MAGIC MIKE'S LAST DANCE
US, 2023, 112 minutes, Colour.
Channing Tatum, Salma Hayek, Jemilia George, Ayub Khan-Din, Juliette Mohomet, Vicki Pepperdine, Alan Cox.
Directed by Steven Soderberg.
“A Zombie Apocalypse of Repressed Desire”.
This is one of the lines written by Reid Carolin, screenwriter for all three Magic Mike films, but given to a character who is a classical actress with ambitions to be more of a 21st-century star. She is referring to the atmosphere of women at strip shows – which was the atmosphere of the first two Magic Mike films. This one is somewhat different – and has definitely not found favour with many audiences, fans of the first two films who wanted more of the same and have been disappointed at the restraint in this version.
What has happened to Mike in the last seven years! As Mike, Channing Tatum might have got older but he has kept absolutely fit and athletic. We see him now as a bartender at an elaborate Florida social function, charity raiser, hosted by Mazandra Mendoza, Salma Hayek (but more about her screen presence and performance later). She is disappointed in her marriage, to a wealthy entrepreneur, about to be divorced, emotionally needy, theatrically ambitious. Very quickly she invites Mike to her lavish room, invites him to dance which he does at length, sensually, sensuously, athletically, and she offers to pay him for sexual favours. Next she is making a proposal to him to come with her to London and to put on a show.
Most of the film takes place in London, the renovation of a classical theatre, Max’s ambitions to put on a strip show spectacular, in good taste for a wider audience.
Lots of background, clash with her husband and his continually thwarting her ambitions, reporting her to Westminster Council, delays, and a shrewd move where the dance cast goes on to the top deck of a London bus and performs a routine captivating the rather prim officer in charge, played by Vicki Pepperdine – who immediately stamps approval.
There are auditions, there are rehearsals, there are routines. At this stage, it should be said that this is a strip show which is 99% just shirts off only, not like the shows which encouraged that female Zombie Apocalypse referred to earlier. Rather, while again the moves are sensual, most of the dancing is athletic, gymnastic, acrobatic, and some gyrating. And, for those getting impatient, there is quite a spectacle of successive acts at the end, Mike himself was acting as director and resisting performing, persuaded to do a segment with about arena – all in the rain.
There is a subplot with Max’s precocious daughter, Zadie, who has her observations about her mother, about Mike, about the show. And there is the butler full of sardonic comments and full of sardonic silences-chauffeur, Victor (Ayub Khan-Din).
While Channing Tatum’s Mike is pleasantly subdued, the same can’t be said for Salma Hayek’s presence and performance. For many (most?) her Mexican Spitfire routines, her range of moods, her shouting and ranting will be annoying (more than mildly).
Steven Soderberg directs again, audiences wondering about his fascination for the stripper stories.
