Review of Magic Mike XXL (2015) by Carlos R — 09 Jul 2015

#MagicMikeXXL #instareview #RoyalReview.

#RatedR Running time: 1 hr 55 mins.

#Carlosatthemovies #Sunday #July5.

I had to do a bit of research before watching this movie. My research: I rewatched the first #MagicMike to familiarize myself with the story and characters. Yep, I take my work very seriously. So, the good news and the bad news . . . the good news: I liked this one better than the first. The bad: the first one was not as good after my recent viewing.

This one picks up three years after the first movie. Pretty much everyone from the first movie returns and those who are missing are explained away. Gone are #MatthewMcConaugheyâ??s Dallas, #AlexPettyferâ??s the Kid/Adam, and Cody Hornâ??s Brooke (Mikeâ??s love interest and the Kidâ??s sister). Joining in the fun are #JadaPinkettSmith, #AmberHeard (real life wife of #JohnnyDepp), #MichaelStrahan (???!!!), #Twitch (of #SYTYCD), #DonaldGlover (aka #ChildishGambino), #ElizabethBanks, and my girl, #AndieMacDowell.

As the movie opens, Mike has left the stripper game behind. Heâ??s now making customized furniture and living with Brooke. The gang soon returns to entice Mike to join them for #onelasthoorah at a stripperâ??s convention (yep) in Myrtle Beach. Mike initially resists the invitation. That is, until he hears #Ginuwineâ??s â??Ponyâ?? during one of his furniture-making sessions. That scene, still early in the film, lets us know this is less serious MAGIC MIKE movie. The rest is pretty much a road movie. The boys find every chance they can to shake their bon bons.

The overall tone of this movie is much lighter than the first one. The first movie focused mainly on Mike and the Kid. Mike is still front and center here (duh, itâ??s #ChanningTatum), but the director/writer spread the wealth. We soon learn, though, that most of the others are not really that good at dancing. Still the actors look like they are having fun, so you canâ??t help but join in.

Jada Pinkett Smith is a standout. As is Amber Heard. And with Twitch added to the dancing mix, he and Channing make up for the lack of dancing skills of the other actors (and the slim plot).

My score: #8outof10.

#JoeManganiello #KevinNash #GabrielIglesias #MattBomer #AdamRodriguez.