LAFF 2012 : MAGIC MIKE

Ladies, hold on to your panties… because sexy just took over the big screen!

Mike has a lot on his plate. He is a roofer, he owns his own detailing company, and one day he hopes to open his own his own custom furniture business. Oh, did I forget to mention that he’s a stripper in an all male review. On one of his roofing gigs, Mike meets Adam “The Kid” and ends up bringing him into the fast paced, crazy world of dancing, women and money.

First thing’s first… a round of applause for the casting in this film. Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Matthew McConaughey are all fantastic actors. I’ll just go ahead and throw it out there that they all happen to be incredibly well-built and attractive. This film is one big handsome sandwich, and the audience is in the middle. Trust me, I am not complaining.

Of course, this isn’t just about pretty faces. There is a bit of a story here. Mike wants to be more than what he is. He dreams of owning his own business, but because of his poor credit he is at a loss to gain the backing that he needs. At first glance, he seems to have everything figured out, but he still has a lot to learn. As for Adam “The Kid”, he gets lost in the world of money, women and partying. They do a great job of showcasing the dark side of the lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, Steven Soderbergh doesn’t completely trash it, but he shows that while there is money to be made, it is also to get caught up and lose your way. The story isn’t fully developed, but something tells me that is not what is going to bring audiences to the theater for this one. There is nothing wrong with going to a film for fun! Not every film has to shoot for the Oscar. Sometimes it’s nice to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery.

The only person that I had a problem with, character-wise, was Brooke (Cody Horn), Adam’s sister. I get where they were going with her character. They wanted her to be normal, average, and the complete opposite of anyone in their partying lifestyle. I think they went a little overboard. The chemistry between Brooke and Mike didn’t feel organic or real. It felt forced and awkward. The character of Mike didn’t really need a romance to fill out the story. I am just glad that the romance took a backseat so we could concentrate on Mike’s development. (That last sentence was not meant to sound dirty, but it works either way you interpret it… Just sayin’!)

What I admire most about this film is that these guys really committed to their roles. They didn’t play spoofs of male strippers, they took on their roles. They learned the dancing, sported the scantily clad costumes, and made sure that their bodies were in amazing shape (not that they weren’t in shape before). Sure, parts of this film are goofy, silly, and humorous, but it’s not a spoof movie. The dance numbers alone prove that. Especially Tatum’s crazy, amazing moves. My jaw dropped several times during the film at just how talented he really is. The male review doesn’t get all the fun though. McConaughey not only wrote and performs a song in the film, but he also struts his stuff as Dallas, the club owner. I guess he couldn’t let the youngins’ have all the fun! Either way, he fits in perfectly!

They really hit the nail on the head with the soundtrack for this one too! “It’s Raining Men” by Countre Black and “Feels Like the First Time”  by Foreigner add to the hyped up fun of the film. Also, it was fitting for Dallas (McConaughey) to dance to “Calling Doctor Love” by Kiss. Add some “My Pony” by Ginuwine, and this film has some solid, sexy snacks for the ears!

Look, I am going to be honest with you. This is not necessarily a date movie, and I don’t really see a lot guys enjoying all of the “talents” showcased in this film. Heck, this isn’t really a movie that you go to just for story, but if you are comfortable with your sexuality and looking for a fun film, then you will enjoy MAGIC MIKE.

OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5 stars

MAGIC MIKE hits theaters June 29th

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