One of this year's true novelty pictures will likely be Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike. It's at least partially based on star Channing Tatum's own experiences as a male stripper pre film stardom and there are very few male stars of his magnitude that would so willfully go there. We hope the film is as much of a novelty in execution as it sounds in concept. (When's the last time someone made a mainstream male stripper movie? 1983?!?) Let's give it the Yes No Maybe So treatment even if we were already "Yes" when it was less a movie in production and more of a rumor called Channing Tatum Wants to Make A Movie About His Own Life As a Stripper.
'Magic. Mike.' You are the husband that they never had. You are the dreamboat guy that never came along."
YES
- The trailer begins almost giddily by embracing the oldest stripping cliche -- it's the ol' legit man in uniform is cheekily anything but legit. And he's also soon out of uniform. more yes (and a little no maybe so after the jump)
- The freeze frames to introduce Chan's "Magic Mike" are stylish fun.
- "Stripper-Enterpreneur... Entrepeneur-Stripper"
- That shot of "Big Dick Ritchie" (Joseph Mangianello) throwing his back out when spinwheeling a customer is an unexpected sight gag.
- Even if you removed the inspired by Channing Tatum's real life connection, Channing Tatum would still be the best possible casting for this movie: his beauty is down to earth rather than iconic/ flawless and his easy charm feels guileless which makes him both believable and endearing as a self-exploiting slab o' beefcake.
- Speaking of... scratch that. Casting doesn't get better than Matthew McConaughey as a stripper emcee. It really doesn't. If his performance is half as enjoyable as that "lawbreakers" bit and the idea of him in this type of role, we are in for a huge treat.
- novelty pictures. support them. Otherwise everything will be samey samey.
- Steven Soderbergh.
Soderbergh is Curious (Yellow)
NO
- Oh christ. Didn't Soderbergh use up five movies worth of yellow lens filters with Haywire. Must Magic Mike be similarly jaundiced? At least it's not blue tinted like 86% of the motion pictures of the past fifteen years. But here's a thought Hollywood. The color wheel wasn't meant to be monogamous. Get slutty with those filters if you have to use them.
- Wait, she can't be around his "lifestyle?" Is this one of those annoying movies that pretends it's okay with ____ only to get all Judgy McJudgerson about its own content?
- And who is this Cody Horn and where does she get off judging Channing-sized himbos for understanding their own appeal and monetizing it? As the great Missy Elliot once sang "♫ Girl, girl, get that cash | If it's 9 to 5 or shakin' your ass | Ain't no shame, ladies do your thang | Just make sure you ahead of the game. ♪ "
- Steven Soderbergh
The law says that you cannot touch. But I think I see a lot of lawbreakers up in this house."
MAYBE SO
- While I wouldn't exactly claim "fandom" when it comes to Matthew McConaughey, I do admire how 'out there' he's willing to go for roles. Eventually it'll have to pay off with a perfect supersized performance, yes?
- Wasn't this movie supposed to be about the men? Where is Matthew Bomer? Why are there so many girls just hanging around with Chan like it's their movie?
- Pray that the judgmental girlfriend (Cody Horn) is not painted too righteously so that the movie doesn't clap her on the back for being superior to those who work for gratuities.
- Steven Soderbergh
The trailer in question
Are you a yes, no or a maybe so?
What does Channing Tatum have to do for a twenty? (And for your twenty)
Channing Counts His 2012 Money. Can "Magic Mike" explode like "The Vow" and "21 Jump Street"?