But The Times' Kenneth Turan is not one of them. Despite a vibrant begin, Turan says, the film isn't as edgy as it assumes on to be and "soon drains under the bodyweight of an undernourished psychological element that's as old-fashioned moralistic as they come." The program (by Reid Carolin, Tatum's generating partner) is "clunky," and although Soderbergh provides "energy and flash" in the onstage moments, the film falters offstage: "Once the figures have to take off their thongs and come back to their actual life, the film goes nowhere that is either exciting, including or amazing." On the plus part, McConaughey is "amusing" as an greasy team proprietor and "Tatum shows appeal and style" in the name function.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle, however, gives a talk evaluation. "If ['Magic Mike'] fails to deliver of success, it's not by much," LaSalle gushes, including, "it is remarkable and one of the best and most unique images to come along this year." Tatum is "red-hot" and should strengthen his popularity with his function, and the wit and naturalness of Carolin's film program (about a expert prostitute getting a novice under his wing) capable well with Soderbergh's pithy modifying and documentary-style capturing.
The New You are able to Times' Manohla Dargis calling the coupling of Soderbergh and Tatum "a bet, one that has produced the best in each." She contributes, "What could have been an awkward misfire suggested at by the film's inaccurate trailer is instead a easily distilled cooperation that account balances Mr. Tatum’s warm and appeal … with Mr. Soderbergh’s awesome, motion picture intellect and continuing preoccupations." Also suitable of reward is the "spectacular, amusingly sleazed out" McConaughey.
Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post declares the film "gratifyingly underplayed." Soderbergh takes the same "lighthearted, unfussy" tack he did for "Haywire" and the "Ocean's" movies, and Tatum delivers "a wonderfully playful, spontaneous performance." In other words, "'Magic Mike' makes it rain but never looks like it’s working hard for the money."
Salon's Andrew O'Hehir finds "Magic Mike" to be "a fascinating film, one of [Soderbergh's] best in recent years." There's much to like from the cast, including McConaughey's "scene-stealing, award-worthy performance," Cody Horn's "very good" turn as Tatum's love interest and Alex Pettyfer's "tremendous, vulnerable performance here as an innocent all too easily seduced by his new life." And, O'Hehir adds, it's not all "randy, escapist fun" — it's also a dark parable about the dangers of capitalism, much in the same vein as "Che," "Traffic" and "Contagion."
If that all sounds a bit heavy, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times sums up "Magic Mike" as "a crafty mixture of comedy, romance, melodrama and some remarkably well-staged strip routines involving hunky, good-looking guys."
And really, what more could you ask for?
