Magic Mike XXL

Starring: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Banks, Jada Pinkett-Smith (Rated MA – 115 min).

Unbuttoning layers gyrating is all smoke and mirrors worth throwing money on stage for apparently. Enough for a movie without decorum that is sure to set the box office alight. Husbands or boyfriends may want to sneak into the next cinema for Terminator Genysis.

There is a certain audience out there who will line up in anticipation pumped for a good time and that’s mostly what you get with this sequel to the much darker 2012 original. This is basically a stripper road trip comedy with a few pit stops for male exotic dancing routines along the way. The boys are drawn back together: Mike, Tito, Tarzan and Big D Richie set off in a modified frozen yogurt ice cream truck remaining enthusiastic for one last dance hurrah at a Florida stripper convention.

Recent Oscar winner Matthew McConaughy does not return, although his character Dallas is briefly mentioned in passing. The film laughably takes itself too seriously momentarily when discussions become forthright about these ‘male entertainers’ (as they like to be called) provide suitable escapist fantasy for women who may not have many other avenues.

Channing Tatum who made his film lead debut in Step Up, is for good reason the main attraction. He maintains charisma, has the moves and can act to decent affect, even if much of this rambled script seems improvised. A fact confirmed by the writer Reid Carolin.

Pelvic thrusts, slight of foot moves have the ladies screaming and throwing money in the film on and on and on. My eyes needed recovery. Richie dances a tour de force solo inside a convenience store during one of the true unique exhibitions of junk food lust, however the best moment is the clerk (Lindsay Moser) and her priceless unreserved glare, hilarious.

Veteran glamour Andie MacDowell has a wine soaked classic confrontation with the boys as they visit her mansion, while wife of Johnny Depp, waif like Amber Heard holds taut chemistry with Mike in discussion, only to deflate in the finale when joining him on stage.

Tatum makes power tools sexy inside a garage which will no doubt quiver a certain demographic. Titillation overtakes a plot, affirmation sealed with a kiss to the ladies wide eyed attention.

Shane A. Bassett

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