Reel Review Roundup

Magic Mike’s Last Dance (MA)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Channing Tatum, Salma Hayek

Review by: Julian Wright

Magic Mike is back, begrudgingly, for one last sexy dance across a stage for the entertainment of others.

Former stripper Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) is now 40 and bartender events after his furniture business went kaput during the pandemic.

On his latest job, he is approached by married but sexually frustrated rich woman Maxandra Mendoza (Salma Hayek) for a tension relieving lap dance.

Sparks fly, she sees an abundance of talent in him and draws him out of retirement to direct a new version of a stuffy old play at a London theatre she co-owns with her husband to give a female audience something they have never seen before.

Soderbergh spoils us early on with one of the steamiest choreographed, performed and filmed strip-teases put to film (between Tatum and Hayek), then keeps Tatum off the stage for the rest of the film.

Magic Mike’s Last Dance is all about the tease, so much so that one wonders if the pay off at the end is worth enduring it?

While this is an admirable and entertaining third chapter in the stunningly sexy series, putting a middle aged woman at the centre to explore her sexuality, creativity and urgency, there is a certain spark lacking as it bypasses any kind of backstory or camaraderie between the new dancers.

Getting to know the other dancers and their dynamics was part of the fun of the previous two, and made their dances just that touch more more titillating because we had an idea of who they are as people.

Magic Mike’s Last Dance does leave you wanting just a little bit more – or maybe that is Soderbergh’s plan?

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