Magic Mike XXL review: ‘It may not measure up to its predecessor, but size isn’t everything’

THE long-awaited sequel Magic Mike XXL has a plot skimpier than the jockstraps worn by its male strippers with hearts of gold. But not to worry.

The long-awaited sequel Magic Mike XXL has a plot skimpier than the jockstraps worn by its male strippers with hearts of gold. But not to worry.

The dance routines are so hilariously spectacular — and the film is such good-naturedly inclusive fun — that you may not miss the absence of anything resembling dramatic conflict in what’s close to a feature-length concert film.

Steven Soderbergh’s 2012 sleeper hit pitted Channing Tatum’s stripper extraordinaire Magic Mike against his trouble-prone protégé (Alex Pettyfer) and a flamboyant club owner (Matthew McConaughey) while Mike wooed the protégé’s jealous sister (Cody Horn).

Mike is back, but the other three are MIA for this more lighthearted follow-up, with Soderbergh handling only the (still stunning) cinematography and editing, while handing off the actual helming to his longtime assistant director Gregory Jacobs, who capably replicates the boss’s inimitably cool style.

Is it getting hot in here?

Three years later, Mike takes a leave from his furniture business to join what’s left of the merry band known as the Kings of Tampa for a road trip to a July 4 stripper convention in Myrtle Beach, SC, where they’re planning a last hurrah before 3,000 panting women.

With no bigger problems than developing new routines and a finding an MC to replace their injured gay wingman Tobias (Gabriel Iglesias), returning screenwriter Reid Carolin devotes more time to the (refreshingly non-toxic, compared to, say, Entourage) bromantic interactions between Mike and his fellow strippers.

That means larger roles (and, in some cases, smaller costumes) for Joe Manganiello (Big Dick Richie), Adam Rodriguez (Tito), Matt Bomer (Ken) and Kevin Nash (Tarzan), whose erotic gyrations are supplemented — adding some welcome diversity — along the way by sizzling newcomers Michael Strahan, Stephen “tWitch” Boss and even a very funny, rapping Donald Glover.

Elizabeth Banks sizes up Channing Tatum.

Jada Pinkett Smith turns up for her most memorable screen appearance in years as Rome, a former lover of Mike who gives the boys a tour of her subscription-only “exotic entertainment palace” catering mostly to middle-aged women of colour. Rome challenges Mike to show the enthusiastic crowd why she called him, um, “White Chocolate,” and later there’s erotic frisson between her and a convention organiser named Paris (a cameo by the ubiquitous Elizabeth Banks).

The film is temporarily stolen by Andie MacDowell as a randy southern woman of a certain age who recruits the Kings as impromptu entertainment (including a song from Ken) for her Bordeaux-swilling pals at her divorce party in her mansion. Meanwhile, Mike is bonding with her photographer daughter (Amber Heard) over red velvet cake in the kitchen.

Channing Tatum grinds on a very lucky chair.

There are romantic/erotic fantasies on offer here for women of every shape, age and colour — as well as a campy gay club sequence with the Kings in drag catering to another demographic that likes to watch near-naked men working it.

Tatum, who has never been afraid to appear endearingly ridiculous, gets to show off his panther-like moves in the muscular, propulsive and sometimes balletic choreography by Alison Faulk.

Magic Mike XXL is an unabashed celebration of the female (and gay male) gaze as well as a cream puff of a blockbuster stuffed with whipped cream, lap dances and feather boas. It may not measure up to its predecessor, but size isn’t everything.

Magic Mike XXL hits Aussie cinemas on July 9.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post.

Originally published as Magic Mike XXL review: ‘It may not measure up to its predecessor, but size isn’t everything’