User reviews

This might come as a shock to some, but this is not really a movie about male strippers. Yes, two of the principal characters are male strippers, but—as Channing Tatum's character (Magic Mike himself) says at a crucial point in the film, "That's what I do—it's not who I am." Amid the bountiful buttcheeks and brawny pecs on display, there is a real story here about ambition, and goals, and loyalty, and commitment, and self-actualization. Yes, I used the term "self-actualization" in a review of "Magic Mike"; I told you you might be shocked.

At any rate, plenty of folks (like the pathetic woman who was sitting behind me in the theater, the one who clapped like a poorly trained seal, guffawed, and cackled any time the least bit of male skin appeared on screen) will go see this movie because of all the hype about the hot male bodies in various states of undress—and they will certainly enjoy the film on that very basic level. But let's be honest here, folks—this is a Stephen Soderbergh film—and Soderbergh does not use sex and titillation gratuitously. The plot is compelling, the film is well written and masterfully directed, and Channing Tatum proves that he is much, much more than a hot body and a pretty face. For his sake, here's hoping that "Magic Mike" can propel him along a career path similar to those of other handsome actors who managed to overcome "Movie Star" looks to prove that they were genuine actors. Like Brad Pitt.

There is a real film here, contrary to many biased reviewers. A well-told story and assured direction push Magic Mike beyond the stigma it has received. Channing Tatum is a good actor and I won't hear anything to the contrary. He has a real knack for acting casually cool in his roles and his dancing is genuinely impressive. McConaughey also gives a tremendous performance and fully commits to the role. If you're willing to look past the premise, you can find an actually enjoyable film here.

The upbeat trailer with quippy banter, cute gags and promises of washboard abs & tight tushies is very misleading. And the IMDb plot summary makes me want to hurl: "A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money." "Magic Mike" is a great movie but for different reasons and for a different audience than the trailer may attract. It's not a fun & wild romp nor is it a quirky romcom with a lot of chuckles. It's a complex drama that focuses on success vs. the illusion of success. It could've been set on Wall Street. It could've been set in a law firm. It could've been set in any one of the paragons of success that we envision when we hear that word. Instead it's set in a male nudie bar with tons of hormone-raging women waving, hurling and stuffing $1 bills into mens' thong underwear.

Soderbergh crafts a powerful but almost self-defeating film that I doubt will be a huge popularity winner due to its unconventional story. (Sidenote: why is it that filmmakers can make critically-acclaimed masterpieces about female strippers/prostitutes, like "Leaving Las Vegas", but if the g-string is on the other gender it's just goofy fun?) Due to its deceptive marketing, "Magic Mike" is passed off as crowd-pleasing entertainment, but it's really a very sobering look at life with more introspective moments than laughs.

Channing Tatum plays Mike, a guy with the bod of a Greek god, probably not very educated but with a very smart, creative ambition: to build artistic furniture. Somehow, instead, he ends up thrusting his pelvis on stage for screaming ladies. Enter Adam (Alex Pettyfer), a 19-year-old kid who, like many 19-year-olds, doesn't have a clue. Mike takes Adam under his wing and introduces him to the night life, all the while promising Adam's sister Brooke (Cody Horn) that he'll take care of Adam.

If you can see where this is going, then great. That's the point. "Magic Mike" does something that few films have the guts to do. It sets up a predictable situation and then takes us through exactly that. No wacky, contrived plot twists necessary. Instead it focuses on how different people react and change when confronted with a predictable set of events.

Another thing this film does, better than any other I've seen in recent memory, is that it gives us REAL dialogue. I'm talking about the scenes between Mike & Brooke. It's every bit as real as something you'd experience in real life, right down to the stammering, the awkward fidgeting, the "flubbed lines". I put that in quotations because I'm not sure if the script was written that way, or if Tatum actually flubbed a few lines and Soderbergh left them in. My point is that the dialogue & chemistry between those two is so believable you'd think they didn't have a camera on them.

"Magic Mike" is not for everyone. It can't be accurately summed up with some exuberant catchphrase like "Laugh out loud funny!" or "A tragic masterpiece!" or "Nail biting suspense!" Also I would say that this is a very uncomfortable date movie, a very uncomfortable bro movie, and it's probably too heavy for a fun, gal's night out movie. If you do see it, it's probably best watched alone so you can really soak in the personal story it's telling. On an individual level I think we can all relate to the idea of being sidetracked by the pursuit of a dream, rather than the dream itself, regardless of if we're guys wearing buttless cowboy pants in front of 200 squealing, undersexed women.

