Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money. Magic Mike is a film that nobody expected to turn out into a critical success but since it did and i have only reviewed the crappy sequel i said to myself "why don't i review the original as well?". Although it's not a masterpiece by any means Magic Mike is still a surprising well made film and if you go to rotten tomatoes you will see that both men and women enjoyed this. The performances and the dancing were pretty good, the characters were alright nothing spectacular although sometimes they get a bit annoying and the acting was good and i think that some people will enjoy it depending on their expectations (7/10)

Wow - as I was watching the movie, I had the feeling of a miracle unfolding in front of my eyes. A movie about male sex workers that depicts the profession, the performers, the audience and relationships in a serious, respectful, realistic and non-judgmental way? Well written dialogues, quite original issues, an all-to realistic plot, good acting, a teenager that is actually as awkward and stupid as most teenagers are (despite being smoking hot)?A movie that actually avoids objectification, clichés, plot twists and lazy written endings?And a movie that includes incredible dancing, top notch stage performances, a bunch of incredibly hot guys, and doesn't leave me drooling (much) but rather in awe for the whole stripping business?Every single character, be they male or female, multi-dimensional, complex and well-written?Yes, such a gem does exist out there in the world. And it's Magik Mike. I'm so happy it exists, and it leaves me hoping for more movies of that intensity, depth and compassion. Kind of film that makes the world a bit brighter. Go see it!

There is way more to this than just male strippers, it's time for a little story boys and girls. I first saw this with my two sisters in the theater on 4th of July weekend, and I thought it would be a silly comedy with hot guys and that's it. I thought the movie would have a weak plot, bad acting, and just be two hours of guys taking their clothes off. Boy was I wrong. The first hour and twenty minutes are exactly what you'd expect from a movie like this, funny, sexy, silly, etc... But the last 40 minutes hit me like a ton of bricks. The movie all of a sudden goes from a Skin-a-max flick, to "Boogie Nights". It starts to show the darker side of excess. Yeah it might be fun and games to get paid to take your clothes off, but when drugs and lots of money get introduced, the problems start to come out.There are people that will see this just because they love seeing guys like Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey with their shirts off, and that's fine, but I see "Magic Mike" as more than that. I see it as a drama cleverly hidden under a mound of sweaty dollar bills. As of me typing this, I haven't seen the sequel (I'll probably watch it tomorrow), but I was pleasantly surprised by this. I hope the sequel can have the right balance of drama as this did.

If your first assumption is that Magic Mike is about strippers who are caught up in the life of sex, drugs, and alcohol, you're right. However, this movie surprisingly has more depth to it than that. The movie has something for everyone, from beautiful men dressed in less-to-nothing, to interesting characters with more-than-one layer, to a well-written story with well-placed twists and turns. From a psychologist's point of view, the likable and talented Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) is in a state of identity moratorium: radical exploration of all that life has to offer, which the movie mirrors. Throughout the movie, Steven Soderbergh uses cinematography, music, and an insightful script to give the audience an exploratory view of Magic Mike's desperate search for meaning in his life. Mike is an unashamed "entrepreneur/stripper," going through a moral crisis. Channing Tatum, who plays Magic Mike, will captivate you with the facade of a confident man who knows what he wants by night. By day, however, a literal light is shed on a man who is stuck in a reality he does not belong in. While Mike is stripping the audience is treated to a world filled with vibrant colors, quick camera shots, and energetic acting. Off stage, however, a distinct yellow camera filter is used to represent Mike;'s drawn-out hangover. The movie's soundtrack is also dramatically different from scene to scene, using hip, modern music to highlight the stripper's irresponsible nightlife activities, and gloomier music in the daytime, which allows the audience to see how heavy Mike's situation really is. Mike does not want to be a stripper. He is not ashamed of what he does, but stripping is not his passion. Mike's dream is to run his own carpentry business, but his dream is always a little out of reach. When Mike comes across Adam (Alex Pettyfer), who is ignorant to his own moral crisis, and Adam's protective older sister (Cody Horn), it becomes clear to Mike that his life choices affect more than himself. As Mike's attitude changes, the movie becomes less energetic and more dramatic. We see increasingly longer takes, more serious dialogue we begin to see the consequences of Adam and Mike's carefree lifestyle. Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, and Matthew McConaughey can all put on a show, but McConaughey's talent deserves way more than one dollar bills. While Channing Tatum's dance moves are a definite crowd pleaser, McConaughey portrayal of Dallas steals scenes with swagger alone. His ability to capture Dallas' charisma and borderline sociopathic behavior is unmatched among the cast. Cody Horn also does an excellent job at playing the calm to the storm that is Mike and Adam's sex, drugs, and rock n' roll lifestyle. Cody's subtle disapproving facial expressions are able to say what the audience is thinking--that Mike and Adam can't live like this for long. Overall, the actors each deliver the movie's well-written dialogue with the perfect balance of humor and emotion. Magic Mike's biggest surprise is its surprising depth. While most audience members expected the movie to be a gaudy sex-romp, which it is, it is also a character-driven piece that teaches a lesson about the dangers of an excessive lifestyle. Soderburgh and the cast have taken a movie that could've been a shallow film meant only for twenty-something girls that want to ogle Channing Tatum and turned it into a enjoyable film that explores the process of growing up. While it may not be the perfect film, it will leave audiences looking for both sugar and spice, as well as the meat and potatoes of a meaningful film, satisfied.