Magic Mike (2012)

I think it was at the end of 2006 when I last had any sort of encounter with male strippers. Some friends and I were at the local drag show and the interval acts were two amateurs making their debut. The guys covered both ends of the stripper spectrum: one was all "WEEEEE! NAKED TIME!" and took off all his clothes without hesitation, though leaving the tease out of "striptease"; the other took to the stage and instantly registered a look of "oh my God, did I really sign up for this?" as Justin Timberlake's lastest single played in the background. I've never been all that turned on by strippers, and that night confirmed a rule of thumb: All strippers do is ruin good pop songs.

Magic Mike didn't change my mind about strippers or Steven Soderbergh.

The movie, loosely based on star Channing Tatum's stripping past, follows Mike as he hustles his way through life. While working in construction – one of many odd jobs he possesses – Mike meets Adam (Alex Pettyfer), a 19-year-old equally down on his luck. The two run into each other as Mike works the clubs to drum up business for his main odd job: entertaining the desperate housewives and bachelorettes of Tampa by dancing and removing clothing. Alex unwittingly gets dragged into performing and is an instant hit, though requires training and support from the rest of the crew. Mike takes a special interest in protecting "The Kid" after meeting Adam's sister Brooke. Although she doesn't approve of her younger brother's new line of work, she doesn't actively disapprove either.

The movie takes a generational look at the adult entertainment industry. Alex represents the star on the rise. 40-something club owner Dallas (Matthew McConaughey) has made a career out of performing and tries to take it to the next level with an attempted move to Miami. Mike, who is almost 30, is at a crossroad: does he continue to strip (which pays well and he has a knack for) or does he pursue his dream of designing custom furniture?

The story sounds simple because it is. The stakes are relatively low throughout the movie, with most of the drama affecting (and generated by) The Kid. The movie doesn't delve too deeply into the seedier side of the business. Since this is Mike's/Tatum's story, he may be relying on hearsay to describe the grittier parts of the male stripper lifestyle. Because of this – and perhaps to make it clear that nobody is gay (God forbid) – there is a supposed romance brewing between Mike and Brooke. I say supposed because Cody Horn was far and away the worst part of the movie. The lack of chemistry brought on by her flat affect and labored expository line readings had several people in my theater groaning whenever she was on screen.

Although the style of the movie did not particularly scream Soderbergh, the structure of the film tapped in to the technical aspects of why his work drives me nuts. The film has several moments of heavy-handedness while not having much of a point. Some of this has to do with the writing, which included Adam saying to Mike at one point "we should be best friends," because that's totally something people say in real life? While pursuing Brooke, Mike also engages in booty calls with a woman named Joanna (Olivia Munn). Their damaged relationship serves as a needless distraction and a catalyst for Mike's downfall that is unearned and disjointed from the rest of the story.

Although much of the promotion for Magic Mike highlights the supporting cast, I thought they were mostly underutilized. The exceptions are Dallas – which McConaughey played with the appropriate level of smarm – and Tarzan (Kevin Nash). Tarzan is the oldest member of the troupe, and his half-assing through performances is what reminded me of the video from above. Little details such as that and background action (the conversation between Matthew Bomer and Adam Rodriguez in The Kid's introduction to the troupe; Tarzan exercising while Dallas coaches The Kid) make the movie more enjoyable, but demonstrates that the main action is not as interesting.

Overall, the movie is fine but doesn't know what it is. It's not dark or sexy enough for its premise, the stale romance and light moments do not a romantic comedy make, and the stakes are too low for capital-D Drama. I do recommend seeing the movie sooner rather than later – a theater full of women in their 20's watching the dance sequences is a hilarious experience.