Review of Magic Mike XXL (2015) by Kyle B — 01 Jul 2015

A very enjoyable sequel that I think I had more fun with than the first. This movie had better character development for the minor characters that I was upset we didn't get to know about in the first like Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, and Adam Rodriguez and let them have interesting plot points rather than pushed to the side for just Channing's Mike to have the spotlight and I think that it was in part that Channing co wrote the movie and wanted to step back and not make it all about him which was very smart.

The dialogue is even funnier than the first and more witty and screwball especially in scenes with Channing and Amber Heard. Jada Picket Smith almost stole the show for me stepping into the Matthew McConaughey roll with ease and so much power to her performance.

She really gave a nice freshness to the movie as did Twitch, Danny Glover, Andie MacDowell and a great cameo from Michael Strahan and Elizabeth Banks. I think the big climatic finale was what the first movie really got wrong by not letting the actual performances breath and actually be performed in full by every character like I said earlier letting the supporting characters get the same opportunity in screen time as Channing.

It felt more like an ensemble piece and a buddy road trip movie and it really won me over more than the first. I think this director Gregory Jacobs is a first timer being the first movie's director, Steven Soderbergh's longtime 1st Assistant Director and I think he actually captured what Soderbergh was go for better in this one focusing on their lives more than the actual jobs they have.

It has a great soundtrack, great use of Matt Bomer's singing talents, and delightful extras that seemed to be having as much fun as the audience.