Magic Mike is not only an entertaining male stripper movie but it's also a good and compelling movie with great performances from Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey.

So, wow, what a delight, I didn't like the second, I thought the first would be even worse, but what a pleasant surprise, folks, the story was very simple, but cute and captivating, captivating was also Channing Tatum, deliciously tasty, I wanted to taste it, even McConaughey was hot, Alex Pettyfer is not to be thrown away... Grateful surprise, grateful...

This movie was a heart warming story with characters that I feel for - something i find movies generally lack of these days. I watched it then realized its a Soderbergh movie - masteries don't lie.

There wAs a good balance of "show" and the life behind it. I was particularly taken by Brooke's character. Cody horn was a perfect cast - she played Soderbergh signature organic characters so perfectly. The chemistry she had as a down to earth gal with mike's under layer from his striper front was "Soderbergh-real". I m surprised she didnt get cast in more movies after. I do think its a shame that they did another magic mike sequel that imo spoiled the legacy of first one.

We get introduced to a unknown world of male stripping, the business, the marketing & what's going on backstage. I got into this film with my girlfriend, thinking it was just hot guys rubbing faces with their groins. But very soon i started noticing depth. This movie isn't about the stripping; it's about the life of the strippers. it's about how a seemingly troubled young man gets involved in the business, and how to cope his new found life. It's about a guy who's already been in the business long enough to want to get out and how to cope with other realities. It's about love, friendship, drugs, anger, joy, fear.

I think the movie catches some of the moments and emotions and makes them real. I don't believe in happy endings, i believe in realism, and on some levels this movie delivers just that.

I'm rating this 8/10 for reasons above mentioned. Though I didn't like some parts om Channings acting nor the coldness of Alex Pettyfer, who would like a friend like that?

A professional male stripper, who is known as Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) is a 30 year old male stripper. Who certainly loves his job, entertaining the ladies, having parties and the occasional one night stand. But Mike doesn't want to be a stripper for the rest for his life, he is hoping to get his own business. In the same time, he takes an chance on a young, aimless, handsome 19 year old man by the name of Adam (Alex Pettyfer) to be his protégé. Adam starts to enjoy the nightlife world of male strippers, especially dancing for beautiful ladies of all sorts. While Mike is slowly starts to enjoy Adam's friendship and Adam's worried older sister Brooke (Cody Horn).

Directed by Oscar-Winner:Steven Soderbergh (The "Ocean" Series, Erin Brockovich, Haywire) made an entertaining dramatic comedy that offers fine performances, including Matthew McConaughey as Tatum's sleazy nightclub owner. Tatum has some impressive dance skills, certainly no surprise for those, who have seen "Step Up". The male strippers cast seems to be having an great time with the dances.

The Blu-ray has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) 1080p transfer and an superb DTS 5.1 HD Sound. The extras are sadly disappointing, i was hoping an commentary track, more featurettes or deleted scenes. We do get an brief featurette, play all dances option and three extended dance sequences (The highlight is the "Ken" doll dance scene). "Magic Mike" for some tastes by certain film critics and audiences was not the sleazier male stripping movie, they were expecting. But "Magic Mike" is mostly original piece of work. Soderbergh shows the nightlife of the male stripping world quite nicely. Which it is not all sleazy, most male strippers do it to entertained the costumers and for a few male strippers, it is just an job after all. Fine adult entertainment. Soderbergh also did the cinematography and editing of the film in a pseudonym fashion. HD Widescreen/Hawk-Scope. (****/*****).

When I first saw the trailer for Magic Mike, I was not all that intrigued until I saw that it was directed by Steven Soderbergh. While hardly a Soderbergh aficionado, I thought it might be more than Channing Tatum dancing in a thong. After all, this was the same director who made a near-five hour long film about Che Guevara, so I wasn't surprised when it garnered thumbs-ups from many critics. And I was taken aback by how much I liked it, because in my opinion, the trailer does miss-sell it as just a stripper movie, or at a push, Showgirls for women, yet thankfully it proves to be more than that and much to my enjoyment a cousin of P.T. Anderson remarkable Boogie Nights. However many women in the audience became uninterested as they discovered that this was about more than men jiggling their asses on stage.

