Channing Tatum (centre) stars in Magic Mike XXL.
Camera IconChanning Tatum (centre) stars in Magic Mike XXL. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mike makes more magic

Julian WrightEastern Reporter

GUYS, when was the last time you told your girlfriend or wife that she was beautiful?

If you had to take a minute to recall, you may be in trouble because this Magic Mike sequel has made it its mission to keep her reassured whether you do or not.

While the first was about entertaining women with a few cheeky strip performances, part two is about celebrating them while still putting on a show for them.

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Three years after hanging up his G-string to establish his furniture building business, Mike (Channing Tatum) joins his old stripper buddies the Kings of Tampa for one last dance with a fresh routine at a convention in Myrtle Beach.

Let the road trip begin.

Along the way, they meet up with Mike's former employer Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith), socialite Southerner Nancy (Andie MacDowell) and photographer Zoe (Amber Heard).

The pacing and structure of Magic Mike XXL plays as a metaphor for foreplay, or at least how it should be done - a big, long, drawn out tease until that final payoff (the last shot is actually Tatum watching fireworks with a smirk).

Yet the payoff still is not really the point here and neither is the plot or characters - the build up is.

Mike and his mates are all about two hours of female worship, reminding women of all races, shapes and sizes they are beautiful creatures who need special attention and are to be appreciated.

It is not just a handful of toned, gyrating men who believe these women should be honoured. It is reinforced by Pinkett Smith's character, whose sole purpose is to make sure her customers are appropriately adored, always referring to them as queens.

When was the last time a film put women on a pedestal and treated them with such unapologetic adoration?

It has certainly been a while; thank goodness for Magic Mike XXL.

THE ESSENTIALS

Magic Mike XXL (MA)

Directed by: Gregory Jacobs

Starring: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Jada Pinkett Smith

Four stars

Review by Julian Wright

In cinemas now