Magic
Mike XXL (2015/Warner Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B-/C Sound: B-/C Extras: C Film: C+
A
sequel already? Three years after Mike (Channing Tatum) left the
Kings of Tampa, he is reunited with the boys who and joins them on a
roadtrip to Myrtle Beach for one last dance at a male stripper
convention. Along the way they'll face unexpected stops, old
acquaintances and old grudges. On top of everything, they decide to
come up with new dance routines and costumes, can Mike show that
after 3 years he hasn't lost his touch or his 'magic'?
Mike
got out of the business to start his own custom furniture business.
Three years later, he receives a phone call out of the blue from
Tarzan, that Dallas is 'gone'. Thinking his old boss is dead, Mike
meets the boys only to discover that he just found work elsewhere and
the boys are thinking of doing the same, but not before they have one
last huzzah. Broke and without a plan, Mike and the boys will have
to dance their way to Myrtle Beach between parties, crashing their
ride and middle aged wives in Gregory Jacobs' Magic Mike XXL
(2015).
In my opinion, the movie can be summed up in 3 words:
'Male stripper roadtrip'. When compared to the original this new
film seemed to have less plot and the dancing was more like
improvisation. While there was dancing they used rap and teen boy
band songs, also there was less group dancing and sadly, Matthew
McConaughey was not in it (sorry girls). Matt Bomer, Joe
Manganiello, Amber Heard, Jada Pinkett Smith and Elizabeth Banks also
star, but it is not very engaging... even with them.
The
1080p all-digitally-shot 2.35 X 1 High Definition image continues the
semi-monochromatic approach of the first film and that only helps
make this more tired, while the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 mix only
kicks in at times (music and action), but lacks a consistent
soundfield. The DVD offers an anamorphically enhanced image with
lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and is especially very weak, so that
makes it even more boring! Extras include Moves of Magic Mike XXL,
extended Malik Dance and trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
