Magic Mike

Channing Tatum produced an “independent relationship drama” that showed him in a more mature light. Dialog that is uncontrived and sober, so much so in places that a few conversational gambits would not have hurt. Two fantastic filmmaking moments – the camera play in the opening scene (two girls in Tatum’s bed) and a later scene with a cut from a cell phone (dialing a girl) to a couple, already lying and hugging on the bed. But the rest of it is rather boring, with a tedious performance by the lead actor, who was supposed to keep it afloat. (25/09/2012)

Classic Soderbergh, raw like in Traffic and very authentic within the genre, with fascinating sections without music, brilliant off the charts dialogues, and yellowish, depressive camera filters. It is essentially a romantic comedy with some harder scenes, but Soderbergh manages to wrap simplicity into a splendid package. Some sections could be shortened (too tedious and uninteresting for male audiences), but otherwise, it is a quality addition. Brilliant performances, especially by McConaughey and Tatum. (10/12/2012)

Steven Soderbergh has (once again) found a fairly solid balance between social statement and commercial comedy where he capitalizes well on the R-rating. Interestingly, when you strip away (no pun intended) all the commercial trappings, hilarious dance choreography and very imaginative visual games with the camera, you are left with the skeleton of a fully functional drama based on well-drawn characters. The dryly humorous British The Full Monty will always be closer to my heart in this respect, but I can also recommend Magic Mike with a clear conscience. (10/02/2023)

A mission in life to some, survival to others. I get that Channing Tatum wouldn’t agree with me, but I really shouldn’t have watched this. When a bunch of guys shake their bods in front of the screen for two whole hours, you wouldn’t want to see it either. And the array of women who appear in the movie definitely won’t salvage it by their beauty. However, I acknowledge and respect the fact that Channing managed to get himself out of this sort of job. I also acknowledge his and Matt’s great acting performances. But everything else was a miss for me. (14/04/2014)

I have never attended a strip show and if I were invited, I would decline. I consider it in the same category as wrestling or beauty pageants, which means a vulgar show. And from that perspective, it also affects my evaluation of Soderbergh's film, which I otherwise consider a demonstration of very decent filmmaking. However, I have a problem with the fact that the director made a pleasant, cultured, and romantic film from an environment that in no way is pleasant, cultured, or romantic. In short, it glosses over and moves it to a different level than the world of strippers or their consumers deserve. The British film The Full Monty took a different approach and wanted to communicate and sell something completely different to the viewers, and with that film, I was on the same wavelength. Overall impression: 45%. (29/12/2014)