Magic Mike XXL - The New York Times Review - "An Absolute Blast"

[elrhiarhodan]

The New York Times LOVES Magic Mike XXL.


Claudette Barius/Warner Brothers Pictures

As the saying doesn’t quite go: You can take the dude out of the dance, but you can’t take the dance out of the dude. And so the audience watching “Magic Mike XXL,” an outrageously entertaining sequel directed by Gregory Jacobs, is treated to a private, intimate performance, as Mike’s carpentry is turned into an athletic, erotic spectacle. The guy knows how to handle his tools.

And

Rather than trying to replay the first episode and expand on its themes, this installment tosses it all aside like a handyman’s tool belt and throws itself headlong into the intoxicating carnality of what is demurely called “male entertainment.” The plot is as flimsy as a G-string and thoroughly spoiler-proof. Mike reunites with some of his colleagues, and after a brief explanation of why Matthew McConaughey and Cody Horn are not in this movie, the guys roll out of Tampa, Fla., and head to a big stripper gathering in Myrtle Beach, S.C. That’s about it. On the way, they look up some old friends, make some new ones, drop some Molly, smoke some weed and take off their shirts.

And

These guys are high priests of erotic delight, knights pledged to the service of an exalted ideal of female happiness. Their job is “to make women smile” — and also to make them scream, squirm and shower dancers with dollar bills — and the movie insists that this is a matter of chivalry, not sleaze.

And

Embedded in the glitter and flesh are ideas about the human body that could fuel a dozen gender-studies dissertations. The guys are mostly straight, but to point out the homoerotic subtext of their friendship would be like discovering a red subtext on a fire engine. They find natural allies among cross-dressed nightclub performers and women who “work the pole.”

And

“Magic Mike XXL” boldly flouts pop-cultural conventional wisdom. It’s often said that an explanation of a joke can’t be funny, and that the analysis of pornography is never sexy. But here is a coherent and rigorous theory of pleasure that is also an absolute blast.

Comments

[kanarek13]

That's awesome :D

Are you gonna see it this weekend with Sinful? :D

I still have 13 days to go /o\

[elrhiarhodan]

Sinful and Doc and Miri and a few others. It's going to be EPIC.

I am so sorry you're going to have to wait a few extra days. Are you going to get together with fanpeeps in Berlin as you had suggested?

{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}

[kanarek13]

Awww, so epic *sigh*

No, I'm gonna see it alone, in Germany the premiere is even later than in Poland... plus no one really feels like making the trip just for the movie, I guess :)

I'll be thinking of you guys :D Have epic, epic fun :D

[elrhiarhodan]

I'll be thinking of you, too. Wishing you were here with us.

((((((((MISSES YOU MUCH))))))))

[sherylyn]

It. Sounds. Awesome!!!

Friends of mine are flying in from Ohio and New Zealand for a girls' weekend, and we'll be seeing it together!! I can't wait!! I'm sure y'all will have a blast, too, Elr!!

[pooh-collector.livejournal.com]

Alas, I too will be seeing it alone, but I suspect it will still be epic.

So happy to see a good review that confirms my feeling that XXL will be far better than the original.

[sandy79.livejournal.com]

yay!!! I'm happy - for the movie to get such a good review, and for all of you who can see the movie in the next few days. I will think of you and keep my fingers crossed that the lovely little cinema we have in town will get it somehow though

*hugs to everyone*

[hawk-soaring.livejournal.com]

Damn, that's purty.

[elrhiarhodan]

Certainly is!