Okay, then. How many of you were all steamy for the last Magic Mike gig? Now, some of you must have been because the franchise did earn some B. O. and lucrative side deals for Channing Tatum so somebody’s watching. Just for the record, Magic Mike from 2012 earned 162.7 million; 2015’s Magic Mike XXL took in $122.5 million worldwide and this last one 2023’s MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE took in only 57 million. Maybe it’s a good thing it stopped at being just a trilogy.
Originally intended to be digitally released exclusively onto HBO Max (at the time) as one of the Same-Day Premieres, Warner Bros. Pictures opted to give the film a theatrical release based off of strong test screenings. Steven Soderbergh was the director. He directed the first one but not the first sequel. So, what happens the third time around? Well, what else, we have to work up to a major blowout of a lap dance production, right?
Former male stripper Mike Lane (Tatum), who lost his furniture business during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now in his forties, still in Miami, and a bartender for a catering company. At Maxandra “Max” Mendoza’s fundraising event, Mike is asked to speak with Max (Salma Hayek Pinault) privately. She found out about his prowess as a lap dancer and wants some. Mike says he is retired, but ultimately says $60,000 when pushed. Max says $6,000 but he refuses the offer, but she turns around and offers him the $60,000 to go to London for one big last dance. Mike agrees but only as her boyfriend. She accepts and they travel to London together. It seems Max’s ex-husband Roger (Alan Cox) gave her a theater and she wants to make it work and Lane’s act will do just that. Roger and the local municipality have something to say about all that just because some conflict needs to happen in the movie and there you go, I guess.
USA Today stated, “Tamer and what one could arguably call classier, this movie trades bromantic machismo and beefcake high jinks for female empowerment and character maturity, though still boasting hunky dudes and clothes being ripped off.”
The movie is playing across HBO’s channels and is parked on Max. By all means, check out Channing Tatum’s last dance as Magic Mike if you are so hot & bothered. I’ll wait.
