I have a feeling a lot of people disliked this because it actually isn't just 2 hours of Channing Tatum and other hot guys stripping. But for me, a straight male, I was glad it wasn't. I was also glad because it was a pleasant surprise. Magic Mike is a glimpse into the world of male stripping, and it doesn't try to hide anything. It's a tale of a a master finding his apprentice, showing him the ropes, but not realizing the kind of world he is exposing him to. A glamour filled yet dark and depressing lifestyle. Yeah that young guys are making the money and getting the girls, but you see the opposite of that in the oldest stripper, Tarzan. He's worn down and can't hold his own, but is still stripping. It's a sad life.
Channing Tatum does a really good job. He's someone who I thought was really crappy at first, but he's come into his own in the world of acting. He can do serious and comedic roles, and he has to do both here, and he does it well! Alex Pettyfer plays the kid that Tatum takes under his wing, and he portrays the young and aimless rookie pretty well, and his eventual transformation works. The back and forth between Pettyfer and Tatum is good, especially considering that I read they didn't get along on set. Sadly I thought Cody Horn was a bit weak at times. She is supposed to be Tatums love interest and Pettyfers sister, but she is kind of emotionless. It's hard to tell if shes mad, sad, happy, sarcastic or what the hell shes trying to do. It's kind of weird and brings the film down.
I liked the story that was being told. It's a behind the scenes look at a profession and lifestyle I know nothing about. It's consistently interesting, and even the actual stripping scenes work and aren't gratuitous, because you need to see what they do on stage to understand them more. You can't have the film without the stripping. It's interestingly shot as well, with that Steven Soderbergh style that a lot of his films that he has directed has. Yellowish coloring outdoors and lots of color inside the strip club. There's also some great use of lighting during a scene towards the end that I won't spoil. It's well done.
I enjoyed Magic Mike more than I thought I would. It had more depth than expected, and I appreciated that. Although i'm sure the sequel being made, Magic Mike XXL will be less character drama and more shirtless Channing Tatum, since Soderbergh isn't directing it. Talk about missing the point.
Channing Tatum does a really good job. He's someone who I thought was really crappy at first, but he's come into his own in the world of acting. He can do serious and comedic roles, and he has to do both here, and he does it well! Alex Pettyfer plays the kid that Tatum takes under his wing, and he portrays the young and aimless rookie pretty well, and his eventual transformation works. The back and forth between Pettyfer and Tatum is good, especially considering that I read they didn't get along on set. Sadly I thought Cody Horn was a bit weak at times. She is supposed to be Tatums love interest and Pettyfers sister, but she is kind of emotionless. It's hard to tell if shes mad, sad, happy, sarcastic or what the hell shes trying to do. It's kind of weird and brings the film down.
I liked the story that was being told. It's a behind the scenes look at a profession and lifestyle I know nothing about. It's consistently interesting, and even the actual stripping scenes work and aren't gratuitous, because you need to see what they do on stage to understand them more. You can't have the film without the stripping. It's interestingly shot as well, with that Steven Soderbergh style that a lot of his films that he has directed has. Yellowish coloring outdoors and lots of color inside the strip club. There's also some great use of lighting during a scene towards the end that I won't spoil. It's well done.
I enjoyed Magic Mike more than I thought I would. It had more depth than expected, and I appreciated that. Although i'm sure the sequel being made, Magic Mike XXL will be less character drama and more shirtless Channing Tatum, since Soderbergh isn't directing it. Talk about missing the point.