Having been abandoned by Dallas and the Kid, the troupe are looking for a new purpose.
With Mike onboard, they come up with a plan to attend the annual stripper convention in Savannah, Georgia.
Opening on the classic seventies WB logo, Magic Mike XXL signals its shift from the original from the outset.
Gregory Jacobs takes over helming duties, while Steven Soderbergh stays as cinematographer (as ‘Peter Andrews’) and editor (as ‘Mary Ann Bernard’).
Despite that continuity, this is a very different beast.
In classic sequel fashion, the movie cycles back to zero: No more Dallas or the Kid (they’ve dumped the crew for a new venture), no love interest (Mike has been dumped before the movie begins), and instead of a club, the action shifts to a road trip format.
In contrast to the original, where the characters keep their emotions contained, XXL is a movie about men stripping down to their most raw desires and feelings.
This is a story of male friendship - the guys expose their feelings, confess their dreams, take comfort from each other, and support each other. There is no shame or homophobia to their interactions.
In contrast to the original, this is a proper dance movie, with setpieces as character expressions.
Take the scene where Mike rediscovers his passion.
Mike is framed in a wide, working in his workshop with the radio playing. Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’ starts playing (his song from the original) and Mike starts snapping back into his old routine, until he has turned his workshop into a stage.
When Mike has to prove himself to the group, this is shown when they take part in a drag show; When Joe Manganiello’s Richie loses his confidence, he regains his mojo by dancing to Backstreet Boys for a gas station attendant; Mike proves himself to Rome (Jada Pinkett-Smith) by dancing with two customers at her club.
The focus on the group’s love for each other means the romantic subplot with Amber Heard feels unnecessary.
The real resolution is when the whole group is reunited and embraces each other.
We do not even know if they won or if they have plans for the future - the movie ends with the group enjoying the moment in a scene that feels like a deliberate quotation of Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven. All that matters is that they accomplished something together.
Tatum is great, but one of the main pleasures of Magic Mike XXL is the opportunities it gives to the other characters, particularly Manganiello and Matt Bomer as aspiring singer Ken.
Jada Pinkett Smith adds some class as Rome, a club owner who used to have a relationship with Mike. Smith and Tatum have real chemistry - there is an unspoken history to their dynamic that is fascinating.
This movie is great - the cast, the set pieces, the soundtrack. Check it out.
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