resists due to a snobbish view that his lifestyle is sleazy and immature – a perspective that Mike may well be in denial of, and will have to face by the end of the film. As a love interest the Mogwai-mouthed Cody Horn is perfectly cast, blending her girl next door looks and husky voice into a nonchalant character whose evasiveness only makes her sexier.
MAGIC MIKE is not going to change the entertainment world – it’s simple, shameless and frivolous fun with the added bonus of a bit of depth and a tangible cinematic tone. Most importantly this is not a rom-com, this is a road movie with a coming of age moral, a subtly sweet romance and plenty of laughs. Magic by name and magic by nature, the supporting cast are brilliant and McConaughey is at his absolute comic best. Tatum has the all the right moves that makes this the feel good film of the summer.
MAGIC MIKE hits cinema screens 11th July
