"Magic Mike XXL": The Male Stripper Movie Women Want

Magic Mike XXL

It’s always interesting to watch a film that is not intended for you at all. This has been my experience with Fifty Shades of Grey and the first Magic Mike. Each time, I wasn’t watching the movies so much as I was conducting a social observation: what do women want in their movies? Most people think of romantic movies when they think of movies intended for women, but those movies are really meant for couples to watch. Fifty Shades of Grey and the Magic Mike films are meant mainly for women…and the occasional man (e.g. me) that ends up watching it. Fifty Shades ended up not revealing what women wanted in movies, in my opinion. It was more about giving women a forbidden event movie to watch. The first Magic Mike was closer to what they want, but it was bogged down by a few serious, dramatic plot elements. In other words, women wanted to have a bit more fun with a movie about male strippers. Magic Mike XXL aims to finally be the movie women want.

First off, look at the title. The joke of it alone lets you know that this time around fun is the main goal. Gone are the drug addiction, relationship, and scheming McConaughey subplots. Now, the boys get back together for a road trip to the male stripper convention in Myrtle Beach. The stakes of this movie simply concern getting from Florida to Myrtle Beach. If it’s not obvious that there is nothing at stake, a character at the end before the big performance even points out that, “This is not a competition!” Because of this, Magic Mike is the better film, but Magic Mike XXL is the probably the one women would prefer to watch. That’s not to say that women only want movies with no drama; it’s just that male stripper movies are more enjoyable drama-free.

Stripping and having a good time is the plot of the film. Most of it is enjoyable (as with the first movie, I found the stripping scenes funny), though the stripping sequences go on longer than I would like (perhaps they aren’t long enough for other viewers). There is one thing that is undeniable, though: the reaction shots of characters go on too long in non-stripping scenes. During conversations, the camera lingers on people listening to others for just a few seconds too long. It’s a style decision that makes regular scenes awkward. It’s odd when a film’s editing becomes apparent. Perhaps this is due to Steven Soderbergh stepping down as director and Gregory Jacobs (typically an assistant director) stepping in. It doesn’t ruin the movie or anything, but it does make a few moments come across as odd.

Perhaps the long reaction shots are meant to make the audience think about the conversation, as well. This movie isn’t just about pleasing women with stripping. Nearly every scene features a conversation about what women want. So those extended reactions might be there to make the audience reflect more than usual (though I would argue they distract viewers more than focus them). Regardless, this is a film about what women want physically and emotionally. Conversations occur with older women about how they want to feel wanted, listened to, worshipped, etc. (These are probably the moments the few men in the audience are really supposed to pay attention to.)

Of course, it’s easy for dudes like Channing Tatum and Joe Manganiello to provide what women want. But it’s interesting that all these men who have all the answers for women can’t form lasting relationships with them. If they all had relationships there would be inherent drama, though, and Magic Mike XXL does not have time for that.

If you turn off your brain (which I was unable to do, but, once again, this movie wasn’t intended for me), it’s easy to get on board with these guys, and their no-stakes road trip. Tatum is effortlessly charismatic and funny, as is Manganiello. Most of the other guys are just along for the ride, but they make it easy to feel like you’re partying with them.

In the end, that’s what Magic Mike XXL is: a party you get to feel involved in. And that’s probably exactly what some women want in the theater. If men have so many mindless, turn-off-your-brain action movies to enjoy, why can’t women have a similar experience tailored to their interests? Magic Mike XXL is there to fill that void. Oh, and much like the title, pun intended.

Magic Mike XXL receives a:

Seen "Side Effects" Yet? Don't Read This if You Haven't.

 

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Scott Z. Burns, starring Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Channing Tatum - Rated R

 

A good psychological thriller is hard to find these days.  This might be because when one hears “psychological,” they automatically assume there’s going to be a twist ending or something, and because of this, the writers try to throw nothing but curveballs at the audience, which leaves everything a jumbled mess (kind of like this sentence).  Thankfully, director Steven Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns don’t try to mess with the audience too much with Side Effects.   Instead, they provide a finely crafted thriller that will leave you guessing here and there, but will never make you feel cheated.

