MovieChat Forums > Magic Mike (2012) Discussion > I'm a straight male,and I really liked i...

I'm a straight male,and I really liked it...

posted 12 years ago by Uninspired-imdb-ID
22 replies | jump to latest

... but I understand why others might not. I felt some of the stripping scenes were too long. And don't tell me " it's a movie about strippers...duh!". Broke back Mountain is a movie about gay cowboys,but gay sex is minor in the film,but more often referred to and implied. The excessive stripping scenes cheapen a well written character study. They could have shown a dancer starting his performance for a few seconds ,and we still would have gotten the point. I will say that Channing Tatum is an amazing dancer,but I would have rather seen more dialog than the 3 or 4 longer, solo dances he had.
I also get where some people didn't get much sense of a plot. I think you may have had to lived the lifestyle to appreciate the situation Mike was in.I have. I never was a stripper,( or even could have been,lol), but I have bar tended in some hot clubs in a coupe cities. It is a lot of fun,you make a lot of money, and get to sleep in to boot. Everyone in the industry knows the reality,although you seldom discuss it,and that is; You are probably do not have a degree or much collage, you also probably can't make nearly as much money doing anything else. You probably get high on something at work,(booze,pills,coke..etc.) and after work,just to keep going,and knock some stress off a tough ass job.You know you cant do it forever,but quitting means taking a step back in life too. So your faced with leaving a fun,well paying job for something less. And sooner or later the choice will no longer be yours, because there are very few successful, retired, stripper/bartender/waiter/bouncer/hostess/club DJ's.
This movie was about Mike realizing it was time to bow out. If you have ever been there,you know how hard it is,and how strong you have to be to make that first step. If you have no idea what he went through,it might seem like a pretty pointless movie. For me, it hit home pretty hard,and made me remember a time when I felt JUST like him. Hell, I even remember telling a girl something similar to what Mike said.I said "I bar tend,but that's not who I am",and as soon as I said it,I realized why I said it. It sounded like I had no future. She became my first love,and although it didn't work out, she made me want to be a better person,and I will always love her for that. A pretty good flick...it really took me back.Can anyone else relate?

[–] coolsoul 12 years ago

Excellent post.

[–] jhee-222-706822 11 years ago

I agree too. The movie was ok but it fails, i think, to deliver, to convey that "it is time to move forward" message you so cleverly explained. For me it felt more like he was trying as good as he could to pursue his true goal, the furniture thing, until he meets and fall for her, and leaves ALL behind for her, while she does nothing, no support towstds him at all, either her on her own terms or nothing. And he chooses her.

You put your angle in a far better interesting way than the storytelling of the movie actually did.

[–] harkness78 12 years ago

I didn't find the stripping excessive or redundant. The choreography was really good (almost too good at times, they should have had some more flubs in there so it didn't look like a professional Vegas show or somthing) and the music was awesome.

If they had their dicks out I guess it would have gotten uncomfortable, but you got to be a crazy homophobe to be bothered by what this movie puts on screen.

"Nobody knows anybody, not that well..." - Miller's Crossing

[–] Uninspired-imdb-ID 12 years ago

Yes, dongs a swingin' would have definitely changed the tone of the film. Like I said, channing was an awesome dancer. I didn't think about it but your right, the choreography was pretty good for a Tampa strip club. I thought it got to the point of eye candy,which is fine if that's the movie you want to do . I don't think this movie needed it.

[–] T-eschberger 11 years ago

I'm a straight male and I thought the dancing was awesome myself. I don't care what anyone says. I can appreciate a good dance/strip session no matter the sex.

[–] JOW2471 11 years ago

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

You Can't Spell Success without U.

[–] JOW2471 11 years ago

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

You Can't Spell Success without U.

[–] surf-10 11 years ago

Nice to hear your story and that this movie actually touched a nerve in you. For me it was only entertainment so it's cool to hear it had depth and meaning for certain viewers.

