As artfully a constructed star vehicle as anything in Clarke Gable's day, with the added appeal that Channing Tatum really was a stripper. He's kind, likeable, funny, can dance, good looking, shows his backside in the first couple of seconds (with two women in bed - how's that for a star entrance), is nice to young Alex Pettyfer, just wants someone to settle down with and leave stripping, wants to make driftwood out of stuff he finds on the beach.... swoon.
In all seriousness Tatum is pretty good - he's clearly comfortable in the role, does the dances well, has some good support. Matthew McConaughey continues to defy those who are convinced he's a rom com specialist with an engaging performance as the old stripper who is Tatum's boss (I did feel he would have used another scene just for him), and Alex Pettyfer isn't annoying for the first time I've seen him. These three provide a solid foundation for the movie and ensure it always has somewhere to go.
Some really good scenes, and confident handling; it looks great with it's bright Florida sunshine and dingy clubs (how the hell did this only cost $7 million?). Cody Horn - the love interest - starts off impressive and interesting but we soon realise she doesn't have anywhere to go apart from giving sass to Tatum and worrying about her brother, but Olivia Munn is great as the sophisticated psych student into sex games with Tatum. There's also a rich array of support characters - the other strippers are all well cast (their dodgy dances are funny) and the casting of the girls who go to the shows is spot on (giggling, screaming, flirting, etc.)
At times this was reminiscent of Shampoo (Tatum tries to get a bank loan but is knocked back) but this is a different sort of movie, a lot more positive and "Hollywood". But it's enjoyable and deserved its success.
No comments:
Post a Comment