janerosslj I have always heard mixed reviews about this movie. Some people loved it, others hate it. I was interested to actual watch it. My main thing, is why is their such good actors with such a predictable story? Obviously; they need drama and problems in movies. That's a given in nearly every movie. Otherwise it gets boring. But honestly, I was disappointed. The beginning, the dancing was good. But by the end of it, you were over it. You just wanted the movie to end. Let's not mention the chessy scene when Mike goes to see his life long friend Joanna and finds out she's engaged to the guy sitting next to her. To me, in real life, the guy would have been pissed, like who the heck does this Mike guy think he is walking in and being shocked that they were engaged? Bad acting and poor performance. He would have wanted to know what was really going on with this guy and his FIANCÉ!! Like seriously guys, come on! Unfortunately, This is just one of those movies that you watch and than never watch again. Really dissapointed! Don't think I will be watching number 2. Let's hope to god they don't make a number 3! Oh, and what's with the horriable editing?! For the whole movie, they added some chessy 2005 lighting to everything! Like the movie was made in 2012! Not 2005?! Overall; was left very confused.

Sam Cannon If there's one thing the trailers for this film got right, its that it's a film about male strippers. However, this film approaches a raunchy subject with a decent amount of class and restraint, which the trailers fail to imply.Magic Mike is a drama about the male strip scene. There's nothing much funny about what happens in the film, and it's driven by well written and well acted characters more than anything else. This isn't the male equivalent of a film like Showgirls, something that relishes in the exploitation of women, no. In fact, if the genders of Magic Mike were reversed, it would probably be heralded as a feminist masterpiece.The film is mainly about the friendship between Mike and Adam. Mike is a 30-something entrepreneur who wants to start a custom furniture business, and Adam is a 19 year old who doesn't know what to do with his life. They meet on a construction site, go to a nightclub, and Adam discovers that Mike is an incredibly talented stripper, and Adam discovers that he wants in, to the dismay of his older sister.From there comes quite a compelling character drama that goes through the highs and lows of the male stripper life, and it's compelling. Apparently, Channing Tatum (Mike) was a male stripper before he got into acting, and it shows in the beautifully filmed dance sequences. Magic Mike is essentially a well written, R-Rated Step Up film, and it's incredibly entertaining on that level.The main flaw this film has is basically how it was marketed. I can't really imagine how many straight women (and gay men) came to the film expecting some good old sexual exploitation, and instead got a lot of drama and conflict. It's good, but not what was expected. It's like ordering a hamburger and getting a taco, they're both delicious, and they both contain beef, but you'd still be a little annoyed that you didn't get what you asked for.Anyway, if you keep that in mind, you'll definitely enjoy this movie for what it is, a compelling character drama in a fairly unique setting.

larksine If your first assumption is that Magic Mike is about strippers who are caught up in the life of sex, drugs, and alcohol, you're right. However, this movie surprisingly has more depth to it than that. The movie has something for everyone, from beautiful men dressed in less-to-nothing, to interesting characters with more-than-one layer, to a well-written story with well-placed twists and turns. From a psychologist's point of view, the likable and talented Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) is in a state of identity moratorium: radical exploration of all that life has to offer, which the movie mirrors. Throughout the movie, Steven Soderbergh uses cinematography, music, and an insightful script to give the audience an exploratory view of Magic Mike's desperate search for meaning in his life. Mike is an unashamed "entrepreneur/stripper," going through a moral crisis. Channing Tatum, who plays Magic Mike, will captivate you with the facade of a confident man who knows what he wants by night. By day, however, a literal light is shed on a man who is stuck in a reality he does not belong in. While Mike is stripping the audience is treated to a world filled with vibrant colors, quick camera shots, and energetic acting. Off stage, however, a distinct yellow camera filter is used to represent Mike;'s drawn-out hangover. The movie's soundtrack is also dramatically different from scene to scene, using hip, modern music to highlight the stripper's irresponsible nightlife activities, and gloomier music in the daytime, which allows the audience to see how heavy Mike's situation really is. Mike does not want to be a stripper. He is not ashamed of what he does, but stripping is not his passion. Mike's dream is to run his own carpentry business, but his dream is always a little out of reach. When Mike comes across Adam (Alex Pettyfer), who is ignorant to his own moral crisis, and Adam's protective older sister (Cody Horn), it becomes clear to Mike that his life choices affect more than himself. As Mike's attitude changes, the movie becomes less energetic and more dramatic. We see increasingly longer takes, more serious dialogue we begin to see the consequences of Adam and Mike's carefree lifestyle. Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, and Matthew McConaughey can all put on a show, but McConaughey's talent deserves way more than one dollar bills. While Channing Tatum's dance moves are a definite crowd pleaser, McConaughey portrayal of Dallas steals scenes with swagger alone. His ability to capture Dallas' charisma and borderline sociopathic behavior is unmatched among the cast. Cody Horn also does an excellent job at playing the calm to the storm that is Mike and Adam's sex, drugs, and rock n' roll lifestyle. Cody's subtle disapproving facial expressions are able to say what the audience is thinking--that Mike and Adam can't live like this for long. Overall, the actors each deliver the movie's well-written dialogue with the perfect balance of humor and emotion. Magic Mike's biggest surprise is its surprising depth. While most audience members expected the movie to be a gaudy sex-romp, which it is, it is also a character-driven piece that teaches a lesson about the dangers of an excessive lifestyle. Soderburgh and the cast have taken a movie that could've been a shallow film meant only for twenty-something girls that want to ogle Channing Tatum and turned it into a enjoyable film that explores the process of growing up. While it may not be the perfect film, it will leave audiences looking for both sugar and spice, as well as the meat and potatoes of a meaningful film, satisfied.

sage411 It has its occasional humor bits but the majority of it is just trash. The best part was finding out that Brooke is played by Cody Horn. Her father is the chairman of Walt Disney Studios and was, formerly, the president of Warner Bros. I guess she had connections. Her mother was a model too. Matthew McConaughey was in great shape for this but what male stripper wouldn't be. Not very good or funny, but worth a glance on cable. Don't go out of your way or take too much time to watch it. In my book, not worth male watching unless you are with a female that might be in to the strippers. I need to keep adding lines to get the review published, so I will continue as long as needed to get something done.