Magic Mike XXL: Movie Review

2012’s “Magic Mike” came as bit of a surprise to most critics upon its’ release. How did a film about male strippers in Tampa turn out to be so damn good? After watching the follow-up, “Magic Mike XXL” it became clear to me that director Steven Soderbergh played a massive part in the first film’s success. Writer Reid Carolin and much of the cast returned for the sequel, but Soderbergh opted out.

“Magic Mike XXL” is a needless continuation that has no direction and honestly, no story. The whole movie centers on a group of male entertainers on their way to a stripper competition but on the way, they make a few stops that allow them to do some exotic dancing and pick up more exotic dancers to join them. That is really it. Aside from one or two funny sequences (Joe Manganiello’s gas station mart strip sequence is hilarious), there is absolutely no reason I can give to justify seeing “Magic Mike XXL”. On the other hand, if you are someone who wants two hours of male stripping and no story, but don’t want to be caught dead at a strip club….maybe this one is for you.

Channing Tatum, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Matt Bomer, and comedian Gabriel Iglesias all return for the sequel and they are joined by Amber Heard, Jada Pinkett Smith, Donald Glover, and Stephen “Twitch” Boss. Despite the solid cast and return of the original writer, this stripper road-trip flick, is completely out of gas.

By: Marc Ferman