Magic Mike is Pure, Carnal Enjoyment

As I sat down in my seat last night waiting for my showing of "Magic Mike XXL" to start, I looked around me to see who else was occupying the theater. Unsurprisingly, every person in attendance (besides myself and my best friend Corey) was either an older, or middle aged woman. Not that this bothered me, but clearly Warner Bros. had nailed it's target audience with the marketing: gay men and women of all ages.

What ensued was perhaps the most fun I have ever had sitting in a movie theater. Laughter, gasps, and the occasional "YAAASSS!" filled the theater for the film's two hour running time. Though far from a necessary installment, "Magic Mike XXL" proves that sequels don't always have to be the joyless, sigh-inducing affairs they've become in the modern marketplace. On the contrary, Channing Tatum and his band of shirtless "male entertainers" glide successfully on their raw charisma and make a film that by all accounts shouldn't work, glisten brighter than their sweaty, beautiful half naked bodies.

Get Used to the Phrase: 'Oscar Nominee Channing Tatum' (Feat. New Trailer)

There are still so many people who aren't aware of actor Channing Tatum's unusually talented gifts as an actor. Mistakenly labeled as simply "a meathead", "pretty face", etc, Tatum receives a lot of unwarranted flack despite consistently turning in very nuanced and unshowy work; in "21 Jump Street" (and its sequel), Tatum delivers the laughs and intricate character work. He's proven time and again he's capable of carrying films, and who remembers the surprising quality of "Magic Mike" (which Tatum helped produce)? 

Given his healthy box office receipts and the position of his career, one could certainly agree that an Oscar nomination is on the way. Good thing "Foxcatcher" is on its way then. And what's better? Distributor Sony Pictures Classics is focusing much of the marketing campaign on Tatum.