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| Magic Mike's Cast: "Behold our abs, ye mortals, and despair!" |
The movie itself is quite enjoyable, and a welcome return to
form for Stephen Soderbergh after the misfire that was Haywire. I’d call it Boogie
Nights with strippers, though I do wish I’d seen any of the witty dialogue for which the director is best known. Out
of Sight is one of my favorite movies, and I was looking for some of
the sexy banter I enjoyed between George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez in that
film to crop up between Channing Tatum and Cody Horn, and I was slightly
disappointed.
That said, the central storyline was entertining if
predictable. Channing Tatum is a charming lead, and this movie has made me a fan
of his. His Mike has the savviness of a street hustler combined with a real idealism
he tries hard to cover up, but manifests nonetheless. The target of that
idealism, Cody Horn’s Brooke, falls short of being worthy of it. It’s not
necessarily the fault of the actress – she brings a low key sexiness to the
movie – but the role is underwritten and uneven.
The central plot – Mike’s mentorship of Brooke’s younger
brother Adam in the not-as-glamorous-as-it-looks world of male stripping – not surprisingly
takes the predictable route of Mike “saving” the young man. Adam, callow youth
that he is, resists it at every turn, beginning to deal drugs and basically
being as irresponsible as a 19-year old generally is. When Mike ultimately does
“save” him though – he pays off the drug
dealers Adam has crossed – Adam is barely thankful, and his sister, who had
implored Mike to take care of the young man throughout the movie suddenly has
the attitude that “he’s going to do what he wants to.” A puzzling development,
and one that to me makes her basically unworthy of Mike’s attentions, but the
movie doesn’t explore that, instead tacking on an ending wherein Mike has
rejected the stripper lifestyle that’s supported him this long to be with her. My
problem is that she’s done very little to be worth it to him.
Ultimately, I think the person Mike saves is himself, and
for that reason I really liked the film, for all its imperfections, and I
suppose if Brooke was to be the symbol of the life he has been yearning for,
she’s served that purpose, it’s just that I didn’t feel it.
The movie is realistic in unexpected ways, the dance
sequences are entertaining, Matthew McConaughey reminds you why he’s a movie
star (hello, Best-Supporting Actor Oscar!), and it features two absolutely stunning
dance numbers highlighting Channing Tatum’s loose-hipped style of b-boy smoovness.
Definitely go see it.
Rating: 3.5/5 Squeeing Fangirls
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Matt Bomer: "Hey Joe, they're saying there's not enough of us in this film."
Joe Manganiello: "They would be right, my friend."
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WE WANT MAGIC MATT!
Speaking from the point of view of a rabid Matt Bomer fan,
however, the film falls short. Yes, I
know he’s a supporting player, but I wanted more of his dancing scenes (and
everyone else’s for that matter).
That said, it is the quantity that was lacking, not the quality. Matt’s performance is a refreshing surprise. If
you haven’t seen it, be warned that this is not the movie for you if you expect
to see Matt portray another variation on the earnest yet flawed hero we’ve come
to know and love. Matt’s Ken is a vapid and shallow man, who has traded on his
good lucks for a life and a lifestyle that will ultimately be the end of him.
He is a married man who freely offers his half-naked wife up to his friends
(not that she seems to mind much), and might even be a drug dealer. It is
certainly a glimpse into a future that Mike would reject for himself, but it
proves to be very alluring for young Adam. Probably not the nicest guy, when
all is said and done, this Ken.
And that’s what I loved about it – seeing Matt explore other
nuances in roles, stretching his acting muscles and showing us what he can
really do. Makes me positively gag to see him in The Normal Heart (must we
really wait until 2014?!).
Rating: Matt gets ALL the Squeeing Fangirls
Your turn, Collars. What did you think of the film?
4 comments:
I have some disagreement with your thoughts on the movie in general (not major disagreements but I think I just enjoyed it a bit more than you), but totally agree on the Matt front (and rear ;p). Also, just a note, if you missed it: Matt is filming another movie BEFORE Normal Heart. Woo! You Don't Love Me Yet film adaptation (book by Jonathan Lethem). Just read the book and it's very clear (but as it isn't official, I can't be 100% sure) that Matt will be playing the lead singer of the band in the book. I won't say anything more, but the role will have a wide variety of emotions that Matt will get to explore, as well as just being a totally different character than we have ever seen before. Plus, singing and guitar playing! Woooo.
@lauracollared: Wow, that makes me waaaaay happy! Matt singing more? I just can't even deal.
Loved Magic Mike for the Matt parts. The best news is that his popularity between MM and Glee has gone through the roof. I think he is the most talented (hottest too) man that is not a household name but thankfully that is changing very rapidly. My only hope is that this brings more viewers and attention to WC. Matt really deserves some kind of nomination for WC, would be ironic if he gets it for Glee which many columns say he might. What worries me most is that without nomination acknowledgement or higher ratings, WC might be holding Matt's career back which would be sad. He has now done enough supporting roles with inferior lead actors, he deserves lead or co-lead roles in bigger movies but I think that WC might prohibit that. Sad, I love WC but I love him more and want him to succeed they way he deserves to.
I don't think White Collar is holding him back at all. I also don't think superstardom (like headlining major films) equals the pinaccle of success for everyone. As an actress, I would consider it a HUGE success to land a lead role in a popular show--it's regular work, well-paid, a fun character to play, with a cast and crew that are close friends--and still be able to do other projects on the side. TV shows don't last forever. I'm willing to bet Matt holds onto WC while a good thing lasts.
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