Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Tatum Channing, Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Cody Horn, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Mann, Gabriel Iglesias, Adam Rodriguez
Rating: (R16)
2 stars (out of 5)
While we never doubted that sex sells there is still the little issue of whether the film is any good.
The star, Channing Tatum, did in fact work as a male stripper in his late teens. One day on set he was sharing funny stories from that time in his life and someone said he should turn them into a movie. So the fun/sordid life of the male stripper has an authenticity that other movies rarely achieve.
Unfortunately, authenticity does not preclude boredom.
Once you get over the wonder of being a fly on the wall you start to understand why flies fly into windows - anything to get away.
Still, why pretend that it is the plot drawing the crowds. We have been promised male strippers and Magic Mike is not shy about showing us male flesh. Unfortunately, while the flesh is buffed and waxed, it is not particularly erotic.
Tatum, as Magic Mike, does have some dance moves, which is more than the rest of the actors playing the male revue can claim. Either by intent or fluke the routines are funny rather than a turn-on but even so, by the end of the midweek screening I did not want to see another pelvic thrust - at least until the weekend.
Best thing: Matthew McConaughey is a hoot as the leader of the gang, even giving us a solo on his bongo drums.
Worst thing: Apart from getting their kit off, nothing much really happens - or perhaps I am missing the point.
See it with: The same people you would take to a real male strip show.
- Written by Christine Powley.
