Magic Mike
BB.5
(out of 5)
Channing Tatum plays a member of a male exotic dance revue who longs for something more: he takes the piles of cash that are stuffed into his underwear strap every night and is saving to become a real estate tycoon. He meets young, aimless Alex Pettyfer and decides to give the kid a chance in the club he dances in, working for their oily, charming boss Matthew McConaughey. Pettyfer is instantly a hit with the ladies (which is odd considering how much of the film he spends looking like he needs to wash his hair), and while Tatum starts charming Pettyfer’s adorable sister, the young whippersnapper begins to think of his job as a free ride: sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll get out of hand while his mentor keeps hoping his sense of discipline will win out. Steven Soderbergh’s examination of the commodification of flesh is not an all-out exploitation of the men it examines, and in a way that’s a shame. It’s not a particularly shy movie, but it could do with some rebellious sexiness; the way the characters are constantly begging to be taken seriously despite what they do for a living makes them somewhat boring to watch, particularly considering that all the performances (including a very handsome and surprisingly non-charismatic Matt Bomer) pale in comparison to McConaughey’s hysterically wicked turn as the man who has, quite frankly, been in the business far too long. The rise and fall of both main characters leaves a lot to be desired, particularly as Tatum’s acting abilities come nowhere near his dancing talents (which are relegated to a few measly montage sequences). On the other hand, the revelation of flesh is far too tame to make it anything worth writing home about.
USA, 2012
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay by Reid Carolin
Cinematography by Steven Soderbergh
Produced by Reid Carolin, Gregory Jacobs, Channing Tatum, Nick Wechsler
Music by Frankie Pine
Production Design by Howard Cummings
Costume Design by Christopher Peterson
Film Editing by Steven Soderbergh
Cast Tags: Adam Rodriguez, Alex Pettyfer, Alison Faulk, Annette Houlihan Verdolino, Asher Wallis, Ashley Hayes, Avery Camp, Betsy Brandt, Caitlin Gerard, Cameron Banfield, Camryn Grimes, Candace Marie, Catherine Lynn Stone, Channing Tatum, Cody Horn, Denise Vasi, Gabriel Iglesias, George A. Sack, James Martin Kelly, Jannel-Marie Diaz, Jennifer Skinner, Joe Manganiello, Kate Easton, Keith Kurtz, Kevin Nash, Lyss Remaly, Marland Burke, Matt Bomer, Matthew McConaughey, Maynard the Pig, Micaela Johnson, Michael Roark, Mircea Monroe, Monica Garcia, Nick Wechsler, Olivia Munn, Riley Keough, Teresa Espinosa, Vanessa Ryan, Yari De Leon
New York Film Critics Award
Best Supporting Actor (Matthew McConaughey)
National Society of Film Critics Award
Best Supporting Actor (Matthew McConaughey)
Independent Spirit Award
Best Supporting Male (Matthew McConaughey)