But I disagree completely about the dancing. Stripping is a type of artistic entertainment (I can't believe I'm writing this) so I expect to be entertained. I want to see awesome bodies, cute faces and some cool sexy dancing. If not, then what's the point. I want to know what good strippers look like when they're masters of their craft. For example, imagine Top Gun with a bunch of sweaty dudes hanging out in the locker room and no flying scenes. I think most people would be mighty pissed.

[–] sfviewer123 10 years ago

I think what the other poster was saying was that male dancers aren't really that good in real life (I've never seen male strippers perform but if they're anything like female ones they're not really "dancers" in any meaningful sense).

[–] coolbrett 11 years ago

I'm a straight male too and I thought it was alright, despite the stripping scenes making me feel really uncomfortable. I was actually like sick watching it. Mens bodies are the most disgusitng thing ever, especially when they dance like that, and I have no idea how women can be attracted to them. Female bodies are a work of art and SHOULD be celebrated. Mens bodies should be hidden. But somehow I still managed to enjoy the movie a little bit. My first instinct was to avoid it, but then I heard Soderbergh directed it, and it was supposed to be pretty good, so I gave it a go. It was better than what my first instinct told me.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] coolbrett 11 years ago

Yeah that's right. I mean there's a pretty HUGE portion of the world's population who find men attractive, so there must be something. But I will die not understanding it.

[–] SWLinPHX-2 10 years ago

I'm a straight male too and I thought it was alright, despite the stripping scenes making me feel really uncomfortable. I was actually like sick watching it. Mens bodies are the most disgusitng thing ever, especially when they dance like that, and I have no idea how women can be attracted to them. Female bodies are a work of art and SHOULD be celebrated. Mens bodies should be hidden.

Spoken like a truly insecure and immature man or homophobe or closet case. Doesn't make you look good buddy. Just like a douche. It's just as stupid for gay men or straight women to say women's bodies are disgusting. Grow up a bit maybe?

[–] coolbrett 10 years ago

Trust me, I didn't mean to sound rude or homophobic at all. I like plenty of gay people, and quite frankly their sexual preference doesn't even phase me. All I'm saying is, I find it very hard to believe that women can be attracted to men, lol. It's something I'll die never knowing. It's not like I shun all men and are rude to them cos I find them repugnant.

[–] SWLinPHX-2 10 years ago

I'm saying that's a very narrow-minded and immature stance. It makes you seem ignorant. Any guy (gay or straight) knows what a good-looking guy is and any woman (gay or straight) knows what a good-looking woman is. The few guys that claim they don't are the ones insecure in their sexuality or closet cases themselves. Secure men don't try to overcompensate like that.

[–] coolbrett 10 years ago

Ok. You're welcome to have your own interpretation

[–] CelesteChere 9 years ago

I'm a straight male too and I thought it was alright, despite the stripping scenes making me feel really uncomfortable. I was actually like sick watching it. Mens bodies are the most disgusitng thing ever, especially when they dance like that, and I have no idea how women can be attracted to them. Female bodies are a work of art and SHOULD be celebrated. Mens bodies should be hidden. But somehow I still managed to enjoy the movie a little bit. My first instinct was to avoid it, but then I heard Soderbergh directed it, and it was supposed to be pretty good, so I gave it a go. It was better than what my first instinct told me.

I know you're just stating your opinion, but as someone who is attracted to men and sees the male body and majestic work of art, I hope and pray you NEVER have your way. Mens bodies should be hidden? *beep* that double standard *beep* you're trying to peddle, *beep* that *beep* assbackwards self centered selfish world you want to live in where only the things you find attractive, sexy, and beautiful should be celebrated and to hell with what other people find attractive, sexy, and beautiful. I don't find women attractive or sexy but I don't sit there and act like there's something wrong with people that do or wish the deny them their right to find them attractive and 'hide them away' from the world.

