Magic Mike XXL

Brimming with a refreshing energy and setting the stage on fire with its erotically charged aura, Magic Mike XXL is a definite improvement over its predecessor that fully embraces its strengths, is well aware of its limitations, and discards almost everything that it can do without to deliver a romp ride that's light, simple & pure delight from beginning to end.

Set 3 years after the events of the first film, Magic Mike XXL finds Mike running his own furniture business like he always wanted but a part of him still misses that old profession. Things are set in motion when he receives a call from his former mates and learns that they've been abandoned by Dallas and plan to bow out with one last performance and decides to join them in their endeavour.

Directed by Gregory Jacobs, Magic Mike XXL trims out everything that stopped the previous film from stretching its arms & legs, and travels a better aligned route. Also, unlike the original, all the subplots head in the same direction as its central storyline, characters get more room to breathe, and there's a sense of history & togetherness in the group's bonding that's genuinely felt in their interactions.

The plot takes the structure of a road trip movie that covers the themes of life, love & friendship as it moves ahead and the music & dance numbers are in perfect harmony with each other and is one key element that makes it blissful on so many levels. Images are more sleek, dance choreography undergoes a major upgrade and it simply packs the right amount of energy & erotica that makes a stripping performance great.

Coming to the performances, the absence of Matthew McConaughey doesn't hurt the film much as his absence is rarely felt. Channing Tatum makes excellent use of the leading spot and contributes with a physically exhausting yet downright seductive performance in his reprising role. Manganiello gets more screen time than before and does well with what he's given while the newcomers are no slouch and ably play their part.

On an overall scale, Magic Mike XXL has XXL times the magic & charisma of its predecessor and is a worthy follow-up by all means. Its simple storytelling & lighthearted flair may not impress those looking for a deeper inspection of the male stripping profession but its testosterone-fuelled atmosphere, lustful moves, beefy allure & surprising evolution into an unabashed celebration of female desire turns it into one of the most enjoyable & entertaining delights of its year.

Mike (Channing Tatum) is working his dream of making furniture but he's barely scrapping by. Dallas has left the Kings of Tampa behind and the guys are looking for one last blow-out. Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello), Tarzan (Kevin Nash), Ken (Matt Bomer), Tito (Adam Rodriguez), and MC Tobias (Gabriel Iglesias) are going on a road trip to a convention in Myrtle Beach run by Paris (Elizabeth Banks). When Tobias gets hurt in a crash, Mike recruits Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith) who brings along Andre (Donald Glover). Mike falls for Zoe (Amber Heard) but the guys are joined by her mother Nancy Davidson (Andie MacDowell) and her friends.

I like the first thirty minutes or so. It kept some of the Soderbergh style. I like Manganiello who is very charming and a little funny. I love him in the convenient store. It's the most innocent fun and I wish the movie stays with that feel. The movie should stay with the six guys having misadventures on the road on their way to the big gig. Then it tries to replace Matthew McConaughey with Jada Pinkett Smith. Matthew stole the first movie. Jada seems to be trying to repeat the feat but it's not the same. Then it tries to inject Glover in with the group which only jumbles up the chemistry once again. The Andie MacDowell section is interesting and it would be great as a companion scene to other more humorous scenes. The last thirty minutes is a long series of stripper performances. I'm sure it's orgasmic for middle aged girlfriends drinking their wines but it gets pretty boring for me. I like the first act but the movie loses a little bit of chemistry when it sets aside Iglesias.

90% of this movie begs the question - Why?

Why is the dialogue so drawn out, yet adds nothing to the plot? Why is one boring scene entirely unlit? Why can't Amber Heard make eye contact? Why is Michael Strahan here for 5 minutes? Why barely use Twitch in a movie about dancing? Why are they littering while driving?

I give that 90% of the film 3 stars.

BUT I give Joe Manganiello's dance scenes 10 stars. His performance to "I Think I Wanna Marry You" will be a special memory for the rest of my life. Thank you, Joe.

My suggestion to the viewer is to fast forward directly to the last 30 minutes.

So on the surface this is about some dudes dancing with not much else. However, if you look under the surface and get into the message it's trying to convey you will see that these guys are worshipping women. We are queens, we are beautiful no matter our size. The men worship the women and it's lovely to see. It isn't all sleaze and sex. It's about laughing, comradeship and boosting women. Can't be all bad.

I forget who recommended MMXXL, but I'm glad they did.

Let's get this out of the way; yes, there's ripped dudes dancing, but that takes a backseat to the core of the film's message.

This is a road trip movie about grief and loss, healing, and finding strength through friendship. Every character has clear and distinct motivations. And each character has their own challenges that they must overcome in order to compete in the film's climactic dance competition.

Slowly as the posturing stops and the walls come down, is when we learn what each character is actually going through and how much this trip actually means to each of them.

Joe Manganiello, for example, as an insecure dude who is starved for intimacy was incredibly endearing, and his dance sequence in the gas station is hilarious.

Even Tatum does a decent job here. Sure, the script doesn't give him a ton to work with. However, his interactions with one of the only other main women in the film comes across as very respectful and even tender. It's refreshing to see a platonic relationship depicted this way between a man and woman, especially in a film such as this.

Should you seek this movie out? Absolutely. You might be surprised how relatable it is. Temper your expectations a little, and just enjoy the ride.