Review of Magic Mike XXL (2015) by Leon B — 12 Dec 2015

Review:

I knew what I was getting into when I rented this movie but I really didn't know that it was going to be so graphic. The way that Tatum was flipping those women over was quite athletic and the dance moves were definitely erotic, so I can understand why women will love this film but from a man's point of view, I really don't think that it was made for us. Don't get me wrong, they are very talented at what they do and the choreography is top form but there just wasn't enough elements to entertain the male market. Anyway, after building his own company and giving up the stripping business, Mike (Chaning Tatum) feels that there is a gap in his life and when he gets an invitation to meet up with his old pals that are still in the stripping business, he decides to join them on one last performance at Myrtle Beach were they hold a yearly stripper convention. His fellow strippers also want to call it a day after the convention, so there close friend gets a bus and they head off for there last showdown. On the way there, they meet up with a few old acquaintances and when there driver/MC crashes the bus, he ends up in hospital so they don't have an MC for the night. Mike then goes to an old friend, Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith), for her help and she hooks him up with some good contacts to help him. She also meets him at the convention and she decides to MC on the night and she helps them with some new moves so there final show will go down a storm with the ladies. When all the preparation is done and the King's of Tampa have there moves perfected, they enter the show with confidence and they give the ladies a night to remember. It really seemed like a road movie at the beginning of the film because Mike hadn't been with the group for three years so he has to clear up some bad blood for the road trip to go smoothly. Once all that is out of the way, it's straight down to business but the group never seem to be out of stripper mode, even when they are with people that they don't know. You don't get to see the characters individually so there isn't much depth to each of the dancers, except for Mike at the beginning. I did miss Dallas (Matthew McConaughey), who was excellent in the first movie but Chaning Tatum wasn't bad as the leading character. Anyway, it's a watchable movie which gives you an insight about the world of exotic dancing but from a man's point of view, it didn't do anything for me. Watchable!

Round-Up:

Chaning Tatum, 35, really did show off his dancing and physical expertise in this film and I must say, he did do a good job. After watching the terrible Jupiter Ascending he has definitely comeback with a bang with this movie and he has showed that he can cover any genre, after watching his brilliant performance in the Foxcatcher. With Gambit, 23 Jump Street, Guys and Dolls and Hail Caesar in the pipeline he is definitely making a name for himself in Hollywood. There are other cameos in this movie, like Jada Pinkett Smith, a horny Andie MacDowell and Elizabeth Banks but most of the screen time is on Tatum who has taken over from Dallas in the first movie. Anyway, the film was directed by Gregory Jacobs who also brought you Criminal and Wind Chill starring Emily Blunt. He also was an assistant director on the Ocean Eleven franchise and I did see that he stole the end fireworks scene at the end from them. I'll give him top marks for putting together a decent group of dancers who really did have talent but I honestly don't think that it was made for a male audience.

Budget: $14.8million.

Worldwide Gross: $123million.

I recommend this movie to people who are into their music/drama/comedies starring Channing Tatum, Juan Piedrahita, Josh Diogo, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez, Jada Pinkett Smith, Elizabeth Banks and Andie MacDowell. 4/10.