 

Side Effects marks the end of Soderbergh’s directing career (I don’t buy it, but that’s the story), and if it is, then it is a fine end.  The film is all over the place in a good way.  At times I thought it was a condemnation of any number of things: pharmaceuticals, psychologists, Wall Street, and/or our justice system.  The argument could be made that the film is about any single one of those things.  That doesn’t mean Side Effects is some sloppily pieced together political message movie; it just means that it makes you think and keeps your attention. 

 

The film, without delving too far into spoiler territory, is about a depressed woman (Rooney Mara) who becomes the focal point of a debate about antidepressants after an incident.  Her doctor (Jude Law) comes under scrutiny because he prescribed the pills, and he basically turns into a conspiracy theorist trying to figure out what went wrong. 

 

The film is much denser than that synopsis, and that’s the point.  Soderbergh puts together the film in such a way that it feels natural for it to shift around because we’re shifting with the characters.  He films depression in a very effective way.  The use of lighting, focus, and camera angles convey a troubled, distracted mind without being too showy.  In fact, this film could have been just about a depressed person and it would be worth watching for the style of it alone.  The labyrinthine plot allows the film to be more than that as the viewer goes along with Jude Law as he unravels it all.

 

Style and plot can carry a movie just fine, but the acting has to be up to the challenge as well.  Luckily, Side Effects has a very talented cast.  First, Mara, who has already proven herself with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, channels a depressed, damaged person to near perfection.  Her performance is actually quite layered for a role that could be a plain, weepy part if handled differently (I’ll explain more in the spoilers section).  Jude Law is always good, but I really enjoyed this performance because it allowed him to be a bit crazy, and he excels when he gets to be unhinged.  Current do-no-wrong superstar Channing Tatum continues his streak here.  And Catherine Zeta-Jones rounds out the cast nicely as a slightly mysterious psychologist.

 

All in all, Side Effects was a very pleasant surprise amid the usual crappy/boring material released during this time.  If Soderbergh does truly leave the director’s chair, then this is as good a film to go out on as any, but I hope he’s not finished.  Side Effects doesn’t strike me as the work of someone at the end of their career.  This is a film that shows the prolific Soderbergh has hit his stride, but he’s decided to stop running regardless.  It’s too bad, because I want to see more films like Side Effects.  Having your head messed with can be fun sometimes.

 

Random Thoughts (SPOILERS)

I nearly didn’t write this review because of the possibility of spoiling the film.  This is why I’ve waited so long to publish the review, as well.  When it comes to films with genuine surprises, even a vague review can ruin the experience.  I went into the film knowing very little and I’m sure that’s why it worked for me.  Hopefully, you’re only stumbling upon this review after you’ve seen the film. 

 

Anyway, now that you’ve seen it, you know why Mara’s performance was, in fact, layered.  She was never depressed, but only faking it.  This is an easy role to defend, of course.  If she did terribly, then that was on purpose because her character wasn’t actually depressed.  Or if she did it well, then that shows her character was a good actress, much like Mara herself.  I’m going with the latter because she had me fooled.  I totally bought her depression, much like everyone onscreen.  I was shocked when she stabbed Tatum, and I was equally surprised when it became more and more evident that it was premeditated murder.  I went through the exact same feelings that Jude Law’s character must have gone through.  That is why I loved this film.  The filmmakers put me through the experiences of the characters on an emotional level.  Sure, action directors place you in the action all the time, but it is rare for a viewer to be on the same level as a character in a psychological thriller.  Usually, you’re able to be at least one step ahead of each character in a film like this, but I certainly was not.  That just made this film immensely enjoyable for me.  It truly surprised me, and I feel like it’s harder and harder to be surprised by movies. 

 

Of course, maybe I’m just an idiot.  Regardless, this film was smart enough to truly keep me guessing.  If I had known it was a film like that going in, I think I would have figured it out and enjoyed it much less.  

"Magic Mike"

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Reid Carolin, starring, Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, and Matthew McConaughey - Rated R

If you only watch one Channing Tatum movie that appears to be aimed exclusively at women, make it this one.