Soderbergh's direction is great, providing interesting camera angles - a scene early on, where the camera is positioned on the back of Mike's jeep was a particular highlight. A scene about 2/3s in, delightfully hops between and red and blue filters. While the lack of a score worked in the film's favour.

"Fact is the law says you cannot touch! But I think I see a lotta lawbreakers in this house tonight", proclaims Matthew McConaughey's Dallas in the brief, opening scene. McConaughey has had a great streak of quality films and even better performances recently, showcasing to cynical film-goers that he CAN act, but if you'd seen Dazed and Confused or even Lone Star back in the 90s, you already knew that. A true pleasure to watch in this, he steals every scene he's in, deserving all the plaudits he's getting. Continuing the P.T. Anderson comparison, at times his Dallas vaguely reminded me of Tom Cruise's mesmerizing and career-best turn as Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia.

After giving his best performance with 21 Jump Street, Tatum continues to surprise me that, you know what? The guy can act, even if not marvellously, he can; making Mike a well-rounded and likable central figure, who wants to be much more than just a stripper - "That's what I do, it's not who I am", he says honestly in a quiet moment with Cody Horn. His quiet scenes with her were lovely to watch, particularly with the subtle ways they bounced off each other. While most audiences will flock to see him flexing his abs, he proves to be just as good at the serious elements.

But wait, seriousness is not something people would expect from a film like this right? Even so, it works in the films favour throughout its entire runtime. This is a film with style AND substance - not just a stripping movie. If you go wanting a film full of naked men, you'll be disappointed; this is not Soderbergh and Tatum do The Full Monty. Yet on the other hand, if you refuse to go because of its subject matter, you are missing on a very good film, one with engaging characters and plot development. However, the thought that Channing Tatum originally wanted that Nicolas Winding Refn to direct it still intrigues me...

Ever since I first heard that Steven Soderbergh was making a film about male strippers, I knew I had to see it. I prepared for the experience by watching Tatum Channing in a movie he made a few years ago, and had to lower my expectations in a hurry.

Magic Mike is such a happy, joyous film that it's hard to believe it's a Soderbergh piece, but there are definitely truly cinematic moments. However, the entire film has a Hollywood glitz shimmering over the entire sordid world of stripping, drug dealing, booze and floozies. In fact, the director's main achievement may be the deft ability to bring glamour to this dark world. Atom Egoyan's Exotica this is not.

But what I enjoyed the most about the film was the excellent acting. Tatum Channing was not only funny, smart, and an entirely winning screen presence, but he was also required to be multi-faceted and have some depth. He handled it really well. Matthew McConaughey is one of my least favorite actors, but he completely destroyed my low opinion of him with his great performance as the aging stripper who still has more chops than his younger employees.

Nice script. Good music. And I haven't even mentioned the gorgeous bodies...

The best way to see "Magic Mike" is with a room full of people ready to enjoy themselves and ready to scream and holler at the screen. The louder the crowd, the better. I actually found that considering how raunchy the subject is, the film was surprisingly tame, so if you're avoiding it because you can't stand male nudity, there isn't any here. There are plenty of shirtless men and a few behinds for the ladies and some topless women for the guys though, so there's something for everyone. I feel like because we haven't really seen that many movies about male strippers, unless they were comedies, it didn't go nearly as far as it could have and it leaves plenty to mine for future films about the same subject. It has some nice dramatic elements in the second and final thirds of the film, showing that there are plenty of tough stories to be said about this subject on top of the comedic ones. It has a lot of laughs and some genuinely touching moments, the characters are interesting, the performances are good, the dance numbers are a lot of fun and they vary quite a bit, so it doesn't feel repetitive at all. It's a crow-pleaser, although it does run a little long. Some trimming of the subplots might have been nice, but it's still an enjoyable romp. (Theatrical version on the big screen, September 4, 2012)

Against the backdrop of a male revue in Tampa, Steven Soderbergh has written a boy-meets- girl movie. Take away the parties, the well-choreographed male strip scenes, Matthew McConaughey chewing up scenery, and the notion of a roofer designing furniture while twilighting as a male stripper and this is the story of what Mike (Channing Tatum) values.

