Magic Mike

Negative—I would not recommend this movie from a Christian or simply a movie-lover’s viewpoint! The only possible redeeming quality of the story was that a couple of characters expressed genuine concern for someone else, at least at one moment. There was lots of dancing that graphically mimicked sexual acts, nudity of both sexes (silhouette only of male genitalia), rampant casual sex (hetero and homosexual), drinking, drug use, and excessive profanity!

Otherwise, the acting was horrible—the new dancer’s sister was especially terrible!—there didn’t seem to be a script or any apparent story-line until the movie was almost over, no character development, there were way too many side stories that kept showing up with no basis or background, and very lame attempts at humor. I found the many discrepancies/errors or continuity issues very distracting—Examples: the sister is a nurse’s aide and describes her job as “completing nurses” paperwork,” the boss peels off several bills to pay a dancer $50, then you see the dancer’s pile of money with a prominent $50 bill—there were so many my wrists hurt from my frequent “what was that??” gestures!

There were some interesting camera angles and filming techniques, but certainly nothing worth suffering through this boring, painful film.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: ½

Negative—I use Christian Spotlight quite frequently to help me choose which movies to take my two daughters to, but I have never really felt compelled to share my thoughts on a movie, until now. I absolutely LOVE movies, but I was not particularly interested in this one and probably would have skipped it, except that every woman in my hometown was buzzing about it on Facebook. I decided to go by myself and see what all the hype was about.

The opening scene began with excessive profanity, and, the morning after, 3 people had had sex with each other. As a Christian, I should have left immediately, but I didn’t and wished later that I had. I was constantly bombarded with the f-word (every other word, it felt like!). The entire movie was full of men grinding their privates into women’s faces and vice versa.

Now, granted, I knew I was going to watch a movie about strippers, but naively thought it was going to be light-hearted fun, based on the commercials (I see a bunch of lawbreakers in here, etc.). There was a scene where a married man (who was obviously under the influence of drugs) encouraged his stripper friend to touch his wife’s bare breasts. I had high hopes that the female lead had morals, up until the very last scene, when she asked Channing Tatum to go eat breakfast with her. He agreed, but then she said the place didn’t open until 6AM. She insinuated that she would have sex with him by asking what they could do for 7 hours until it opened.

There was no real plot to this movie. It could have been so much better, if they had pursued the story of Channing Tatum wanting to get out of stripping and actually showed him doing so. When the movie ended, I was frozen in my seat. … I felt physically and mentally filthy after watching it. While I sat there, I witnessed 2 very young girls (probably 5 and 7) smiling, while leaving the theater with their mothers. I wanted to cry. As I was leaving, three young boys (probably around 11 years old) held the door open for me. I couldn’t even look them in the face, because I was so consumed with the knowledge that they had just watched this filth. I spoke to the manager and asked him how children that young could be allowed into a movie about stripping, when they would not be allowed to enter an actual strip club. He calmly stated that the movie was rated “R,” and it was acceptable for them to see it, if they were with an adult. I left shaking my head.

There was nothing Biblical in this movie. It was full of profanity, nudity, sex with numerous people, etc. God says sex is sacred between a man and a woman who are married. There was so much casual sex in this movie and sharing of partners, it was not in any way Biblical. I can’t imagine what was going through the minds of those young girls and boys watching this movie. I pray that the girls do not think that is the way women want and should be treated, and I pray the boys do not think that is the way they should treat women.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3

Negative—This movie was downright embarrassing. I was embarrassed at watching it, and there was nothing about it that had redeeming qualities. There was nudity in the very beginning, both male and female. As a young woman, I always thought Channing Tatum was a great dancer and a talented actor, but that image has forever been shattered after enduring this movie with my friend, who was equally embarrassed to be watching it. We eventually found it more entertaining to watch the facial expressions of the only other male in the theater next to us, who seemed just as embarrassed and appalled at this as we did. It was a movie that made me want to wash my eyes out with soap when I got home.

From a Christian standpoint, the profanity alone was beyond my endurance. There was nothing moral about it. Biggest waste of money I have ever spent, and still feel wrong for watching it.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2

Negative—The movie is as terrible as one could possibly imagine. Yes, I suppose there are worse—with even more nudity, vulgarity, lewdness, etc., but this movie left me with a different feeling. At the end, which honestly couldn’t come quickly enough, I thought it was such a commentary on the world today. What a sad condition. I was just sad. Way bad choice on my part to see it, so warnings provided here are best well heeded. FACTUAL CORRECTION: “Mike,” as of the time this movie is portraying him, has been in the business for six years and was “recruited” by “Dallas.” However, it is “Adam” who is “learning” the male stripper trade from “Mike.”
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2½