Rated
R (Pervasive Sexual Content, Brief Graphic Nudity, Language and some Drug Use)
Running
Time: 1 Hour & 50 Minutes
Cast-
Channing
Tatum-Michael Lane/Magic Mike
Alex
Pettyfer-Adam/The Kid
Matthew
McConaughey-Dallas
Cody
Horn-Brooke
Olivia
Munn-Joanna
Matt
Bomer-Ken
Joe
Manganiello-Big Dick Richie
Adam
Rodriguez-Tito
Kevin
Nash-Tarzan
Gabriel
Iglesias-Tobias
Directed
by Steven Soderbergh
 |
| Channing Tatum bares it all in Steven Soderbergh's latest film, "Magic Mike." |
Although
I often joke around with my friends about going to a strip club one day, I
honestly feel uncomfortable and even somewhat embarrassed to have a strange
woman gyrate around me in exchange for money. I have nothing against strippers
and other exotic dancers but such places are meant for raucous social
gatherings and aren't really suited for an introverted person like me. Do women
have similar feelings about male strip clubs? The reason I ask this question is
that director Steven Soderbergh's latest film, "Magic Mike," explores
the world of male strip clubs with Channing Tatum (whose experiences as a
stripper served as inspiration) starring as the titular character. Soderbergh
is one of the most versatile
directors working in Hollywood today with his filmography reflecting a variety
of genres that includes science fiction (2002's "Solaris"), action
(2012's "Haywire"), experimental (2009's "The Girlfriend
Experience"), drama (1989's " Sex, Lies, and Videotape") and
even crime/heist flicks such as the popular "Ocean's Trilogy." Every
film that he has worked on, no matter how predictable or clichéd the script has
always had a unique style as Soderbergh not only directs but also serves as
editor and cinematographer under a pseudonym. As much as I am a fan of
Soderbergh, the announcement of him doing a film on male strippers caught me by
surprise and I felt it could've been a major bomb with critics. While
"Magic Mike" is certainly one of Soderbergh's lesser efforts due to the
script's lack of focus, the film is still worth a look thanks to some solid
comedy and drama that offers a new viewpoint on sex as a commodity through a
male perspective.
Thirty-year-old Michael Lane (Channing Tatum) is a struggling
entrepreneur living in Tampa, Florida who enjoys a casual fling with psychology
student Joanna (Olivia Munn) and spends his day working at a number of
low-paying odd jobs. He hopes to one day open his own business designing
unique, custom-made furniture and saves up as much money as he possibly can for
such a venture. During a routine roofing job, Michael meets nineteen-year-old
Adam (Alex Pettyfer), a wayward teenager on the cusp of adulthood who gave up a
promising football career in college and now lives with his older sister Brooke
(Cody Horn), who works as a nurse. During a chance encounter outside a
nightclub, Adam learns that Michael is a veteran stripper under the nickname
'Magic Mike' for Club Xquisite, run by the sleazy but business-savvy Dallas
(Matthew McConaughey). Also working at the club is Ken (Matt Bomer), Big Dick
Richie (Joe Manganiello), Tito (Adam Rodriguez), and Tarzan (Kevin Nash). Michael
convinces Dallas to give Adam a job and is assigned to handle the props but
when Tarzan suffers an overdose and falls unconscious, Adam is sent out onstage
to take his place. Seeing potential in him, Michael takes Adam under his wing
despite the disapproval of Brooke. Michael promises her that he will take care
of him but Adam soon descends into a seedy underground world of sex and drugs.
Meanwhile, Michael struggles with his growing feelings for Brooke and finds
himself wanting to do more with his life rather than spend it as a stripper.
The idea for "Magic Mike" had long gestated in Channing Tatum's mind,
who worked as stripper for close to a year when he was eighteen as he
desperately needed the money. When he revealed his intention to make a film
using his experiences as a stripper for inspiration back in 2010, Tatum planned
on having Nicolas Winding Refn (who helmed the critically-acclaimed
"Drive") to direct but the project eventually went to Steven
Soderbergh, who expressed his interest during the filming of
"Haywire." At first glance, "Magic Mike" seems like an
excuse to throw a couple of good-looking, well-proportioned men on-screen but
such an assumption does the film and
Soderbergh a disservice. While it may not exactly break any new ground, the
script from Reid Carolin (which divides the story over a three-month period
using title-cards) explores the duality of Michael and Adam as well as how sex
is used as both a fantasy and a commodity, which was also a central theme in
another Soderbergh-directed film, 2009's "The Girlfriend Experience."