Soderbergh has taken a very unconventional setting and overlaid it with characters seeking to find their way in modern America, trying to decide amongst love and money, amongst honesty and dishonesty. I thought it got a little bit precious about 3/4 of the way through as the men lose their bearings amidst the wealth, women, and drugs that their hard work afforded them but in truth I think their comeuppance was realistic and it led to a satisfying conclusion.

Good work from Channing Tatum as a decent, hard-working guy really struggling to do the right thing. Matthew McConaughey is deep in good-old-boy-as-sex-god mode and his scenes are a lot of fun. I thought newcomer Pettyfer as the Kid was a bit bland but that Cody Horn as Mike's love interest struck the right mixture of romantic interest in Mike and slight judgmentalism about his choice to be a stripper. Anyway, if you like Soderbergh, this shows again that he likes to approach film differently from most mainstream directors working. He has explored a world that is unknown to most of us, created some very well-rounded and unique characters, and given us a fair ending.

Just saw this movie and to be honest I didn't have high expectations about the movie itself. I was just looking forward to seeing gorgeous shirtless guys dancing around on stage and thats about all. As it turns out, I really enjoyed the whole thing, story included. It touched on a few serious things, had some great one liners, the chemistry between the guys was great - they made it believable that they were mates who performed together, and the guys were babes! (Just as a side note, some of the guys weren't that great at dancing but still did a great job!) Also, the movie flowed well, it wasn't all stop-start like some movies are these days. Definitely recommend this movie, even if you go with your girlfriends for a bit of fun!

Soderbergh....what can I say? He has done some of the most incredible films ever, all with different styles (story-wise). No matter what the story, Soderbergh dominates with fine directing. Tatum, no doubtingly, is perfect as the lead role, showing off his impressive moves and attractive nude body at some points, which shall get the ladies aroused. We all know the ladies will love this film, but why should guys go check this out? Well, for one there are a few nude scenes with women, second there is absolutely nothing gay about this film, and third it's probably the dream life for most men: getting naked and getting paid for it, as well as hooking up with fine women. People have complained that this film has no story, but it does! It's a story of an entrepreneur who is trying to succeed with his dreams, only getting trapped by the world of lust, drugs and shame. The end is not the best ending that could've been made, but the rest of the film makes up for that. Go check out this up beat, provocative, fun, and, at times, emotional film.

Girls....get together and watch this movie. I found a really nice and fun movie to watch, full of energy. A way to get into a world that is really masculine most of the time, now from a feminine point of view. Empowering almost. You can understand the sexiness of the "easy money" and popularity. McConaughey's acting seemed great to me, pretty disturbing character, very well played. Channing Tatum is the king of the movie with a very complex and human role. And he dances.....yes he does!!! The movie showcases the contrasts between the show,the backstage and the after hours. The problems with getting old, etc. Most of all a movie to have a nice time.

The title says it all. Reading the other reviews for this film, I see most people's issues were from expecting this movie to be all laughs or all male strippers but when the result was a complex mixture of emotions, all of which played expertly subtle by Soderbergh, they leave feeling disgusted. Still, I don't think this movie is for everyone. And that's not because of the male stripping, although that in itself will scare away straight men for obvious reasons. There's humor, romance, and drama that makes this film rich and complex. Unfortunately, it makes the smart decision to underplay these themes in favor of a more realistic and relatable storyline. Thats where it loses most of its mainstream audience. Some people need their movies to have a moral to the story if its a cautionary tale or exaggerate sexual tension if its a romance to the point of pretty much beating you over the head with it. Without this, they tend to get bored and confused. Because this movie decided to do neither of these things, not in spite of it, in my opinion that makes this movie stand head and shoulders above most of the rest of what Hollywood is putting out there these days. That and the excellent performances by Tatum, Pettyfer, and Horn push what would've been a 3 star review into a 4 star one. So, if you prefer movies that are more about the getting there than the destination this may just be surprisingly good. For everyone else, I say skip it. But if you do fall into the latter group I simply ask that if you choose to watch and review this film you try to take into account your own biases before writing so that those who might have a better shot of enjoying this film aren't deterred by a scathing review that may not be quite so warranted.

