Magic Mike is not a film about male strippers so much as a film about being a man in the world. Steven Soderbergh directs, and Reid Carolin wrote the screenplay, drawing on his own past as a stripper in Tampa, Florida. Channing Tatum plays Mike Lane, an experienced performer who takes a younger man, Adam, under his wing. The film runs 110 minutes, and it is listed as Drama and Comedy.
Trailer, via Warner Bros..
Mike Takes a Kid Under His Wing
Mike is the star of the Xquisite Strip Club, owned by Dallas, played by Matthew McConaughey. Adam, a 19-year-old college dropout, shows up looking for a construction job. Mike sees something in him and encourages him to strip. The film follows their bond as Mike teaches Adam about partying, picking up women, and making easy money.
The film is based on Tatum’s own experiences as an 18-year-old male stripper. It was shot in several locations around west central Florida. It premiered as the closing film for the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival on June 24, 2012, and opened widely on June 29, 2012, with Warner Bros. Pictures.
Dallas’s Empire and the Drugs at the Sorority House
Dallas dreams of building an empire of male strip clubs. Mike, meanwhile, has his own plans for a small business. He has to pay his bills, so he stays in the business. When Dallas announces a plan to move the act to Miami, Mike realizes he has to stay in the business to keep paying his bills.
Adam falls into the lifestyle. He uses drugs and has many sexual encounters with clients. A few days later, Mike and Adam perform for a private party at a sorority house. Adam brings a package of ecstasy with him and gives a young woman a pill, causing a brawl with her boyfriend. They flee without the drugs, which Adam says were worth $1,000.
The Supporting Cast and the Party at Dallas’s House
Matthew McConaughey was the first person cast, aside from Tatum. He accepted the role of Dallas after Soderbergh called him to offer it. McConaughey said, “It was really fun to play someone so committed, in many ways.” Joe Manganiello plays Big Dick Richie, and he accepted the role after talking to Chris Rock, who convinced him.
Cody Horn, who plays Adam’s sister Brooke, had to fight to get the part. She said the casting director thought she was too young but her agent pushed for her to go in. She taped an interview and then auditioned, booking the role before she came in.
The cast visited a male strip club to learn about the world of male stripping. Matt Bomer had to put on about 15 pounds for his part. Adam Rodriguez went through cardio and weights training.
What Works and What Doesn’t
- McConaughey is the engine of the film. His Dallas is committed and funny in equal measure.
- Tatum’s Mike is grounded and protective, which makes the story work.
- The party at Dallas’s house gives the film its best comedy stretch.
- The scene at the sorority house is where the film’s risks pay off.
The film asks a lot of its audience. It is about a world where sex, drugs and money are the rules. Some moments land flat, but the film’s confidence carries it through. The screenplay keeps the focus on the bond between Mike and Adam, even when the world around them gets wild.
- Cody Horn brings a quiet strength as Brooke
- Olivia Munn’s Joanna grounds Mike’s on-and-off affairs
- Matt Bomer’s Ken adds a comic edge
- Joe Manganiello’s Big Dick Richie adds physical comedy
The film’s tagline sums up its approach: “Work all day. Work it all night.” That is exactly what it does.
Magic Mike is a confident, sometimes messy film about a world few audiences see from the inside. It trusts its actors, its tone and its audience.
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