Tatum's Michael has dreams of opening up his own business and finding someone
that he can spend time with but his lifestyle and profession comes under
scrutiny, especially from Horn's Brooke. He not only has to convince others
that he's not Magic Mike but also has to convince himself as well because it is
clear he enjoys being a stripper but there's also a fear of moving into
unfamiliar territory, so he sticks with what he knows. Michael is also trapped
by forces beyond his control and there's a scene where he tries to take a loan
from a local bank but is refused due to his low credit score, a subtle
indictment at the state of the economy, which was again central to "The
Girlfriend Experience." Adam is a mirror to Michael and not only does he
eventually replace him as the star of Club Xquisite, he succumbs to the lure of
easy money and runs afoul of several drug dealers. Seeing how Adam becomes
'corrupted' spurs Michael to make a difficult decision at the end of the film. Nothing
is resolved but it leaves you with a sense of hope.
The problem with Carolin's
script is its lack of focus as the subplots do not come together until late
into the film where its intentions become clearer—giving the first ninety or so
minutes a rambling quality. Although primarily a drama, I was surprised at how
funny "Magic Mike" was. The opening scene has Dallas gleefully
telling the audience (composed of women) that 'the law says you cannot touch'
before cutting to two months earlier where Michael wakes up from a ménage à
trios with two other women. He shares a humorous exchange with Joanna as both
cannot remember the name of the person they slept with the night before. The
on-stage antics will provide plenty of delicious eye-candy for women (and gay
men) and it's clear that the cast was fully committed as they skillfully
pull-off some elaborate maneuvers while wearing all manner of crazy costumes.
There's even a Raining Men routine
that will leave ladies giggling in their seats. At one point Bomer's Ken walks out of an adult-sized toy box
(befitting his namesake) while Manganiello's Big Dick Richie sprains his back
after holding a slightly-oversized woman in a standing 69 position. Unless you really are that insecure about your own
sexuality, straight men will find it hard not to laugh at how ridiculously
cheesy and over-the-top some of the dance routines are. As always, Soderbergh
infuses the film with a very particular aesthetic, shooting with a double straw
camera filter that gives every scene a warm, yellow hue. Odd angles and
lingering close-ups, such as when Brooke watches Michael dance, lends a certain
intimacy to the proceedings.
The cast all give solid performances and it's
really amazing how much Channing Tatum has improved as an actor. His range can
still be limited but in "Magic Mike," he's funny, charismatic, and
handles the drama well. Tatum knows he's not the best actor around but I admire
how he chooses his projects that allow him to step outside his comfort zone
rather than just being a hunk of meat for women to stare. Alex Pettyfer is
another actor whose known more for his looks but the character of Adam feels
like it was written for him and he handles the role better than I had expected.
However, it is Matthew McConaughey who gives the most memorable performance as
the sleazy Dallas. With his Southern drawl, McConaughey is clearly enjoying
himself and he ends the film with a wild dance routine that has the crowd
fawning all over him like he's some sort of sex god (maybe he is to some
women). Finally, there's Cody Horn as Brooke but I found her to be rather bland
as Michael's potential love interest with her sullen expression.
"Magic
Mike" will be released on June 29, 2012 and while there are no official
reviews out yet besides some positive early Twitter reactions, I have a feeling
that this film will garner a mixed reception. I saw the film at an advanced
screening last Thursday where the audience was primarily made up of women and
gay men with the occasional couple. Of course, the women clearly enjoyed it and
let out whoops and cheers when Channing Tatum's rear flashed on-screen for all
to see. Whether it will appeal to straight men is another question and I doubt
it will if the IMDB forums are any indication, with people hurling insults that
women are 'shallow' for wanting to see it. Honestly, it makes me ashamed for my
own gender because these people are already judging without having seen the
film. The only advice I can give is to keep an open-mind. Box office wise, "Magic
Mike" was independently financed for approximately $5 million so any
amount above that is already a success. Plus Steven Soderbergh never really
cares if his films make money or not because he receives his funding one way or
another. Although the story is told from a male perspective, "Magic
Mike" does not explore any new territory. It won't rank among Soderbergh's
best due to the rambling, unfocused script but it is better film than what its
trailers initially made it out to be.
Final
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
"You
are the husband they never had! You are that dreamboat guy that never came
along!"
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