As far as the acting, Channing Tatum sure looked right at home on stage dancing as his alter ego Magic Mike. There are a few scenes that will even make the not-so-shyest of viewers blush. Needless to say, his performance was indeed believable. His character, Mike, takes on a protégé named Adam (played by Alex Pettyfer) who is basically a 19-year old kid lured into the exotic dancing world by the promise money and sex. (Sound cliché, well you’re right, it is.) Both Mike and Alex work for the proverbial sleazy club owner and manager Dallas, played by McConaughey, who gives a downright creepy albeit predictable performance.
Magic Mike, as is true of many films, is about expectations. Ladies, if you are expecting a virtual bachelorette party on the big screen, then this movie delivers. Perfect for a girls’ night out. However, if you are expecting a well-crafted and thought-provoking story with clever dialog characteristic of a Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Erin Brockovich) film, then you will be surly disappointed. I admire Soderbergh for trying something different, but it could have been the kind of different that was good. I almost think Magic Mike would’ve been better as some sort of stripper musical focusing on the dancing alone and not even trying to have a plot. After all, the dancing (aka stripping) was the best part. I wish I would’ve had lower expectations; perhaps I would’ve enjoyed the film more.
