Magic Mike XXL (DVD REVIEW)
Magic Mike XXL
DVD Review
by Kam Williams
Tatum's Titillating Man Meat Sequel Makes Its Way to Home Video
What made
the original Magic Mike so appealing was it's raw-edged, realistic
feel that made you forgot you were even watching a movie. This
relatively-superficial sequel tosses the notion of plausible
character and plot development out the window in favor of a sensual
take the money-and-run sequel focused squarely on titillation.
Yes,
Channing Tatum has returned in the title role, but conspicuously
absent are Matthew McConaughey, Olivia Munn and a couple of other
actors critical to the success of the original. Also gone is the
picture's legendary director, Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh (for
Traffic) who retired in 2013 out of frustration with the film
industry.
XXL picks
up three years after the ending of the first episode, conveniently
ignoring the fact that Mike had specifically left stripping for a
legit line of work in order to walk off into the proverbial sunset
with a grateful girlfriend. At the point of departure, we find Mike
single again and flourishing as a furniture designer. He is soon
duped into attending what is supposed to be the wake of Dallas
(McConaughey), his former boss at the notorious nightclub known as
Xquisite.
Upon
arriving, however, Mike learns that Dallas is alive and well and
living in Macao. The deceitful death notice was just a ruse concocted
by pals to pitch him on participating in a reunion of The Kings of
Tampa. That brawny brotherhood of hunky dudes with whom he'd once
shared the stage is now interested in taking their bawdy burlesque
show on the road.
Already
signed on are Tarzan (Kevin Nash), Big Dick (Joe Manganiello), Tito
(Adam Rodriguez) and Ken (Matt Bomer),
as well as rubbery eunuch Tobias (Gabriel Iglesias), who's been
enlisted to serve as the chauffeur of their food truck-turned-tour
bus. The plan is to drive from Florida to Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina to perform in a competition at
the annual strippers convention.
It
doesn't take much in the way of arm-twisting to bring Mike aboard,
and the next thing you know the motley crew is cutting a swath
across the South, making stops to strip at seedy dives along the way,
a big exception being Domina, the upscale establishment run by Mike's
ex, Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith), which caters to a predominantly black
clientele. Among the buff bods in her sepia stable are Andre (Donald
Glover), Augustus (Michael Strahan)
and Malik (Stephen “tWitch” Boss).
Magic
Mike XXL was directed by Gregory
Jacobs, best known for the made-for-TV Liberace biopic, Behind the
Candelabra, which landed 11 Emmys in 2013. Too bad he apparently
couldn't be bothered with crafting a credible story line for this
disappointing, big screen production.
An
unabashedly carnal indulgence solely interested in inducing
gelatinous drools of saliva from the mouths of overstimulated
females.
Fair (1
star)
Rated R
for nudity, drug use, graphic sexuality and pervasive profanity
Running time: 115 minutes
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