[–] coolbrett 9 years ago

Since posting that I've actually got to admit I was wrong. Men aren't 'disgusting'. I guess I was just pointing out how I will never understand the SEXUAL desire women (and gay men) have for them. Especially when there are women around. But of course I won't, since I amin fact attracted to women so nnaturally I will find the opposite sex very unappealing. I must correct myself though and say that men are not disgusting looking. I don't wince at the sight of a male body, and it's not like I wish to live in a world without men, and I really do respect what women find appealing about men. It's just I REALLY like women :D

[–] oilinblood 11 years ago

Im a straight male and i liked the movie. I agree with alot that you said (OP)

The only part where i feel differently is the stripping. I never felt uncomfortable and i never felt the scenes went too long. Personally, like you said as well, channing is a talented dancer. I was actually in awe of some of the stuff he did and the work he put in and training (he was an exotic dancer). (and frankly this is no effort to watch...but if he was to put on a leotard and prance around doing ballet i wouldnt be able to watch. Thats a fact) His talents certainly are there. I think...movie wise i expected this before i watched it. Maybe that made a difference. I just think, as a point of reference to the character, it showed the work that has gone into his job. ? Thats what i took from it. It shows the pride and dedication to a craft...investment. Each dance and each scene showed me something about the characters and to me it was kind of beautiful at times. I think MMs dances were exactly the type of dances i expected that character to do...and Mike danced the way that is fitting to Mike and...i think Channing. The kid, his dances defined him as well. Im no dancer...but the feel i got from each characters dances fit their character. I dont know. Maybe the dances didnt say anything. Maybe im dumb. But to me the dances said as much about who those characters were at that time than their lines. MMs character is trying to hang on and vain and never going to give up the life, the kid was just having fun...learn enough to get through and make money, mike...mike had a different level of awareness and he was enjoying the ddancing partly for different reasons than the others (some internal release and perhaps external selflessness....a intimacy he couldnt find elsewhere/ he didnt even want intimacy with joanna but had no other option where he thought he could have it). The only thing i didnt like is that he never mentions a passion for dancing when he talks about what hed do away from the job... If you watch the character...i think the dancing is more than just about making money. To me that was really disruptive to the characters believability and didnt let me stay in the movies world. Im not saying the character has to want to be a dancer his whole life...but i dont think that character would forget to say dancing when asked about passions he has.

I do agree with alot of others that the actual plot of the movie seems pretty short and the strip scenes pretty long in comparison. Is it a movie with a purpose or a very long madonna dance video with only male dancers? But i expected this as well. I expected it so im not shocked or disappointed. I would say the movie is exactly as advertised and as the producers knew would bring in tonnes of girls. Soderberg makes it a film instead of a mere spectacle.

For what it was...i think it was well thought out. This was never going to be an Oscar movie and it never told you it was going to be. Its not particularly original in any concievable way...but it never intended to be. This movie had a demographic but i think Channing had a story he wanted to tell too. Personally i hated him for a long time...he is rediculously bad in the movie the eagle and other early movies. I have recently gained a bit of respect for his recent work as an actor. So when my gf mentioned she had watched it with her friends and wanted to watch it with me, i knew it wasnt going to be void of thought and she knew id have no problems sitting through the scenes.

I ranked the movie a 6/10 as a "film" designed to be a drama. I need to explain that as a drama to me the story is lacking alot of depth. Watching it though id have been willing to give it a 7/10 for being what they intended it to be which was a better version of striptease.

[–] kabosse 10 years ago

Brilliant post, TheBurk. Cheers to you for making it out in time.

Your post actually clarified aomething about the movie for me, so thank you.

What I would love to know: how does Mike's story continue? How will his life be? How will he make a living, now that the bulk of the money's gone, the stripping is over and done with and there isn't any silverlining in his life except for his budding relationship with Brooke?

In other words: I'd love to see the sequel!

_____________________________________________
Vala Morghulis

[–] hathor008 10 years ago

It looks like a sequel is due out next year :)

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Reality is subjective.

[–] 10 years ago

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