Magic Mike

Mike (Channing Tatum) works during the day as a construction worker and a car detailer, but at night is "Magic Mike," the star of the Xquisite Male Revue Show run by Dallas (Matthew McConaughey.)  What Mike really wants is to start his own business designing one of a kind furniture.

One day at the construction job, he befriends a new young worker, Adam (Alex Pettyfer.)  When Adam loses his job, Mike takes him into Xquisite for a job.

Yes, this is the male stripper movie everyone has been talking about.  Warning...do not let the trailer fool you.  Yes, there are several scenes of the guys performing on stage (and some of the best "man ass" you will ever see.)  But that is only the framework of the movie.  This is more akin to "Boggie Nights," where fame and money comes at a price.

Steven Soderbergh once again shows why he is a director to be noticed.  This could have turned into what the trailer thinks it is, but he takes the story into a completely different scenario.  The screenplay by Reid Carolin is believable and realistic, basically because it is semi-autobiographical for Channing Tatum, who was a male stripper at 19. Also, Soderbergh uses odd camera angles and lighting to disorient the viewer the same as the characters.  While some may find this annoying, I thought it put the viewer into the moment.

The one who should be mentioned (and who won't in most reviews) is Alison Faulk, the choreographer.  The stage performance scenes are incredible to behold, and she was able to get the actors to perform seamlessly as a group, yet also let them shine on their own.

Now to the acting.  Alex Pettyfer is perfect as the young upstart who is shy at first to get on the stage and disrobe, but then becomes "The Kid."  He has the "Star is Born" role, including the descent into drugs, and he nails it. 

Matthew McConaughey has never been better.  As Dallas, the aging stripper who is building an empire to expand his dream...he is my first pick this year for a best supporting actor nomination.  Bombastic, flamboyent, and self-referential (yes, there is a scene with bongo drums,) he gives the performance of his career.

And then there is Channing.  Always touted as a wooden actor, he has proven himself this year with three movies:  "The Vow," where he proved he could do a dramatic romance; "21 Jump Street," where the world found out that he is an awesome comedic actor; and now "Magic Mike."  He conveys the yearning of someone who wants more from life, the knowledge that his body can make money, and the pathos of someone who realizes that he needs to move on.  And yes, his dance moves are s"pec"tacular (not to mention he has the best ass in Hollywood right now.)

Anyone who thinks this movie is only for straight women and gay men will be missing out on one of the best pictures of 2012.