July 18, 2015

 

*May Contain Spoilers*

 

Remember when you first saw Magic Mike a few years ago and you were so excited, and then it was this dark, serious film with the occasional stripper dance and you were disappointed? Well, Magic Mike XXL does not disappoint! Yes, it’s still silly with gratuitous bumping and grinding dances that might stir up some feelings in your nether regions, but it’s funny and light this time around. Don’t worry, ladies, Channing Tatum and Joe Manganiello still take off their clothes and dance all sexy-like.

 

Gone are Dallas (Matthew McConaughey) and Adam, the kid Mike Lane (Tatum) groomed in the first film. As explained, Dallas took the kid over the Europe to build his empire there. Tarzan (Kevin Nash) calls Mike telling him Dallas is gone and a memorial is planned for him. When he arrives, it’s just a big party with the guys, who tell him that Dallas isn’t dead. They tell Mike they are going on a road trip for one last hurrah to the strippers’ convention in Myrtle Beach. They ask Mike to go, but he explains he’s moved on from that life now that his carpentry business is up and running.

 

Things aren’t so peaches and cream for Mike though, as he struggles to pay benefits for his one employee and his girlfriend left him. After hearing his favorite dance tune, “Pony,” while working in his shop, he decides to join the boys on the road. Once on the bus, the guys are exactly the same and poke fun at serious Mike. After some banter, they start to discuss their routines. Big Dick Richie (Manganiello) suggests they do the same routines that Dallas choreographed for them several years back, but Mike suggests they switch it up. And after doing some Molly, Richie tests his chops out at a convenience store clerk to see if he can improvise on his own.

 

It’s decided they will create their own dances, but hit a bump in the road, literally, when their MC is injured in an accident. They take a detour to visit an old friend of Mike’s, Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith), who has created an empire of her own strictly for women’s fantasies. When Mike suggests she help him out, she laughs and makes him prove his worth. They get a ride from one of her guys to a mansion where Tito (Adam Rodriguez) says he knows the girl who lives there. They are greeted by the girl’s mother Nancy (Andie MacDowell) and her friends. After an interrogation, Tito’s friend reveals the guys are male entertainers. Richie gets his groove back when he hooks up with Nancy, and Mike meets up with Zoe (Amber Heard), a girl he met at a beach party, again. He urges Zoe to go to the convention because it will cheer her up.

 

After a night at the mansion, they head to the convention, where they are met by Rome, who has reserved some practice space for them. They work on their routines with Rome, who will now MC, as well as one of her employees, Malik (Stephen tWitch Boss). As they enter the convention, Paris (Elizabeth Banks) tells them she doesn’t have a spot for them, despite her history with Mike. However, once Rome asks Paris nicely, Paris gives them a prime slot with a promise the show better be good. And it sure doesn’t disappoint. Each of the guys gets to live out their fantasy dance, Tarzan as a painter and Tito as an ice cream truck guy; Ken (Matt Bomer) gets to showcase his singing, while Richie gets ‘married’ to a girl in the audience and goes on their sexy honeymoon. And finally, Mike and Malik do a dirty mirror dance with some girls, including Zoe.

 

What a really fun movie. I was definitely pleasantly surprised and glad my curiosity sent me to see this sequel. Tatum does a good job at holding the film (and the group) together. While Bomer, Rodriguez, Nash and Manganiello are great sidekicks. The ‘chemistry’ is good between them, and they could certainly hold their own as a boy band if they felt like it. Manganiello and Tatum were pretty good with the comedic relief, which is needed in a film like this. And by that I mean, one with a very simple plot with lack of character development. But let’s be real, the ladies aren’t flocking to the theater for the plot or characters.

 

Twitch was a great addition to the cast, though I wish Tatum didn’t overshadow his dance moves at the end, because I love his style. Look for cameos by Michael Strahan and Danny Glover.

 

If you like dancing, silliness and sexy men, definitely check out Magic Mike XXL.