Friends of Mike #2
“Magic Mike delivers on its promise of gyrating and pelvic-thrusting, barely-clothed men as the music plays and the lights shine, but beyond that you get a film that comes across as a truly authentic drama with a performance from Channing Tatum that makes you believe you may actually be looking at the movie star Hollywood so desperately wants him to be.” — Rope of Silicon‘s Brad Brevet in a review that posted today at 10:26 am.
“Most audiences, expecting something closer to a masculine Showgirls, might be surprised by the relatively serious tone: Magic Mike crams together several derivative subplots that dangle (sorry) around energetic striptease sequences enacted with the ostentatiousness of an MGM musical. It’s such a slick…er, package that one can easily overlook the lack of originality as things veer toward a series of clichéd resolutions. [And yet] a lot of its shortcomings are only apparent in retrospect. Soderbergh hugs a familiar arc that makes its path visible long before it arrives at various twists, but even when revealing its secrets, Magic Mike casts a seriously entertaining spell.” — Indiewire‘s Eric Kohn in a review that posted today at 11:33 am.
It’s lame how people are jumping on the Tatum, and McConaughey bandwagons this year, when they’ve been the same person the past decade. McConaughey has always been a good actor; funny, likeable, charming in all his romantic comedies, same for the Linklater movies. And he was a badass in Reign of Fire.
Tatum is the same guy he was in Coach Carter, but now it’s cool to like him.
I’m gonna see MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION first.
I know film geeks are CAPTAIN SODERBERGH, but wouldn’t you rather watch a real movie? I like him a LOT, but he always seems like he’s half-assing it, like not trying very hard. It’s handsome ENOUGH, streamlined ENOUGH, solid ENOUGH.
But it never has that Spike Lee blood-sweat-and-rage intensity or maniac investment. Never seems like he’s putting himself out there. It’s kinda milquetoast and WHITE BOY FUNK rather than the real deal.
Fitting that his first big movie was about a guy stroking off to videotapes of women instead of fucking them.
Dear critics:
Please don’t follow Eric Kohn’s example — you do NOT need to make, er, dick jokes in your reviews of Magic Mike. We want to know how the movie is, not marvel at your punning.
Sincerely,
Everyone
That said, I think the one guy who won’t be able to resist is Rex Reed.
“I went to see Steven Soderbergh’s “Magic Mike” with my friends John Thomas and Peter. What a surprise it was — rather than making junk, Soderbergh has gotten to the meat of the story and made the most rousing underdog story since “Free Willy”, and the best film I’ve seen co-starring a one-eyed monster since “Monsters Inc.” And let me tell you, Channing Tatum is the whole package. This movie is no rotten banana — it’s a glistening entertainment that beats sitting at home playing video games with your joystick. And my audience lapped it up as well — expect to see lines that snake around the block come opening weekend. If there’s a “Magic Mike” fan club, consider me its first male member.”
YOU’RE WELCOME.
Yeah, never bet against Tyler Perry doing Madea. Bet a hundred pennies he kicks Soderberger’s butt this weekend.
Add O’Hehir at Salon to the admirer list:
http://www.salon.com/2012/06/27/magic_mike_channing_tatums_stripper_romance/
“Never seems like he’s putting himself out there.”
Oddly enough, the review I just linked to suggests the opposite.
GUY WITH A HANDLE FROM A FINCHER FILM THAT SUGGESTS OVERCOMPENSATION SAYS…
….Don’t really have much to add, as usual……..
……Um……….I was gonna do something about Lex being butthurt. Butthurt is funny, right? As a word, it’s a funny word, right?
……………….Don’t feed the troll…………(crickets)
(cough)
YORK DURDEN SAYS…
FUCK YOU, IRA, YOU FUCK. I’VE HAD THE BALLS TO OFFER MY CREDITS: THREE SHORT STORIES IN THE MACKLEBURG GAZETTE. YOUR TURN, ASSHOLE.
FAKE WELLS TO OVERCOMPENSATING GUY AND IRA: TAKE IT OUTSIDE, OR THE FRIENDS I SEND TO SEE YOU WON’T BE MIKE’S, THEY’LL BE THE FRIENDS OF EDWARD COYLE, ESQUIRE. CATCH MY MEANING?
LAZARUS SAYS…
Jeff, you have a “person” advocating a MADEA movie as the must see for the weekend. Is that not enough reason for banning him outright?
(Continues making quilt for Glenn Kenny.)
^^Haha.
Hey, the Mackleburg Gazette has a great selection of “Puppiez avail to good homez” so, you know, don’t knock it.
GLENN KENNY SAYS…
DARLINGS!…did I hear my name, mine chickadees?
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
(Drops cape to floor, waves arms majestically.)
As I have…shall we say…a personal connection to the artist in question concerning this post, I shall remain button-lipped and bereft. But may I say that the prospects look positively DIVINE? HAHAHA
Ta. (He exits.)
(Lazarus follows behind, throwing rose petals.)
THE REAL GLENN KENNY SAYS…
Give me ONE motherfucking example of me ever wearing a cape. A CAPE!!???!!!
Thank god… Finally an Ira shout out. I have arrived.
Actually, I HAVE worn a cape.
Tatum’s never stuck out to me until 21 Jump Street. I’ll hop on his bandwagon for a while.
So Jeff…would you say this flick is a 21st-century version of “The Lifeguard”? If so, that would sell me on it…
It’s in the realm of The Lifeguard
How to lose weight fast
http://www.fastfatburningprogram.com
GLENN KENNY SAYS…
DARLINGS!…did I hear my name, mine chickadees?
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
(Drops cape to floor, waves arms majestically.)
As I have…shall we say…a personal connection to the artist in question concerning this post, I shall remain button-lipped and bereft. But may I say that the prospects look positively DIVINE? HAHAHA
Ta. (He exits.)
(Lazarus follows behind, throwing rose petals.)