Try not to be fooled by what you might read about it, hear about it or recall how it was sold; veteran American director Steven Soderbergh's film "Magic Mike" is about a lot more than what it seems from a perspective of face value. Depicting unemployment; later covering drug addiction and dropping subtle references to the behaviour of the banks in recent years as well as the global financial situation throughout - the film is much, much more than an hour and a half of renowned photogenic male actors removing garments of clothing. Set across one long, hot Florida summer, the film is a taut and engaging character piece about a group of men and their attitudes towards life; women and then one another.

The film begins with a playful entrée: the leader, and most charismatic member, of a Florida based all-male stripping troupe stands by himself on stage in a packed club and attempts to gear the all-female audience into an enthusiastic frenzy just prior to their latest show. That man is a certain "Dallas", played by Matthew McConaughey, and the women in front of whom he performs the pre-show ritual are probably amateur actors themselves drafted in as extras genuinely in the ruptures of excitement they need to be for the scene to work. Thus, a neat element of cinema vérité is lent to immediate proceedings. But the film cuts away from anything involved in the show to what seems like the following morning, and we're in someone's apartment as they get up and get dressed. This character is the titular "Magic" Mike (Tatum), a well-built individual in his late twenties who has played host to two women overnight but has gone far enough to forget one of their names.

The man oozes a sort of brash masculinity on top of this apparent attitude towards the opposite sex; a construction site worker with a large car that's cross-pollinated between a truck and a jeep, he berates the fresh blood who're there for their first day on account of wearing wimpy looking trainers. This fresh blood is Adam, played by English actor Alex Pettyfer; a young man aged nineteen who gets paired with Mike on day one before eventually coming to form a bond with him. Adam lives with his older sister, but struggles with finding work and earning money; indeed, it is Mike who discovers Adam lied during his application regarding certain construction skills he does not possess. At home, he speaks to his sister as to how he would take most jobs – a decent impersonation of Austrian actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger sees him even contemplate voice-over acting, in fact things are alluded to as to be so bad that he steals cans of soda from the communal construction site cooler.

Fate sees him bump into Mike one evening amidst the many bars and restaurants of this Florida city and its nightlife, a chance meeting which opens his eyes to the fact Mike moonlights as a male stripper and is busy scouring the nightclubs distributing fliers for the show that night. Given his employment status, Adams tags along with Mike to help at the club during the show: menial stuff, such as cleaning up and getting the props ready. Backstage, he meets the half-a-dozen or so other guys in the group and is generally the fall guy to their pranks and windups; indeed, the whole zone is over-cut with this fear factor upon entry as McConaughey towers above our Adam whilst holding a flaming torch on stage as he practises for a routine. Things peak when an injury befalls one of the crew and Adam ends up out there live on stage performing. To his surprise, he enjoys it but he enjoys more the camaraderie with the guys and the money he made.

From these beginnings, the film spreads its wings in dipping in and out of both Adam and Mike's lives – perfectly balancing either tale as one man comes to slip deeper into the world of loose women and casual drug use from an initially shy, stoic position and another's gradual realisation that how he's been living perhaps isn't how he wants to be in a number of years' time. Adam's sister, the stone faced Brooke (Horn) and voice of reason in Adam's existence, enters Mike's world and we observe her sensible, empowered and ultimately caring side ease him away from the anonymous, fatuous relationships epitomised by his first scene. The film is a richly rewarding character piece, much more than what one might be willing to merely dismiss it as based on face value and something we can genuinely place with the best of what Soderbergh has produced.

'MAGIC MIKE': Four Stars (Out of Five)

Steven Soderbergh continues to show his amazing versatility by directing this male stripper comedy drama film based on the actual experiences of star Channing Tatum (Tatum was a 19 year old stripper in Tampa, Florida). In the film actor Alex Pettyfer plays the rookie stripper and Tatum plays his mentor. The movie also stars Matthew McConaughey as an aging stripper who owns and manages the club these male strippers work at. The film was written by Reid Carolin. The movie has a surprising amount of emotional depth and is very involving, it's nothing like the 'chick flick' romantic comedy the trailers made it out to be!

