That is the best way to start this review. Let me second say....bravo and you are welcome ladies! I think this what you wanted! This is not a movie to go see on a Sunday morning instead of going to church. This is not a movie to say "Hey mom, wanna go see a dancing movie?" This is something that you enjoy either late at night in the theater with your girlfriends or someone cool like me. Or you see it in the private of your own home and don't admit that you enjoyed it. Although I happily do.
My interest in the first and second Magic Mike was strictly to see the dancing performances. I didn't go into either of these films wanting to see any Oscar winning performances. These weren't the typical "Oh my wife dragged me to see this movie." type of situation. I wanted to see both of these films. I appreciate music and dance films. I don't make it a point coming into this review saying "Oh I'm so masculine and confident in my sexuality." My wife and friends know what's up. I wasn't really surprised to see that I was the only man in the theater. Okay now that that's out of the way...when I saw the first Magic Mike I was like it was okay. Entertaining it. Is that what what it's like at a strip club for females? Kind of what it's like attending a strip club for males I guess. This is sequel is NOT what it's like going to a strip club for males. Women do not perform like this for males!!! Why not?? If they did.......ooooh. Magic Mike XXL is exactly what I thought the first one was going to be. I expected to see a movie that was filled with dance performances that would make a woman feel the same experience she would in a gentleman's club setting. That is exactly what you get when you see this movie.
This is the first time in a longtime that I would say this is what the first movie should have been!! If you are a woman or male who enjoyed the first one...I'm 98% sure you agree with me on this. If you are a woman or male who enjoyed this one but never saw the first one...I'm 98% sure you might be disappointed if you go back and watch the first. This movie doesn't try to be something that it's not. I'm not saying it isn't without it's flaws but still. We follow along Magic Mike and the gang going to the Stripper Convention (is this real?) in Myrtle Beach, SC. We stop along the way to drag queen shows, convenience stores, the hospital and a southern home in Savannah, GA. There's a girl that Magic Mike tries to fall in love with....blah blah blah. Who cares. The moments that are enjoyed the most are the performances. I loved how the dancing showcased the women feeling sexy and worshiped. To me it was about ALL WOMEN are sexy. Not just the skinny ones. Not just the plus size ones. Not just the tall ones. Not just the short ones. ALL WOMEN. The dance performances were less about just taking your clothes off for money but about how the men could service the women. There is a line in the movie where one the dancers says something like...We never ask the woman what they want. We need to ask them what they want and how, then deliver more that what they expect. I agree and I feel like that is what the men in this movie were doing while having fun doing it. There was no shaming involved at all by the women or men. They were all cheering them on.The sexiness of a woman is talked about openly and without any shame or shade or even words. The same with the male dancers in the movie. Not at anytime during the movie when they were at the drag show or sharing a hotel room bed together were there any homosexual jokes made. Why would it be needed? And the women who were the audience of the shows felt as though they were picked up off the street real women. I can imagine that the casting director just went into a room and said "How many women in here have ever been to a real strip-club and would like to go to real show?" You're hired! I loved that!!
The cast was put together very well and the absence of Matthew McConaughey was filled by Jada Pinkett Smith with an added umph. At first I didn't know what to expect because her character seemed like a pimp to me but then as the movie went on I actually enjoyed it. Michael Strahan! What?!? Now that he is divorced...did he just decide to say screw it...I'm going to get my groove on???? WOW! I hope Kelly Ripa hasn't seen this movie because I can only imagine her feeling uncomfortable sitting next to him in the morning. GOOD MORNING AMERICA! Channing Tatum is going to break his neck, back, arms and legs if he continues to contour his body the way he does. AMAZING! I wish I knew how to dance half as good as he does. I told my wife that I was going to start working out and take some dancing lessons. I might have opened my mouth too soon. The movie was hilarious and fun without being overly dramatic at all. Some of the scenes were a little long and unnecessary. It is just a good time to have fun. I had a blast and I know you women did too. The women in my audience were laughing, cheering, and dancing. Now everyone can go home and continue to think about those dancers. Just remember to still love and marry us normal slightly overweight average men. Please don't spoil the performances to others if you have seen this movie...just let them experience it for themselves.
XXL....THE NAME FITS!
XXL....THE NAME FITS!
4 1/2 Stars.
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