Sunday, July 1, 2012

Becky's Unsolicited Movie Reviews: Magic Mike

I got carded for the second time in my life at the movie theater tonight as I bought my ticket for Magic Mike.  The first time I got carded was a few weeks ago for 21 Jump Street.

Apparently the Malco Theater Company here in Memphis does not think that I am old enough for Channing Tatum.  (BUT THEY ARE WRONG.)

So.  Magic Mike.  I felt...sad as I left the theater.  And slightly confused.  And maybe a little dirty.  In other words, I felt exactly as I've always envisioned myself feeling should I ever visit a real male strip club.  And then dirtier yet when I found out that the movie was (at least partially) based on Channing Tatum's own experience as a male stripper. 

The theater was almost full, almost entirely women, and good Lord, they yelled at that screen like Matthew McConaughey could hear them.

But for me, the flashy dance numbers did little to overshadow the serious (and sometimes - interestingly - relatable) story of what happens when you sell yourself for a quick buck but then somehow lose sight of your bigger dreams along the way.  And how the company you keep can drag you down before you know what's happening.  And how sometimes male strippers fall for smart chicks.  (Alright, that last was undoubtedly mostly fantasy thrown in for the predictably female audience, but it provided a nice, non-skeezy subplot nonetheless.)

If you're the type of person who likes watching men strip down to American flag thongs, you will probably love this movie.  And if you're the type of person to constantly see parallels to your own life in movies about 30-year-olds who are stuck in neutral then...well...you might want to save this one for a rental.

3.5 out of 5 stars.  And I'm going to go take a shower now.

2 comments:

  1. aha, finally I get to hear the plot of the infamous Magic Mike ... well yes, I am that lazy - I don't look up movie plots ;)

    And I am blonde like that: I don't get the "neutrals"-referral... if you don't mean nude-rals ;)

    other than that, I don't like men in any kind of thongs - so if at all it's probably a rent if not a wait till it it on TV ;)

    Sasha

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    1. HA! "Nude-rals"! Sasha, that was a most excellent pun. :D I never come up with good puns...

      "Stuck in neutral" is a figure of speech referring to putting a car in neutral gear. We mean it as a way of saying that life isn't necessarily moving forward or backward; it's just kind of idling where it is. :)

      I don't necessarily see this as your kind of movie, but I think you would like some the overall themes about life. So I think you've definitely got the right idea to either rent or see it on TV. ;)

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