Trailer Tuesday: Magic Mike

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2012 is a great year for Channing Tatum, and, by extension, his hordes of adoring (definitely gender skewed to female) fans. The up and coming heartthrob builds on a strong 2011 - which saw him appear in 4 movies - with a 2012 that includes starring roles in 5 high profile releases: Haywire, The Vow, 21 Jump Street, G.I. Joe 2 and, finally, Magic Mike.

In this R-rated comedy drama, the former Step Up star puts his hip-swirling dance moves and impressive physique to good use, playing the title character - a popular male stripper who is starting to find conflict between his lifestyle and his greater life aspirations. Cody Horn is Mike's girl-next-door love interest, and the older sister of his "apprentice" Alex Pettyfer. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello all appear as veteran strippers, with names like Dallas, Ken and Big Dick. Tatum produces Magic Mike, which is apparently loosely based on his own experiences as a 19 year old exotic dancer in Florida.


So, yeah, on paper, Magic Mike sounds like some saucy fluff, intent on luring the ladies (and gay guys) back into the cinema during the American Summer months - when movie entertainment is largely about pleasing the simple wants of the teenage boy "We want boobs and big bangs" demographic.

However, the trailer for Magic Mike suggests there's something else afoot with the film. It looks feather-light, sure, but it also comes across as quite witty and character driven... And it's worth remembering that as conventional as Magic Mike appears, it's still an indie production, directed by Steven Soderbergh, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker (for Traffic), who has been bouncing between genres lately with the likes of Che, Contagion and Haywire.

Perhaps I am being swayed by the man candy quotient of Magic Mike, but I think/hope audiences will be surprised by the film - which may have more to offer viewers than you think.

Magic Mike releases on 29 June in North America. The film's South African release date has yet to be set.


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