The Film
We're used to seeing Matthew McConaughey sans shirt. However, there's finally a movie that actually calls for McConaughey to show off those perpetually glistening abs.
And glisten they do, but McConaughey is not the main character in Magic Mike. That title role goes to Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street), who supposedly based the film on his own pre-movie stripping experiences.
If Hollywood has taught us anything, it's that a stripper's life can be an incredibly sad one. Apparently, there's no gender discrimination, either, meaning that things don't seem all that better for the characters in Magic Mike.
Mike (Tatum) is certainly the star of the show, but he doesn't hog the spotlight. Instead, the film focuses on his relationship with Adam (Alex Pettyfer), who comes up through the stripper ranks as "The Kid." In the meantime, we also get to know the rest of the all-male revue, which includes Dallas (McConaughey), Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello), Ken (Matt Bomer), Tito (Adam RodrÃguez) and Tarzan (Kevin Nash). Well, you don't really get to know them in the literal sense as much as the biblical.
Off-stage, Mike has dreams for when he "grows up." He wants a girl -- and it doesn't seem to matter if that's Joanna (Olivia Munn) or Adam's sister Brooke (Cody Horn). He also longs to leave the stage and open up his own custom furniture business. Oh, the problems of the brutally hot!
Magic Mike is part Boogie Nights, part Step Up, and unfortunately, part Showgirls. It can get a little cheesy, but that serves up nicely with the buffet of beefcake on display here. Tatum is especially impressive, not just for his acting, but his dancing is unbelievable and will have you waving dollar bills at your TV screen. Enjoy the show.
Want an encore? Check out Karen Dahlstrom's theatrical review of Magic Mike.
The Picture
Magic Mike glistens for the most part, especially during the film's many dance scenes. Yes, those clubs can be a bit on the dark side, but you'll never miss one detail on those chiseled bodies. However, life off-stage isn't as exciting, so director Steven Soderbergh has doused it with a lot of yellow. If you're looking for any sort of reality in Magic Mike, you're barking up the wrong tree. That said, the film is every bit what Soderbergh wants, making for a pretty interesting viewing experience.
The Sound
If you've ever spent time in a strip club -- any club, actually -- you know that things can get a little loud. This film's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track conveys that so well, you're probably going to want to think about charging a cover for your living room. Expect your subwoofer to get a serious workout in those dance scenes, with the soundfield supporting the action quite nicely. Those club scenes are when the track is at its best, with plenty of lady screams to accompany the music in those surrounds. Off-stage, things sound just as nice, with ambient effects and clear dialogue throughout.
The Extras
Surprisingly, you could fit Magic Mike's extras into a thong; the collection is that small. The film offers up a 7-minute promo on the making of the film and the "Dance Play Mode" is literally all of the film's dance scenes awkwardly spliced together. And if you didn't get enough dancing from that special feature or the film itself, there's three extended dance scenes. That's it.
Final Thoughts
For a flick about male strippers, Magic Mike is pretty good. Attaching Steven Soderberg's name left me wanting a little more, though. Frankly, it would have been more interesting to see how this crew manages to make the show happen, instead of adding in a bunch of cliches about drug use and pining for true love, etc. The biggest disappointment in this release is the collection of extras, which are skimpier than some of the stripper outfits on display here. Still, the film is enjoyable enough, with an AV presentation to match.
Product Details
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