Big-screen stripper Magic Mike is steaming up the cold and dreary month of February with another blast of pelvic action. In Magic Mike's Last Dance, Channing Tatum's titular stripper takes to the stage once again for another set of routines bound to get viewers hot under the collar.
Before we get to the new movie, you may need a recap of the Magic Mike journey so far. Ask and you shall receive: here's everything you need to know about Magic Mike as relayed via his most memorable dance numbers.
Magic Mike (2012)
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Mike's intro ('It's Raining Men')
Steven Soderbergh's original Magic Mike movie belies its 'Chippendales with A-levels' conceit with a surprisingly gritty and grounded story of male insecurity. Yes, it's not all about the whooping and thong-slinging.
We're introduced to Tatum's eponymous Mike as he aspires to open his own furniture business. To make ends meet, he busts moves at a club owned by the unscrupulous Dallas (Matthew McConaughey) who eventually bails on Mike's dance troupe and takes all their money.
Before we get there, the movie showcases a barnstorming choreographed opening to 'It's Raining Men', complete with rain macs and brollies. (We can't be the only ones imagining Bridget Jones stars Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in this situation.)
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Mike's solo dance
Tatum drew on his own experiences when making Magic Mike, infusing both the script and his character arc with added depth and believability. Apart from all that, his moves are plain to see – no body doubles are required during his writhing performance set to Genuine's 'Pony'.
However, Mike's private life isn't so assured. When he takes young Adam (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing, he feels compelled to protect the kid from some dangerous drug runners, all the while falling in love with Adam's sister Brooke (Cody Horn, seen in the following clip watching from the sidelines).
Ultimately, it all adds to Mike's disillusion with the stripping industry and he vows to leave it for good. However, there's still one more routine up his sleeve...
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Mike's soldier-boy routine with Adam
Before Dallas bails on Mike, the latter, along with Adam, Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello), Ken (Matt Bomer), Tito (Adam Rodriguez) and Tarzan (Kevin Nash), have a final act to perform. The less-than-subtle imitation of gunfire, adorned by the Stars and Stripes falling down during the climax, is enough to raise the roof.
However, it isn't enough for Mike and, following Dallas' betrayal, Mike leaves the life and takes up with Brooke.
Magic Mike XXL (2015)
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Mad Mary's club
At the outset of sequel Magic Mike XXL, our title character has been out of the stripping game for three years. He's also broken up with Brooke and his furniture business is struggling. Mike is then persuaded by his old troupe to join them on a road trip to Myrtle Beach male stripping convention. There, the ageing strippers can go out in style.
En route to the convention in South Carolina, Mike and the gang stop at a bar called Mad Mary's. For the first time in three years, Mike must discover if he still has the goods by performing for the rowdy clientele. Fortunately for the punters (and us the audience, of course), he still has it in droves.
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Gas station striptease
On the way to Myrtle Beach, Mike has a hard time convincing the group to change up the routine. However, after persuading Richie to give an impromptu and hilarious strip tease at a highway gas station (set to The Backstreet Boys' 'I Want It That Way'), the group is convinced to switch things up a bit.
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The final strip
The course of true stripping never did run smooth. The group is in search of a new MC, which leads them to Mike's old flame Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith), a strip club owner. It seems as if Rome's disdain towards Mike won't pay off.
However, upon arriving at the convention centre, the group is surprised by Rome's appearance. She's agreed to act as their MC and she's drafted in extra help, including event organizer Paris (Elizabeth Banks), rapper Andre (Donald Glover) and Malik (Stephen 'tWitch' Boss). The latter of whom takes to the stage with Mike after the group performance (watch in the clip below).
Both shows are barnstorming successes and send everyone out on the highest of highs. So, that's it for Magic Mike in the stripping game, yes? Not quite, as it turns out...
So, what's the story in Magic Mike's Last Dance?
Mike is officially out of the stripping game at the start of the third Magic Mike movie. However, he's soon lured over to London by a wealthy and sultry socialite (played by Salma Hayek) and the bright lights of the UK's strip clubs soon begin to work their magic.
Click here to book your tickets for Magic Mike's Last Dance, released at Cineworld on February 10th. Will you be watching it on the big screen this Valentine's Day?
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