Sandra YimMovie Review: Magic Mike XXL
Warning to husbands and boyfriends: Hide your wives and girlfriends. If your other half fancies rock-hard chocolate abs and gyrating booties, she’s probably in for a good time at Magic Mike XXL. After a 3-year hiatus from the stage and dance pole, Magic Mike and the boys are back with a bigger package (get your mind of the gutter) and a whole lot steamier act.
Sadly, Xquisite club owner Dallas (Matthew McConaughey) and young heartthrob Adam (Alex Pettyfer) are absent from stripper duties in this sequel, but new faces Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Paris (Elizabeth Banks) fill the casting void.
After giving up the glamorous life of a male entertainer, Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) settles down for a more conventional occupation, selling his own homemade furniture. The gang reunites after luring Mike into their lair through a prank call and explains their big dreams to get back into the game. Typical of other comeback adventures, (much like how Brian O’Conner’s determination to give up the thug life only lasted 15 minutes in Fast and Furious 6), an emotional Mike is reminded of the good ol’ days and decides to join his long-lost buddies.
Directed by Emmy Award winner Gregory Jacobs, who also doubled up as the producer in Magic Mike, the Kings of Tampa embark on a road trip to Myrtle Beach for the annual stripper convention where 3,000 women await with wallets full of singles.
Even feminists will adore the film. Throughout the movie, women of literally every size, age and colour are given the attention they desire from the topless men in suffocating jeans. It’s about time women can be just as open about their fantasies as men are, and this film celebrates that notion by constantly including elements that remind a woman of her worth. Despite being a movie that sexualizes and possibly objectifies men, both sexes seem to relish the attention, and everyone’s happy.
Compared to the first film, Magic Mike XXL incorporates a rather commendable sense of humor throughout with a witty series of wordplay. For example, hilarity ensues when Tito (Adam Rodriguez) recalls one of Mike’s “conquests” being a “barely legal paralegal”.
Everything moves at a comfortable pace with just enough teasing (and stripping) leading to the main event. Besides showing off plenty of skin, the lads take turns to present their choreographed moves enticing the 5 senses in the best possible ways, coupled with savory treats, caressing touches and slow burning gyrates.
Make a movie about objectifying a bunch of scantily-dressed girls, like how the cast in Spring Breakers were eternally in bikinis, and you’d probably hear vile objections from feminists around the world. Conversely, put together a couple of ripped, practically nude men in a film and the audience aren’t complaining, including this immensely satisfied writer.
Rating: 3.5/5
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Information:
Release Date: 9 July
Runtime: 115 minutes
Language: English
Rating: M18
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Gregory Jacobs
Main Cast: Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Adam Rodriguez, Kevin Nash, Amber Heard
Photos Courtesy of IMDb