Even if you haven’t seen the first two Magic Mike movies, Magic Mike’s Last Dance will not confound. So there really isn’t any reason to go binge its predecessors if you’re planning to watch the final installment in the Magic Mike series which opens in cinemas on February 8.
Channing Tatum reprises his role as former stripper Mike Lane who is still reeling from the aftermath of his failed business. Broke and surviving through bartending gigs in Florida, Mike meets a wealthy socialite, Maxandra Mendoza, played by a sultry Salma Hayek Pinault, and is presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is simply too good to pass up–and one that would bring him back to what he does best: dancing.
Steven Soderbergh’s conclusion to the Magic Mike trilogy is good one. It’s watchable and entertaining enough to keep your attention all the way through. Although loyal fans may have a slight issue about one aspect of the film: there’s not much stripping.
It does have a lot of really, really good dancing, though.
And you can’t help but be impressed by Tatum, who at 42, still moves and grinds like he’s in his twenties. It’s obvious the amount of work that’s been put into his return to the role, from his physique to the dance routines.
Less than fifteen minutes into the film, Tatum starts to deliver in an impressive dance sequence where he literally makes everything around him a prop–the same way action stars use anything they can find as a weapon. Tatum uses a chair, table, even the bar handles of a wall to create a routine that’s highly sensual and stunning.
What’s great here is that Pinault, who is not even dancing, looked like she is an active part of the dance. She submits to every thrust of the hips and moves along as Tatum slithers from one surface to another. It was like sex that’s less about lust and more about passion. If that even makes sense.
All I’m trying to say is that Tatum is a strong dancer. And whoever did the movie’s choreography is skilled and talented.
The plot isn’t exactly the movie’s strongest suit: Mike Lane takes a leap of faith and moves to London with an affluent socialite who has an agenda he isn’t entirely sure of. It turns out, Maxandra owns a theatre and plans to halt the staging of a popular ongoing play and intends to have Mike take the reigns and steer it to a whole new direction.
To be honest, there are some moments during that entire show-making process that’s lost to me, especially those that involves the dynamics between Mike and Maxandra. It’s obvious that there’s something brewing between the both of them, but it’s not palpable enough to translate outside the screen. They have chemistry, yes, but not strong enough to make you want to see them end up together.
Interestingly enough, Pinault and Tatum looks good together on screen. Their banters do not feel contrived, making their interactions fun to watch. It’s like watching Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds–they’re charming together, but you don’t necessarily want them to fall in love.
There are important themes in here that mainly revolved around women trying to break barriers and fighting the oppressive patriarchy, which Pinault gracefully depicted. There’s also a lot to be said about channeling creativity, its expression and the ways people can ensure it doesn’t get stifled by people of influence.
That being said, Magic Mike’s Last Dance is more than what most people would think. It’s no longer about Mike dance stripping but more about stripping fears and hesitation to maximize one’s potential and stripping away the limitations that shackle women (and those under someone else’s control).
Let’s not forget, however, that it’s mainly a movie that showcases storytelling through dance. Out of all the dance movies I’ve seen in my life, Magic Mike’s Last Dance has produced my favorite dance sequence of all time–one that involves a lot of water on a stage.
Photo & Video Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Watch the trailer here:
