Magic Mike

Channing Tatum produced an “independent relationship drama” that showed him in a more mature light. Dialog that is uncontrived and sober, so much so in places that a few conversational gambits would not have hurt. Two fantastic filmmaking moments – the camera play in the opening scene (two girls in Tatum’s bed) and a later scene with a cut from a cell phone (dialing a girl) to a couple, already lying and hugging on the bed. But the rest of it is rather boring, with a tedious performance by the lead actor, who was supposed to keep it afloat. (09/24/2012)

Executed with panache and not even Tatum’s “relaxed” acting style bothered me, but I’m not excited. I anxiously waited for the outcome, but in the end it was meh, even though the pace was intense. Overall it’s good, but Soderbergh is wasted in this kind of ordinary dramas. (12/14/2012)

A mission in life to some, survival to others. I get that Channing Tatum wouldn’t agree with me, but I really shouldn’t have watched this. When a bunch of guys shake their bods in front of the screen for two whole hours, you wouldn’t want to see it either. And the array of women who appear in the movie definitely won’t salvage it by their beauty. However, I acknowledge and respect the fact that Channing managed to get himself out of this sort of job. I also acknowledge his and Matt’s great acting performances. But everything else was a miss for me. (04/13/2014)

I have never attended a strip show and if I were invited, I would decline. I consider it in the same category as wrestling or beauty pageants, which means a vulgar show. And from that perspective, it also affects my evaluation of Soderbergh's film, which I otherwise consider a demonstration of very decent filmmaking. However, I have a problem with the fact that the director made a pleasant, cultured, and romantic film from an environment that in no way is pleasant, cultured, or romantic. In short, it glosses over and moves it to a different level than the world of strippers or their consumers deserve. The British film The Full Monty took a different approach and wanted to communicate and sell something completely different to the viewers, and with that film, I was on the same wavelength. Overall impression: 45%. (12/29/2014)

It wasn’t quite as terrible as I had feared; in fact this was a decent romantic comedy. McConaughey clearly feels at home in his role of psycho baddie. And at least we know why Tatum decided to switch from this to acting... he can make some money and then he’ll make bespoke furniture. :) (10/20/2012)

Classic Soderbergh, raw like in Traffic and very authentic within the genre, with fascinating sections without music, brilliant off the charts dialogues, and yellowish, depressive camera filters. It is essentially a romantic comedy with some harder scenes, but Soderbergh manages to wrap simplicity into a splendid package. Some sections could be shortened (too tedious and uninteresting for male audiences), but otherwise, it is a quality addition. Brilliant performances, especially by McConaughey and Tatum. (12/09/2012)

Steven Soderbergh has (once again) found a fairly solid balance between social statement and commercial comedy where he capitalizes well on the R-rating. Interestingly, when you strip away (no pun intended) all the commercial trappings, hilarious dance choreography and very imaginative visual games with the camera, you are left with the skeleton of a fully functional drama based on well-drawn characters. The dryly humorous British The Full Monty will always be closer to my heart in this respect, but I can also recommend Magic Mike with a clear conscience. (02/09/2023)

Matthew McConaughey for the second time, although this time it's not the main role, but only a supporting role, although he still has quite a lot of space. That's just fine. However, the main attention is focused on Channing Tatum, a guy who has enchanted millions of women. I think it's a great contrast to the skinny, shimmering Pattinson in the sun, who has been trying to convince us lately that he is not just a very bad vampire but also a pretty good actor. Steven Soderbergh directed two films in 2011 that critics evaluate very similarly. These are the films "Contagion" and "Haywire". I must say that "Contagion" is much better and "Haywire" is just a movie that pretends to be more than it actually is. The fact that the main action hero is a woman who beats all the guys is not such a groundbreaking element for me to have to praise the movie. It's the same with the movie "Magic Mike". It's great that Soderbergh tackled a controversial topic that many don't understand, but again, he plays with some glitter that surrounds his name, but in the end, he doesn't deliver what is expected of him. Still, it's better than "Haywire". Male stripping is often art for the protagonists, sometimes work, for the female audience it seems to be a great experience, for many uninvolved people, it's completely incomprehensible performance when many wonder what these women actually see in it when they don't even have the opportunity to play with what remains hidden most of the time. I won't answer that question, I'm not a woman, but I think the environment is captured very well here, even with a scene that shows a little more than a puritan viewer could bear. Well, serves him right. I liked the film, the environment is captured wonderfully, but as soon as we go a little further, it's still just a film about how the cabaret collective doesn't work, how there are divisions, how dreams are not fulfilled, and how love solves everything. Yes, when it comes to the romantic note, I definitely expected a little more from Soderbergh than I got. Maybe it's just because I have a slightly higher opinion of him than he actually deserves. "Magic Mike" rather confirms that he can make quite an impressive spectacle, but that something is missing for perfection. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/11/deja-vu-fred-claus-oko-dravce-penelope.html (03/02/2013)