AIBU about the movie Magic Mike

[ScarletLadyOfTheNight01]

I'd like some opinions on this please.

Don't you think it's a bit weird that it seems perfectly fine to have a film about male strippers and have women drooling over Channing Tatum etc I mean visibly foaming at the mouth at the prospect... Whereas if it was a film about women strippers it would be looked at as a bit sleazy and cheap and the men going on about it might be looked down on?

AIBU? Does anyone else agree or am I being a bit of a party pooper? I just don't get it....maybe I'm weird >_

From the trailer I just watched, there seems to be a lot of focus on relationship stuff between one of the strippers and a woman (more than stripping scenes) which seems to be the sort of romance element designed to appeal to women more than the gay community.

Well I'm afraid I have to disagree with waterlego and thought it was a pretty crap film. Not much of a storyline, had weird bits where it just stopped and told you the month and then abruptly ended just as you thought you were getting somewhere.

I spent most of my time thinking how painful it must have been to have everything waxed, how even as actors they had to have alot of confidence to do all the moves and wondered how long it took to learn the routines.

@noblegiraffe - I can't actually to be honest, interesting point.

It just raised issues with me and thought it might make for an interesting discussion.

If it's focussing mainly on the relationship aspect then I would say it's marketed at women rather than gay men...personally I can't think of anything worse (movie-wise) than a film about relationships in this way...it's not my thing at all...but then I doubt it's aimed at women like me...I prefer a good zombie move

The relationship thing is a bit of a red herring tbh (don't read on if you haven't seen it and actually care not to be spoiled) They're friends more than anything until pretty near the end. She's more there as someone to poke holes in his view of his own lifestyle and frankly I spent most of the time wanting her to cheer up (such a miserable face!) although I got what she was trying to say to him. The relationship itself is only important insomuch as it's a catalyst to Mike/Channing's introspection.

The only film that I can think of which is remotely similar is Twilight which although far less sexual has a choice of male characters presented deliberately for females (although in this case teens) to lust after and not just as a sideshow in a male film.

I remember Mark Kermode reviewing Twilight and saying that he approved of it as it was a very rare film that actually used the female gaze.

However Twilight was written by and directed by women so it would be interesting to know if Magic Mike is actually a decent film for women or merely a male gaze film but with the genders reversed.

Magic Mike is directed by Steve Soderbergh.

Hmmm...I try and pretend Twilight doesn't exist to be honest

Generally I guess the only films aimed at women are rom-coms which I can't STAND, so I suppose in a way it is refreshing to have something a bit different solely aimed at women, even if it isn't for me.

Darn, clicked post by mistake too early.

Although I agree most Hollywood movies are produced and directed by men, I don't think all of them are made merely for men and don't think women need their own genre of film for them to be able to enjoy them. So asking if it's a "decent film for women" seems a bit silly to me, unless you ask that of all the movies out there.

It passes the Bechdal test (although I would say it's by the skin of its teeth)

I didn't say that all films were made merely for men, but most of them are designed to appeal to men and appealing to male sexuality forms a big part of that - look at the comparison between how female superheroes and male superheroes are presented for an example. Appealing to male sexuality is so normalised that it usually passes completely unnoticed.

But this film which unashamedly appeals to female sexuality and only female sexuality (hey, that can't be right, it must be a gay film) is a major talking point as it is so unusual.

Films marketed for women are usually rom-coms with a cute female lead looking exasperated and a non-threatening not really sexual male lead.

Asking whether this is a decent film for women is a reasonable question given that it's written and directed by men yet marketed as a film for women. The male and female gaze are different - hence why so often men seem to think women will be aroused if they send them a photo of their cock because a photo of boobs would do it for them.
The main female character being a straight-talking unemotional problem solver (if what I have gathered from above is correct) suggests to me that a man has written a male character and then just switched the sex (not saying that women like that don't exist, btw).

inchoccy What I liked most about it was Mike's dancing. And I don't mean the stripping- the actual street/break dancing. It was SO impressive. I didn't think it was an excellent film but I did quite enjoy it. It had more of a storyline than other films I've seen.

So true Dmitri- she was very miserable but utterly beautiful, I thought.

I haven't given it any theoretical thought in the slightest. I just know channing Tatum is in it. Insert shallow icon

I definitely agree with you about the dancing waterlego I can't imagine how long it took to learn all that and to such a high standard. :)

And yes she was miserable but beautiful

Mmmmmmm, just googled Channing Tatum & I now need to see this film

On the original point, I find it quite refreshing tbh as the majority of films seem to be purely sold on the leading lady & how scandalously gorgeous she is.

I admit I do like a strong female lead who isn't just there to be window dressing. I'm watching Fringe at the moment and Olivia rocks my world so much.

Channing Tatum does absolutely NOTHING for me at all...sorry...

Am I in the minority when I say I really can't stand strippers and nothing about them is sexy to me?

I think it's daft how because it's make strippers and women watching it its 'fun'.
But if it was female strippers and men watching it would be sleazy.

Same goes for these older women going for young lads, calling themselves 'cougars'.
If it was a man looking for younger girls the only thing they'd be called is a pervert.

Have you actually seen the film? or do you just object to the trailer? IMO the trailers are usually the best / worst bits of the film.

I've seen the film and I enjoyed it. Stripping was a bonus obviously as he is a gorgeous man. You see naked women every time you put music channel on do if Channing Tatum wants to strip I'm not going to stop him

He can also dance very well. I could watch him dance all day if it was possible!