MOVIE OF THE WEEK #2 (6/29/12) MAGIC MIKE
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Olivia
Munn, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam
Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias
WRITER(S): Reid Carolin
DIRECTOR: Steven Soderbergh
THE PLOT: A film spawned from the star's own youthful experiences, Magic Mike stars Channing Tatum in the titular role as the star of an all-male revenue in Tampa. And he's very, very good at what he does. Run by Dallas (Matthew McConaughey), Club Xquisite is the place women love to be come Thursday-Saturday nights. But while Tarzan (professional wrestler Kevin Nash), Ken (Matt Bomer), Tito (Adam Rodriguez), Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello) and the club's DJ (Gabrielle Igelesias) enjoy the life for the simple pleasures - which is women, mostly - Mike has other plans.
You see, not only does Mike strip, but he also runs a small auto detailing business on the side in addition to working the odd construction job when he can find the time. Mike has a dream, you see, to one day own his own custom furniture store. So while the others might take their $1 bills and spend them freely, Mike is stacking his inside a safe so he can build to the future one lap dance at a time. That doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy the occasional hookup himself, however - psychology student Joanna (Olivia Munn) being one of his top choices.
You see, not only does Mike strip, but he also runs a small auto detailing business on the side in addition to working the odd construction job when he can find the time. Mike has a dream, you see, to one day own his own custom furniture store. So while the others might take their $1 bills and spend them freely, Mike is stacking his inside a safe so he can build to the future one lap dance at a time. That doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy the occasional hookup himself, however - psychology student Joanna (Olivia Munn) being one of his top choices.
Showing up to a construction job one day, Mike meets Adam (Alex Pettyfer), a 19 year-old who acts as every bit as young as his age would have you believe. Quickly taking to calling Adam "The Kid," Mike ends up introducing him to his nighttime hustle - and after some initial apprehension, The Kid is all in. But as The Kid gets adjusted to the stage, Mike finds himself getting adjusted to something - or make that someone, rather - else: Brooke (Cody Horn), a.k.a. The Kid's older and much wiser sister.
Ever the good guy, Mike promises Brooke he will look after The Kid to make sure nothing bad happens to him. But will he have enough magic to make sure that is a promise he can keep? Only time will tell ...
THE TAKE: Magic Mike is a bit of perplexing film to review. Now, if all you really want to see when you go to Mike is very in shape, shirtless (and pants-less) men gyrating to intense dance tracks, you will be more than happy with the finished product. There are plenty of bare chests (both male and female) to be found throughout the movie ... And yes, ladies, things get as "cheeky" as the dialogue does at times. When Tatum and company hit the stage, jaws will likely hit the floor and if that's all you're coming for, story be damned, you'll likely be satisfied with Mike.
However, if you're actually interested in the story and plot of the film, you might walk away a bit flustered as the story feels like it ends in the middle of act two of at what is (at least) a three act play. Without giving too much away, it's Boogie Nights with the partying and fun, then the drama and conflicts minus the full circle development needed to really bring everything together.
Tatum, for his part, is fantastic as he continues to make the transition from moving mass of muscle (watch G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra for an example of his former "flex first, act second" roles) to enthralling on-screen presence. Be it a scene where he is stripping to the likes of Ginuwine's "Pony" or showcasing his business acumen, Mike is magic for Tatum in terms of showing how he continues to evolve as an actor. (And on a side note, anytime you can captivate the attention of a theater of 250 or so people of both sexes while stripping, you're probably doing something right.)
Problem is, the story is anything but rudimentary for the most part - and that's not really a knock on the rest of the cast. Pettyfer is fine in his role as The Kid, it's just that The Kid is too much of one for his - and the audience's - own good. Sure, he's 19 ... But watching a character who knows he's a screw up continually know he's making bad choices but says to hell with it while kind of being aloof at the same time (watch the movie and you'll see what I mean) is a bit much.
Likewise, while Horn is effective in her role as Brooke, you never, ever really get any sense of romantic connection between the two and her character's general demeanor never makes you understand why Mike has interest in her at all. Effective in terms of progressing the story? I guess. Interesting while doing so? Maybe - at best. She's like a blonde Kristen Stewart ... But only in the 'Hey, I'm not comfortable in my own skin but knowing I'm not comfortable in my own skin makes me comfortable' kind of way that Stewart has since thankfully progressed past.
Bottom line, Magic Mike is at its best when Tatum and company are on stage. For off stage, while Mike is an interesting guy to watch, but the people around him are bringing him down - both in terms of the character's life and his movie. The idea of Magic Mike is great; the execution of said idea, however, isn't quite ready for a visit to a champagne room at times. There's a lot of interesting places Magic Mike could have gone ... But sadly, most of them are still on the pole less danced.
However, if you're actually interested in the story and plot of the film, you might walk away a bit flustered as the story feels like it ends in the middle of act two of at what is (at least) a three act play. Without giving too much away, it's Boogie Nights with the partying and fun, then the drama and conflicts minus the full circle development needed to really bring everything together.
Tatum, for his part, is fantastic as he continues to make the transition from moving mass of muscle (watch G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra for an example of his former "flex first, act second" roles) to enthralling on-screen presence. Be it a scene where he is stripping to the likes of Ginuwine's "Pony" or showcasing his business acumen, Mike is magic for Tatum in terms of showing how he continues to evolve as an actor. (And on a side note, anytime you can captivate the attention of a theater of 250 or so people of both sexes while stripping, you're probably doing something right.)
Problem is, the story is anything but rudimentary for the most part - and that's not really a knock on the rest of the cast. Pettyfer is fine in his role as The Kid, it's just that The Kid is too much of one for his - and the audience's - own good. Sure, he's 19 ... But watching a character who knows he's a screw up continually know he's making bad choices but says to hell with it while kind of being aloof at the same time (watch the movie and you'll see what I mean) is a bit much.
Likewise, while Horn is effective in her role as Brooke, you never, ever really get any sense of romantic connection between the two and her character's general demeanor never makes you understand why Mike has interest in her at all. Effective in terms of progressing the story? I guess. Interesting while doing so? Maybe - at best. She's like a blonde Kristen Stewart ... But only in the 'Hey, I'm not comfortable in my own skin but knowing I'm not comfortable in my own skin makes me comfortable' kind of way that Stewart has since thankfully progressed past.
Bottom line, Magic Mike is at its best when Tatum and company are on stage. For off stage, while Mike is an interesting guy to watch, but the people around him are bringing him down - both in terms of the character's life and his movie. The idea of Magic Mike is great; the execution of said idea, however, isn't quite ready for a visit to a champagne room at times. There's a lot of interesting places Magic Mike could have gone ... But sadly, most of them are still on the pole less danced.
PARTING SHOT: A film that showcases Channing Tatum's best assets – pun intended – as an actor to date, it's a shame Magic Mike feels more like a cheap parlor trick than the true show stopper he deserved.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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