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Health & Fitness

"Magic Mike" Manages to Impress Despite Inherent Awkwardness

Will Magic Mike dance his way into your heart, or leave a lot to be desired?

I have to admit, I had mixed feelings about seeing the male-stripper flick “Magic Mike.”

On one hand, I, like any red-blooded American female, find Channing Tatum totally, um, adorable. A big fan of his dancing since the original “Step Up,” I thought a movie featuring his shirtless, chiseled torso bustin’ out cool dance moves could only be a lot of fun.

But my prudish side worried about the implications of seeing a movie that featured a supporting character with the name “Big You-Know-What Richie.”

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Despite my original hesitancy, I think this movie had a lot of good stuff going for it. The cast is easy to like. Channing Tatum plays Michael “Magic Mike” Lane, a 30-something male stripper working to save enough money to leave the industry behind for good by starting a custom furniture business.

One day, while working his day job as a construction worker, Mike meets Adam, a listless slacker played by Alex Pettyfer. When out on the town together, Adam discovers that Mike moonlights as one of Tampa’s most infamous
male strippers at a club called Xquisite. (Yes, this made me giggle out loud in the theater.)

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Adam, for reasons unknown, is strangely drawn to the glitzy world of male strippers and practically trips over himself to be a part of the show. (Perhaps he had a troubled childhood?)

Thus begins his weird descent into stripper training as Mike, together with veteran club owner and stripper Dallas (played by Matthew McConaughey) take him under their collective wing and begin grooming him as Xquisite’s newest performer, “The Kid.”

The movie’s tone changes dramatically as Adam begins experimenting with, and eventually pushing, club drugs, and his initially disapproving sister becomes distraught with worry as she watches her wayward brother rushing down the road to addiction.

Though the movie certainly strays into weird and unnecessary territory as Adam’s reliance on drugs and alcohol worsens, the real charm of the movie lies in Channing Tatum’s interactions with Adam’s sister Brooke, played by Cody Horn.

I think this movie is overall a good flick – but for every heartwarming, funny, or “feel-good shirtless man dancing” scene, there’s an equally unnecessary scene of awkward face-grinding and drug-induced delirium.

But, if you’re willing to look past the obvious attempts to make the movie “gritty” – it’s a charming and fun summer movie with some serious shirtless action.

Oh, and keep an eye out for the totally adorable teacup pig. Seriously.

Did you see "Magic Mike?" What did you think about the abs, er... film? Tell us in the comments.

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