Magic Mike XXL
Published 2016-01-08
Film info
- Title Magic Mike XXL
- Director Gregory Jacobs
- Year 2015
- Run time 1hr 55m
- Genres Drama, Comedy
- Tagline Back to the grind
- Cast Channing Tatum, Donald Glover, Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Banks
Picking up the story three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, 'Magic Mike XXL' finds the remaining Kings of Tampa likewise ready to throw in the towel. But they want to do it their way: burning down the house in one last blow-out performance in Myrtle Beach, and with legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight with them. On the road to their final show, with whistle stops in Jacksonville and Savannah to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, Mike and the guys learn some new moves and shake off the past in surprising ways.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 2:13 | No Dallas?? But he was the best bit! |
| 4:30 | “I can say his name, he’s not effin’ Voldemort.” |
| 6:16 | He does look like a Ken doll! |
| 9:42 | Man seems to be pretty good with his power tools. |
| 10:55 | This is the best film ever, if only for the Backstreet Boys conversation. |
| 13:29 | I do not condone the throwing of phones out of the window. |
| 17:28 | Those fruit hats are always funny. |
| 19:58 | Condomints is a genius name. |
| 25:12 | This night beach conversation is beautifully lit. |
| 29:07 | There are some ridiculously impressive abs in this film. I’m well jel. |
| 31:54 | This is really just Pitch Perfect with pecs. No wonder we like it. |
| 34:02 | Shut up are they playing BSB now. How did I not know this? |
| 41:20 | Bacon and mimosas, on the beach, with Channing. I mean, what else is there? |
| 52:36 | Love him getting totally into it. Invested in dear Caroline. |
| 59:32 | Jeez Louise, Channing could book a spot in Cirque du Soleil doing that stuff. |
| 1:03:22 | Almost every shot of this film is exquisite. |
| 1:09:54 | Don’t wanna sound old but I like that basket. |
| 1:15;39 | The age old cookies versus cake debate. |
| 1:18:04 | I need that Magic Mike introduction as a gif. There must be one. ([There is!](http://giphy.com/gifs/vulture-3xz2BvR8rWaz9EK9d6)) |
| 1:19:17 | Silent high five is fun. |
| 1:29:17 | “Hey, it’s not bro-time, it’s show-time.” |
Thoughts
I have mixed feelings about the return of Magic Mike, I must say. On the one hand, we watched this directly after attempting to watch Kill Me Three Times, and after ten minutes I turned to Mr C and said: "What's amazing is nothing at all has happened but they're so much better actors it's already more interesting."
Sadly, nothing much did happen throughout the whole thing. They were on a road trip, visiting people who we may or may not should be remembering from the first film (I definitely couldn't remember anyone), and generally trying to figure out who they were. As a bromance thing, it was eminently watchable, but I didn't really like the dancing so much, or the constant jangling noise Amber Heard made as she walked around.
Niggles aside (and the lack of plot is quite big on the niggle scale, I suppose), what made this film great was the direction. Every single shot was absolutely perfect, you could see the time, effort, thought and energy that had gone in to making sure there wasn't a dud scene in the piece. Some of it was achingly beautiful, the night beach scenes, the way Jada's mansion was lit and captured, even the training montage at the end - so good.
So, ratings-wise, the film loses points for its meandering lack of purpose but regains a heck of a lot simply for the look of the whole piece. And oof, those abs.
And then, there's the whole Backstreet Boys thing. Defense of BSB in the eyes of 'N Sync nonsense immediately makes it a 5/5.
Rating: 5 / 5