Trailer Talk: Magic Mike (2012)

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Channing Tatum.  What can I say?  I love the guy. In the past few years he has won me over and earned the level of man-crush that I had previously reserved for Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Rises) and Ryan Reynolds (The Green Lantern, Safe House).  Between Dear John (2010) and The Vow (2012), he had me at “Hello…bro.”  In The Eagle (2011) I found him impressive and credible.  I even liked the him back in his Step Up (2006) days, which were actually rather close to his previous career…

Some of the stars at the Entertainment Weekly photo shoot got a little nervous that Manganiello (far right) would wolf out and grind them up into his protein shake.  Judging by his size, a relevant concern.

 CLICK HERE to watch the trailer.

Release Date:  June 29, 2012

You see, Tatum (a Tampa native), was a male stripper as a late teen.  That’s where he honed his dance moves for Step Up.  In fact, making this movie was his idea.  He wanted to reveal what that life was like, all the fun and reality of it alike–although a recent TMZ interview suggested that he left out some of the darker aspects.  I wonder what they are?

Are they doing YMCA or Macho Man?  I can’t tell.

And what’s going on with the big ugly guy in the back left?

So let’s get to Magic Mike.  The trailer looks good.  CLICK HERE to watch it.  Take that with a grain of salt, though, you know I like Tatum and–confession time: I love RomComs, too.  Anyway, Mike is an easily likable character.  He sports an ever-approachable “aw, shucks” grin that will make ladies skip a heartbeat, muscles and dance moves that guys will envy and girls will want on their envious guys, and a not-soo-gooey yen for something more out of life.

Along with some hopefully successful attempts at sincerity, there looks to be a good, not-too-over-the-top amount of humor.  Mike’s candidness and occupational quips should win audiences over and his jest about their “first fight” should unite the sexes with smiles.

“You don’t want to know what I’ve gotta’ do for 20s.”

Joining Tatum at the bro-spa for butt waxes was Alex Pettyfer (In Time, I Am Number Four) who  plays Adam, a rookie to the business recruited by Mike.  That should make for some fun firsts and an ass-grabbing hazing.

True Blood’s Joe Manganiello plays one of Mike’s coworkers and sports a name that is bound for some clever script moments (stage-named Big Dick Rich).

 Matthew McConnaghey, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn and the “fluffy” comedian Gabriel Iglesias round out the rest of the cast.  I am also intrigued that this is directed by Steven Soderbergh.  When I think Soderbergh, I think gritty–I think Haywire and Contagion.  So this is one Hell of a light-hearted turn for him.  I’d like to think it’s because Tatum really won him over with the script idea.

This flick looks like it’ll be a lot of fun.  And unlike Tatum’s past serious romances or bro-flicks like Fighting, no member of any couple should have to drag the other to go see this.

Despite having more shiny abs and waxed chests than a Gilette ad marathon, the cast is impressive and full of guys that guys like to root.