Guess who's taking over!
With Magic Mike XXL drawing in women for it's long weekend release, I decided to take a look at the first Magic Mike (2012). Now I got Brian to watch this movie with me by agreeing to watch 21 Jumpstreet (2012). It was like we were having an exchange of Channing Tatum movies. Between the two I preferred Magic Mike. Staring most notably Channing Tatum as Mike "Magic Mike" Lane and Matthew McConaughey as Dallas (Mike's boss and male stripper), Magic Mike made $167.2 million in the box office with a budget of only $7 million.
The movie opens up with club MC Dallas getting a crowd of women all riled up for some male strippers or male entertainers that are about to come out. It then goes to Mike Lane, aka Magic Mike, waking up and giving the audience a nice shot of butt as he starts his day. Mike's dream is to start his own business: Mike's Custom Furniture. Mike works construction during the day, where he meets Adam. He gives Adam a ride after Adam's car won't start. Adam lives with his sister Brooke, who is upset that Adam won't get a job and stick to it. Brooke has a boyfriend who works insurance. At dinner, Adam gets up, leaves, and see Mike in the crowd. Mike gets him into the club, saying that Adam owes him.
Adam's sister confronts him about his box filled with stuff for work and shaving his legs. She then proceeds to find out where her brother and Mike works. She instructions him to take care of her brother. We also see Mike struggle to get his furniture business up and running. As time progresses, Mike and Brooke get closer while Adam gets addicted to the life that Dallas an the other strippers lead, though many have dreams aside from being strippers. This leads to Mike having to bail out Adam several times and having to make a few big life changing decisions.
When I first saw this movie advertised, the only thought in my mind was that it was women's porn that could be shown in theaters. So, it was quite sometime before I saw it in that movie exchange with Brian. In a lot of ways, I was wrong. Yes, there are lots of good looking men taking their clothes off. However, there is also a lot of plot. From Mike wanting to get his furniture business off the ground to his relationship with those around him, especially Brooke and Adam, the movie strikes a good balance between the plot and the stripping. The plot will progress then Mike and Adam go to strip at a sorority house. Sometimes it was painful to watch Adam, not the stripping part but the choices that he makes are not the best.
I think that Brian puts it best that while it has a good plot the movie only feels like half of a movie. We see the big choices being made and then nothing. End of movie. No strong conclusion to what happens to those that follow Dallas, to Adam, even to Mike. That feeling of it being half finished is why I rated it as low as I did. I was hoping that Magic Mike XXL would be the second half of that story or at least provide some sort of conclusion, but that is for another time.
As for the music, I could take it or leave it, but it serves its purpose. The choreography is fantastic. From both the group dances to the individual ones, every move is on point. Re-watching Magic Mike, I could also see the different styles of each man, including Tarzan who doesn't really do a lot of dancing due to his bad knees. The camera angles and variety of shots also help to illustrate the difference between Mike and Adam's job and the "rest" of their lives. It also includes a nice through the floor shots of the dancing. I fully believe that Channing Tatum's background as a stripper and being a dance heavy movies like Step Up helped this movie out quite a bit.
In the end, this movie isn't a heavy one or one that is just this side of not being a porn. Magic Mike is fun. Even Brian liked it. They also did a lot with the talent and the budget they had to work with. So, when I found out about Magic Mike XXL, I was excited. But you're gonna have to wait for another time for my thoughts on the sequel.
When I first saw this movie advertised, the only thought in my mind was that it was women's porn that could be shown in theaters. So, it was quite sometime before I saw it in that movie exchange with Brian. In a lot of ways, I was wrong. Yes, there are lots of good looking men taking their clothes off. However, there is also a lot of plot. From Mike wanting to get his furniture business off the ground to his relationship with those around him, especially Brooke and Adam, the movie strikes a good balance between the plot and the stripping. The plot will progress then Mike and Adam go to strip at a sorority house. Sometimes it was painful to watch Adam, not the stripping part but the choices that he makes are not the best.
As for the music, I could take it or leave it, but it serves its purpose. The choreography is fantastic. From both the group dances to the individual ones, every move is on point. Re-watching Magic Mike, I could also see the different styles of each man, including Tarzan who doesn't really do a lot of dancing due to his bad knees. The camera angles and variety of shots also help to illustrate the difference between Mike and Adam's job and the "rest" of their lives. It also includes a nice through the floor shots of the dancing. I fully believe that Channing Tatum's background as a stripper and being a dance heavy movies like Step Up helped this movie out quite a bit.
In the end, this movie isn't a heavy one or one that is just this side of not being a porn. Magic Mike is fun. Even Brian liked it. They also did a lot with the talent and the budget they had to work with. So, when I found out about Magic Mike XXL, I was excited. But you're gonna have to wait for another time for my thoughts on the sequel.
Rating: 7.5/10
Buy on BluRay: For a fun filled time? Yes.
So what did you think of Magic Mike? Will you be seeing Magic Mike XXL? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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