MOVIE REVIEW by: Jenny Aluning
MAGIC MIKE (R)
Director: Steve Soderbergh
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Mangianello, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn
RATING: 4/5
Oh, c’mon! What other excuse did I need to go and watch ‘Magic Mike’?!’ It’s Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello aaannddd Matthew McConaughey half-naked though most of the movie!! For me, and the mostly female audience who watched with me, we needed no other reason than that! But, surprisingly, ‘Magic Mike’ turned out to have a lot of depth and a lot of heart.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, ‘Magic Mike’ has long been rumoured to be based on Channing Tatum’s (who also produced the film) early history as a stripper. To the delight of many a female (including this one), the film did not shy away from showing exactly what a stripper does – on stage or off! There was a feast of jaw-dropping, eye-popping, OMG!, heart palpitations-inducing, “I have to fan myself!”, moments which turned us into a pretty raucous crowd! And that’s without alcohol! But for all that male yumminess on screen, the film also did not shy away from showing the destructive side of that life of easy money and easy women.
The film revolves around Tatum’s character, Magic Mike. A male stripper/entrepreneur with a dream to build custom furniture and a life most men would kill for…or so he thought. It is when he befriends 19-year old, Adam (Pettyfer) and brings him into his world that he begins to see the cracks in his fairytale life.
Adam (Alex Pettyfer) gets tips from Dallas (Matthew MaConaughey)
To me, Channing Tatum was a revelation in this movie. He played Mike with such ease, charm and confidence, clearly a man who knew he could have any woman he wants, and then playing those moments when his character realizes the flaws in his life with such heartbreaking simplicity that I couldn’t help but sympathize with him. Two moments illustrated this so clearly for me. One was his halting and almost confused attempt at explaining to Brooke, Adam’s sister (played by Cody Horn. I loved her banter and chemistry with Tatum! It was so much fun!) that he was more than his job – it was as if he was trying to convince himself as much as her. And two, was when he was listening to Adam happily thank him for his life, completely oblivious to his downward spiral – he had been lying in a pool of his own vomit a few days earlier! Tatum’s Mike wore a pained smile and a look in his eyes that spoke of his regret that he had brought his friend to this. Tatum proved that he could bring more to the movie than just his amazing bod and killer dance moves.
A fantastic supporting cast also added to ‘Magic Mike’s’ more-than-a-stripper movie quality. I had already praised Cody Horn’s chemistry with Tatum but I was impressed by her cool-as-a-cucumber portrayal of a woman less than impressed with stripper Mike but who was intrigued with man she saw glimpses of underneath. Also impressive was Matthew McConaughey. He plays Dallas, the owner of Xquisite Male Dance Revue, the club where Mike works. Absolutely brilliant in the role, McConaughey’s Dallas was egotistical, narcissistic – a man who absolutely relished his time on stage and the female adoration it brings him. At first, he seemed a genuine leader/coach to his dancers. But as the movie progresses, one begins to see that his interests lie only with himself and at those times, McConaughey was as quietly menacing as a snake waiting to strike. It was mesmerizing to watch.
So, should you see ‘Magic Mike’? Hell, yeah!! Because it’s more than just about those prime examples of the male physique (*sigh*)…it’s about one’s identity. How DO you hang on to yours when all everyone knows about you is what they see on the outside? Do you ever really leave the stage? An intriguing question indeed.
Photo source: ComingSoon
-
Only $1
Latest Issue Issue #25 featuring: Amelia-Rose Gattelari and this month's nominees for StarCentral's A-List. Grab yours!
69 Comments
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appeal. I must say that you’ve done a awesome job with this. In addition, the blog loads super fast for me on Firefox. Superb Blog!
Great stuff excellent information
I like this site very much so much excellent information.
Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice whilst you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast offered shiny transparent idea
I’ve recently started a website, the information you provide on this website has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work.
I’m really impressed together with your writing talents as neatly as with the layout to your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it your self? Either way keep up the nice high quality writing, it’s uncommon to look a great blog like this one today..
I regard something genuinely special in this website.
I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this information So i am happy to convey that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to do not forget this website and give it a glance on a constant basis.
A lot of thanks I ought say, impressed along with your web site. I will post this to my facebook wall.
Hi there! I just want to give a huge thumbs up for the good info you have here on this post. I will likely be coming back to your weblog for more soon.
I always was concerned in this subject and stock still am, appreciate it for putting up.
I’m often to blogging and i really respect your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.
I am really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days
I’ve read a few good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make such a fantastic informative web site.
Keep up the wonderful work, I read few articles on this internet site and I conceive that your website is very interesting and has got circles of great information.
I wish to show my appreciation to the writer just for rescuing me from such a problem. Just after browsing through the internet and coming across techniques which were not pleasant, I believed my life was done. Living devoid of the strategies to the issues you have fixed as a result of the guideline is a serious case, and the kind that could have badly affected my entire career if I had not discovered the blog. Your main expertise and kindness in handling a lot of stuff was excellent. I am not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t come upon such a stuff like this. I can at this time relish my future. Thanks very much for this expert and effective help. I won’t think twice to propose your site to anyone who will need assistance on this topic.
Howdy very nice web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally…I am glad to search out numerous helpful information here within the post, we want work out extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.
My brother suggested I might like this web site. He was entirely right. This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Post a Comment