Magic Mike

UK Release: 11th July 2012

Watched on DVD: Wednesday 26th December 2012

Rating: 15

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Runtime: 1hr 50mins

IMDb Plot Synopsis: Mike Lane is a thirty-year old living in Tampa, Florida. By day he works as a roofer whilst at night, as Magic Mike, he is the star attraction of the Kings of Tampa, a group of male strippers. Secretly he wants out in order to further a projected furniture-making business but his credit rating precludes a bank loan for this despite his considerable savings. One night Adam, a teen-aged work-mate of Mike, follows him to the club and,when one of the acts is unable to go on,he is prevailed upon to strip - becoming a huge hit. However success goes to his head and his foolish actions not only threaten to jeopardise his sister Brooke's relationship with Mike but Mike's ambitions as well.

My Review: I got Magic Mike for Christmas and first thing on Boxing Day I sat down to see if it was any bit as good as the critics (and female audience members!) said it was. And thankfully it was pretty much what I was expecting - some ridiculously hot guys stripping, but with a more serious and emotional side too. It is laugh out loud funny at times but it also has dark undertones.

Channing Tatum has to be the sexiest guy alive and he is amazing as the lead here and while he may use his looks by night by day he is trying to start a furniture business. As we learn more about him you really feel for him and the rest of the guys who are struggling in these financially hard times. There’s been a lot of talk about Matthew McConaughey’s character, Dallas, and he definitely deserves all the praise he got as he shows a side to him that is so much more depth and sadness than I thought possible in a role that could have tipped over into ridiculous. Alex Pettyfer as Adam was the most intriguing as he is our way into this ‘business’ as Mike and Dallas train him up and we see what a destructive path he goes down. 

The scenes on stage may be a lot of fun but it is the scenes off stage that makes this film really special and it proves why both critics and audiences alike can’t help but love Magic Mike!

Score: 8.5/10