The Cock Rocking Goodness that is 'Magic Mike'

WARNING: I don’t think there are spoilers in this review because the movie, as fun as it is, is pretty much by the numbers plot wise. I don’t reveal how the HEA happens but I do discuss and pass judgment generally upon it. You have been vaguely warned.

Proving I’m not a complete shut in I went to the movies today to see Magic Mike. The film is about male strippers, a subject sufficient to get the bulk of females and a big number of male bums on cinema seats because you know you need to see it on a BIG screen. Right? Right. Now I had low expectations regarding anything but the quality of the ab’s I’d be seeing. I knew they’d be stellar, I’d seen them on Google Images (don’t judge me). And Facebook. And twitter. And a few other places around town (still don’t judge me, I’m warning you). Channing Tatum plays Mike. He generally doesn’t do much for me (thought The Vow wasn’t so bad) but this film turned that around. He was awesome. The story is based partly on his own experiences as a 19 year old stripper in Tampa so I dare say he had a wealth of personal experience to draw from.

Backing him up is Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello (spelt his surname right for once…) and Matthew McConaughey. All of these men are very pretty and spend a good part of the movie topless of which we must approve. MUST. Basically 30 year old Mike introduces a fresh faced 19 year old guy into the pack of strippers and said kid gets exposed to the party time lifestyle and the sort of shit you’d expect to happen happens. Girls throw money at him and things steadily spiral out of control. The film looked fantastic care of more than the muscles much as you’d expect with Stephen Soderbergh in charge. At times early on there was an almost documentary feel to it that was cool. There were some good laughs to be had. The dance routines performed by the cock rocking all male dance troop were eye popping spectacular. Costumes were suitably crazy and the music was thumping good. I heartily endorse this movie as a fun time to be had.

But what did it get wrong that prevents me from naming it as perfection, you ask? Go on. Ask. Well, this movie is rightly centered around the boys but the one big juicy feminine role to be had, that of the newbies big sister and Magic Mike’s possible love interest, fell flat. The chick spent the movie being judgey and sour a good deal of the time (and granted, a good deal of the time she has reason). But by the end, when exactly what you’re expecting to happen happens, I was not on her side. In mine eyes she had not earned her happy ending. The guy could probably do better. Whatever needed to take place for me to believe she was the right girl for the guy and vice versa had not happened. 

So there you go. That’s my take on Magic Mike. See it. Revel in it. And don't forget to let your ovaries explode at it's pervy magnificence.