Tatum stars as Mike Lane, the lead dancer/stripper at Xquisite, which is owned and ran by Dallas (McConaughey), a very serious businessman. Pettyfer co-stars as Adam, a 19 year old former high school football star who just moved to Florida to live with his sister Brooke (Cody Horn), after losing his college football scholarship due to a fight with the coach. Adam meets Mike on a construction job, which he quits due to the boss accusing him of stealing soda. He later meets Mike at a club and learns he's a stripper. Mike then gives him a job helping him and other strippers at the Xquisite that night. After one stripper overdoses and can't perform Adam is put on in his place and does so well he secures himself a regular job there. Mike then continues to introduce him to his party lifestyle of lots of drugs, alcohol and sex. This doesn't sit well with Adam's sister and Mike begins to develop feelings for her. Mike also doesn't plan on staying a stripper for much longer as he dreams of starting his own company in custom furniture.

With almost $40 million in the first weekend this definitely marks Tatum as a bona fide movie star! Until now he's kind of been a rising star and it wasn't clear how much draw and popularity he actually carried. This film definitely launches him to the top of the A list and in roles like this he's actually a pretty good actor (I also thought he was impressive in 'FIGHTING' and '21 JUMP STREET'). He's about five times as good in this as he was in 'THE VOW' and he actually carries the film with charisma and some amazing dance moves. Even actors like Pettyfer look good here though due to the amazing directing of Steven Soderbergh. There's a saying that there's no bad actors just bad directors but I think the saying should actually be there's no good actors just good directors. Soderbergh, plus an amazing script, really make this movie something to remember (plus Tatum's performance). I'm continually baffled by Soderbergh's choices in film as of late but he always makes each project work and I'd even say this is one of his best films. It's got the feel of the type of classic 80's film that made Tom Cruise a superstar. Maybe it'll do the same thing for Tatum.

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In the world of performing and stripping, you are only as valuable as the cash you bring in your trousers, speedo, or whatever you have around your waste. Going into Magic Mike, you should have this vague idea looming in your head, and not the assumption you're going to be cinematically seduced by Channing Tatum's impeccable charm and looks or Matthew McConaughey's bulging biceps and cowboy uniform. Magic Mike is a film of depth and certainty; one of the more unexpected films to come out of 2012, a year where film has been relatively mixed. A year where I have yet to give a film a perfect rating.

It is common, and I suppose fair, as well, to ostracize Magic Mike as a "male stripper movie," and one that will only appeal to women seeking out more of the lovable hunk Tatum. Part of this is true, but this is one of those films that is unfairly labeled by a cruel and falsifying simplification. In the film world, marketing is everything, and Magic Mike has been cheated out of showing what it is really about; humanity and substance.

We are greeted with the nineteen year old troublemaker, nicknamed "The Kid," (Alex Pettyfer) who lost his football scholarship after a fight with the coach, begins living with his sister, Brooke (Cody Horn), and gets fired on the first day of his new construction job under the suspicion of thievery. He is given a ride by the title character (Tatum) after his car refuses to start, and the two men go clubbing, where they meet two local girls, one who just turned twenty-one. This is where Mike reveals to them, and "The Kid" (Adam) for that matter, that he is a male stripper, working several nights a week at a club called "Xquisite." Mike takes "The Kid" down to the club, where he is acquainted with all the dancers, including the boss, Dallas (McConaughey). After Mike and Dallas force "The Kid" on stage, they discover his dancing isn't half bad and he is welcomed to perform with the other dancers on certain nights. We are then taken on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, integrity, and bad choices throughout the rest of the film, and discover that these men are not basic caricatures but facts of life.

Steven Soderbergh, one of the most prolific directors today, next to Woody Allen, lets the story build on its own and never overcompensates in a way that becomes too intuitive, gimmicky, or self-serving. He directs the picture sensitively and expertly, letting the choreography and the athleticism of the dance sequences be shown with full shots, and not the simple close-ups of characters. He shows the stage as a whole, the complexity of their routines, and the vast appreciation and acclaim from their female audience members. The rest of the picture is directed with a pleasant warmness, with a somewhat muted but sufficient color-pallet, making this one of the most artistic mainstream efforts of the year.

When Mike and Brooke begin to form a relationship, we continue to see Mike as a full character for the remainder of the picture. He is an aspiring entrepreneur, making unique furniture out of junkyard parts, and while he's passionate about it, he recognizes that bread needs to be put on the table, and that stripping, at this point in time, seems like a valid option.

