The first Magic Mike movie, ten years’ ago, was both an eye-opener for me at the time, and also, paradoxically, a black hole in my memory now.
I do remember it was about male strippers, led by Channing Tatum, who clearly knew what he was doing, and Matthew McConnaughey, who was having rather too much fun. And it was predicated on the idea that “girls just want to have fun, so why shouldn’t they”?
Two movies later our hero is currently broke and single, working as a barman in Miami for the rich and glamorous. Including divorcee Maxandra Rattigan – played by Salma Hayek.
Photo: Screenshot
Now the first thing anyone going to a Magic Mike movie has to jettison is any concern for logic in the storyline. If I say “just go with it” right at the start, can we take it as read for the rest of the movie?
Max’s millionaire ex-husband, Roger Rattigan, made his enormous fortune out of owning a theatre in London. He’s currently showing a smash hit drawing room drama about unrequited love or something. No wonder Max is on holiday in Miami.
At a party, Max spots barman Mike across a crowded room. Something about him makes her offer him a fortune to strip for her.
We agreed, no questions OK? After Mike’s performance, Max decides that he could be just what the stuffy theatre scene in London needs.
She comes up with another enormous cash offer that Mike can’t or won’t refuse, and suddenly he’s no longer a stripper. He’s a West End show-runner.
Hayek is an unexpected West End entrepreneur, certainly, but that’s by no means the most unlikely thing about Last Dance. And at least there’s an explanation. Her part was originally going to be played by English theatrical Thandiwe Newton, who suddenly remembered a pressing appointment after a week or so, leaving the floor clear for Salma.
The name “Rattigan” seems to be a nod to the distinguished playwright Sir Terence Rattigan. But since it’s highly unlikely that anyone on the production of Magic Mike’s Last Dance has ever heard of Sir Terence, I can only assume some money changed hands.
The fact is the English theatre isn’t quite the cast-iron money-spinner it is in this film. The Rattigan estate are certainly not too snobby to turn down a fee for naming rights.
But enough digression. Is there a plot to Magic Mike’s Last Dance? Indeed there is. Max Rattigan fires the original cast of the smash-hit talky play, and instead hires a baker’s dozen of male strippers to take their parts.
And here to rewrite the book, choreograph the entire evening, arrange the lights and music in just one month is theatrical first-timer Magic Mike!
Now I know what you’re thinking. Half of you are thinking “Wild horses, the wildest horses on Earth, won’t drag me to see Magic Mike’s last dance.” And the other half are thinking…. well, you’re not thinking anything much. Will Magic Mike and his British Chippendales get their kit off in a professional manner?
And since we’ve got the lovely Hayek there anyway, will she abandon her wafer-thin character – disgruntled English theatrical divorcee – and do a bit of dancing with Channing?
You don’t need me to answer that, of course.
Personally, I was a bit disappointed that a story nominally set in a West End theatre was so light in British guest stars.
But star Channing and director Soderberg realised that actors were an unnecessary expense. This was clearly not aimed at the Terence Rattigan set, was it?
