Magic Mike (DVD) > Reviews (5)

Every so often, a girl just needs to watch a film that has not much in the way of plot and A LOT in the way of hot male nearly nude bodies. "Magic Mike" certainly meets those requirements. What it lacks in substance, it more than makes up for in ripped torsos and good looking faces . . .

I mainly went along to see this film in the first place as my sister really wanted to see it and her usual viewing companion, her husband, was clearly not too enamoured with the idea of watching such shallowness. Whether this was because he just didn't like the idea, or whether he was scared he wouldn't measure up and come out of the film feeling decidedly lacking, it is unclear, but he didn't want to go so the onus was on me to give up a couple of hours and go watch. Clearly, I am a GREAT sister . . . ;-)

"Magic Mike" is about the world of stripping. MALE stripping, which makes a nice change for us girls. It stars Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer and Matthew McConaughey - who are all in possession of rather good bodies (understatement of the century!). Tatum plays Mike, an all-round sound dude who works construction by day, makes furniture on the side, and moonlights as a stripper by night at a club called Xquisite, run by Dallas (McConaughey). Mike meets Adam (Pettyfer) at his construction job, he seems like one of life's losers (he quits on his first day on the job after being accused of stealing sodas), but after running into him on a night out, he ends up inducting Adam into the world of stripping. It turns out, surprisingly, that Adam is a fast study and he quickly becomes a hit with the Xquisite regulars.

In the meantime, Mike is trying to get his plans for a furniture business off the ground - but his lack of credit is proving to be a stumbling block. He is relying on Dallas' plans to move the club to Miami and give him a bigger share of the profits, but as time goes on he is starting to doubt Dallas' word. He doesn't want to remain a stripper forever. In the meantime though, he is also getting drawn in deeper as Adam starts to go off the rails and not only become a drug user, but also a dealer. He has given his word to Adam's sister Brooke that he will look after him - but this is starting to become harder and harder as Adam is completely unpredictable.

"Magic Mike" is admittedly low on plot, as I have already said, but it also has pretty much everything else you need to make a good film. There's humour, drama, romance, interesting characters, good looking male and female characters . . . all of these make up for the lack of substance and make for an entertaining film. The dancing is also pretty good - remember here that one of Tatum's first starring roles was in "Step Up" - he definitely has the moves. Actually, the fact this film is in existence at all is due to the fact that Tatum actually used to BE a stripper and wanted to bring out a film loosely based on his experiences!

My favourite performances in this film were probably from Pettyfer and McConaughey though.

Pettyfer's Adam is both compelling and irritating in a you-just-want-to-shake-him sort of way in equal measures - and the fact he is gloriously good looking just made me want to stare at him all day. McConaughey's character, in the meantime, had the charm of his usual rom-com type characters, but there was definitely a darker, untrustworthy edge . . . and a slight campness too! I think this is probably the first film of his I've watched where I haven't found him all that attractive, despite the undeniably great physique!

If you are looking for a lightweight, entertaining film which is more about the visual than anything else (In other words, you want to see some half naked male bodies writhing about to music), then i would recommend "Magic Mike". If, however, your films need to have a decent plot, or you are a heterosexual male, you may want to give this one a miss!