Movie Review: Magic Mike

Magic Mike
Genre: Drama

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn

Release date: June 26, 2012

IMDB, official site

Synopsis:

A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.

Review:

Oh yeah. I totally went to see Magic Mike. How could I resist that hotness that is every cast member of this movie? I am not really a huge Chaning Tatum fan normally. He's fine but I don't think I would ever go see a movie just for him. But he, along with the draw of a mostly naked Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello was just too delicious to pass up.

Adam (Pettyfer), the new kid in town is taken under the wing of seasoned stripper and entrepreneur (Magic) Mike played by Channing Tatum. Of course, the party life of a successful stripper goes to the kid's head and he starts to go down a path of debauchery. It sounds dire but it really never gets quite that serious. The main character of the story is really Magic Mike, the stripper with a heart of gold. I've never been a huge Channing Tatum fan (nothing against him at all) but I have to admit that he's very charming and likable in the film. Matthew McConaughey is pitch perfect as the somewhat sleazy manager of the show. His character is oiled up and wears the most ridiculous outfits. But McConaughey really commits himself to the role I really can't imagine someone else playing it better. There is one scene where he is teaching Adam to dance while looking in a mirror that is hilarious.

The plot for this one is pretty predictable. It does feel like a Steven Soderbergh movie though, with lots of long conversations between Tatum and Adam's sister (played by the wonderfully sarcastic Cody Horn). The dance numbers were pretty awesome. They're so cheesy that I can imagine them being real strip numbers. Channing Tatum definitely knows how to dance, too. Sadly Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello don't have very many lines in this. They are more man candy then anything else, but very pretty man candy.

If you're looking for a good time, Magic Mike is a fun flick to see with your girlfriends.

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