 

First off, let me state than I am a man and I watched Magic Mike.  Not only did I watch it, I wanted to watch it.  I did go see it with my girlfriend, but she didn’t drag me to it or anything.  In fact, I asked her if she wanted to see it.  This was a film directed by Steven Soderbergh, after all, and he tends to make interesting films.  As I sat in the theater on opening night, I started to doubt my choice.  The theater was filled with very talkative, excited women and maybe three or four fellow men.  There were cheers when the lights went out, and when Channing Tatum’s naked rear end is revealed in the first few minutes, the crowd erupted with glee.  I definitely felt out of place.  I started to wonder if Magic Mike was truly meant for women and women only.  As I continued to watch I realized that all the women on Facebook and the men shaking their heads when they saw the previews were wrong: Magic Mike is not a movie for women, it’s simply a good movie. 

Note to women: This review is mainly an appeal to guys to give this movie a chance.  I know most women definitely want to see this and from what I can tell, they have really enjoyed it.  So don’t look to me if you’re not sure if you want to see it or not.  Ask some of your female friends, because I’m sure their opinion means a lot more than mine on this one.

Magic Mike is a movie about male strippers and that is why men refuse to watch it and women insist on going in droves.  But this isn’t just a nonstop stripping performance.  Sure, there are plenty of scenes with mostly nude dudes (a couple too many in my opinion and about a hundred too few in a woman’s opinion), but there is still a story, and an entertaining one at that. 

The story itself is a bit on the plain side, once you get past the male stripper aspect of it.  Channing Tatum plays the titular Mike, an ambitious entrepreneur who is only stripping to bankroll something a bit more normal.  He comes across Adam (Alex Pettyfer), a young man drifting aimlessly through life.  Mike introduces Adam to the world of male stripping and things get a bit more complicated after that.  Not to give anything away, but Magic Mike contains all the usual elements of a mentor-protégé film.  There are good times, drugs, serious moments, highs, lows, etc.  The important thing to know is that the film never delves too far into melodrama because it really is a movie about having a good time.

Women will definitely have a better time with this than most men.  But once again, men should not avoid this.  Hear me out.  The stripping/dancing scenes may be intended for women, but not exclusively.  I wasn’t going to look away or hide my eyes for fear of losing my heterosexuality, so I did watch all the scenes and I found myself laughing quite consistently.  I found the dancing to be ridiculous to the point of hilarity.  It’s not bad dancing (trust me, I know I can’t move like that), it’s good, which makes it funny.  Maybe women find it sensual or something, but I found it hilarious…and impressive.  As much as I hate to admit it, Tatum can dance to the point that it is the equivalent of an action scene in a regular summer movie.

Something else I hate to admit, I’m really enjoying Tatum’s work lately.  He was hilarious in 21 Jump Street and he pretty much carries this film.  He doesn’t have to do much in the way of heavy lifting, but he’s still the anchor of the film.  Alex Pettyfer does okay as an aimless kid and transitions well into brashness.   The supporting cast is serviceable, but Matthew McConaughey is the only true standout.  As the emcee of the strip club, I believe he has found the role he was born to play.  It seems natural to hear him drawl out his catch phrase (“All right, all right, all right”) and he even looks at home playing the bongos on stage.  He coaches the strippers with a hilarious intensity and he’s capable of being realistically slimy when things don’t go his way.  He definitely had a lot of fun with this role.

The actors were never the reason I wanted to see this, though.  It was because it was a Soderbergh film.  To be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed because it was kind of plainly directed.  Sure, you get the lighting and coloring of a Soderbergh film and a documentary feel to it, but I found it a bit lacking in style.  Thankfully, the humor makes up for it.

Overall, Magic Mike is an enjoyable, funny film that both men and women can enjoy.  Still disagree and think this is a chick flick?  All I can say is watch it and find out.  I will leave you with this, though.  I was dragged to see another Channing Tatum movie earlier this year: The Vow.  I left that film with almost no opinion of it (I didn’t even write a review) because I could tell that it was not meant for me.  I walked out of the theater after Magic Mike and I definitely had an opinion and that was, “That was a fun movie…even if I did have to see a few butts.” 

Random Thoughts (SPOILERS, I guess?)

Kevin Nash's appearance was a funny surprise.  It was even funnier when he attempted to dance.  That man cannot move.  He was funny, though.

I wasn't entirely clear what the deal was with Olivia Munn near the end.  If that was her fiance at the end then he was way too cool with Tatum showing up like that.  I guess the odds are that he was not her fiance, but just her date or something.  I did like the whole point of her character, though.  She was there to make Tatum feel like so many tossed away women.  She keeps lying about how she is going to call him and once she finds something lasting, she ditches him altogether.