It's no secret that the role of "Magic Mike" was written especially for Tatum, as he worked as a male stripper for a while during his adolescence, and the film is loosely centered on his experiences. He gives one of the most capable performances of the summer, and becomes invigorating to watch both on and off the stage. A huge rebound after the mediocre film The Vow But what really gives the film the high-octane energy it needs is when Soderbergh gives the characters on-stage and off-stage personalities, and never becomes too inclined to showcase frivolous romanticism between Mike and Brooke. It gives character traits to Magic Mike and Mike Lane, who are two very different people.

It's depressing to believe that more than half of the revenue of Magic Mike's strong opening weekend is from women, when the film is satisfying for both genders equally. The women become entranced with Tatum's looks and the affectionate masculinity and bleeding testosterone, while the men become intrigued at the business aspect of the film. One thing the public can't look past is vague stereotypes when it comes to films, and neglect to consider their depth and power as a whole. Sort of how Brokeback Mountain is routinely simplified as a "gay cowboy movie" and Shame, the "sex addiction movie." This goes for the public as a broad whole, both male and female; the film does more than showcase the movement and dancing talents of relatively young men, but offers brave insight in the world of performing and stripping. Try and find those characteristics in Coyote Ugly or Showgirls.

NOTE: To add on to my statement about Coyote Ugly and Showgirls, it is interesting to note that both films were directed by males and did a meandering job of showcasing life on the stage and off, but Magic Mike is taken in the hands of a male director and screenwriter and does everything impressively. I'm waiting for a film about female strippers that is taken in the hands of a female director and screenwriter. Perhaps then we will get some faithful, satisfying commentary that goes beyond the easy trap of exploitation and misogyny.

Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfr, Cody Horn, and Matthew McConaughey. Directed by: Steven Soderbergh.

The women who gushed to see this film are accused of objectifying the strippers, well, when men ogle at films with lap or pole dancers, no one says a thing. This is sadly a double standard world and if we can also look at the small dreams of a male stripper who has a daytime job at a construction site ( Channing Tatum) who recruited a colleague ( Alex Pettyfer) and gets smitten with the latter's sister, the viewer is not isolated solely on the club rather presented a plausible story of holding onto your dreams whatever the means may be. Matthew McConnaughey in my eyes has a devilish , hilarious face that he must have carried on from his romcom days. The coaching scène in the dance studio left me in stitches. This is an entertaining film though geared towards the ladies didn't give any warning indicating that the men can't enjoy this film as well.

Stripping aside, this movie was actually quite serious; not to mention realistic. I agree that based on the trailer my previous sentence seems rather unlikely, as I too expected an irrelevant plot and a lot of booty. What I got from "Magic Mike" instead was a lot of story...and yeah, a lot of flesh.

The movie centres around Mike (Channing Tatum), an "entrepreneur" who's ambition in life is to open a custom-made furniture business. Mike is "Magic Mike" the stripper by night, and Michael Lane- the contractor and eager loan candidate by day. While working as a contractor Mike meets Adam (Alex Pettyfer) a penniless nineteen year old who lost his football scholarship after assaulting his coach. One night, after Adam successfully (and unknowingly) recruits women as customers for Mike's strip show, Mike introduces Adam to the world of stripping.

This is all very romantic and, on the surface, rather mundane. Based on my previous description it's essentially a slightly more sexed up rendition of "The Blind side"; but it's the little things that did it for me. I loved how ironic it was that while Mike was frequently sleeping with a psychologist and behavioral analyst; it was actually Adam's sister who calls him out on his behavior and whom he feels comfortable confiding in. I loved the contrast between Adam: who became so blinded by the spotlight to realize his own decline into drugs, alcohol and danger- and Mike: who finally shed light onto his own unhappiness with his job and apparent disinterest in continuing it. It was a clever movie with a lot of meaning; a sister's concern for her brother, a stripper's comfort yet eternal dissatisfaction with their job; the world behind "show business" and the hot, sweaty bodies (namely of Channing Tatum- that man can move!).

Don't get me wrong, there's lots of fun to be found in this movie. Just look out for the glimpses beneath the surface, as I do think they deserve recognition.