Magic Mike’s Last Dance

The third instalment of the sultry Magic Mike franchise from director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Reid Carolin delivers a haze of supple bodies, slinky dance moves and repressed desires. Holding the same allure as the previous two, Channing Tatum takes the titular role again and brings the story into the present day despite an eight-year gap since the last feature.

Fast approaching 40, but ageing like a fine wine, Mike Lane (Tatum) has left behind his days as a stripper and appears to be working as a barman hired for a charity event held by sophisticated socialite Maxandra Mendoza (Salma Hayek). When a guest called Kim (Magic Mike veteran, Caitlin Gerard) recognises him from his past and tells Mendoza what an amazing dance he once gave her, her intrigue gets the better of her and she offers him a small fortune to show her his moves. It’s not long until we are drawn into a seductive, gyrating performance that leaves Mendoza completely won over and left bribing him with more cash to join her on a month-long trip to her London pied-à-terre.

Hayek sizzles in her role as the rich and voluptuous cougar. Her chemistry with Tatum is off the charts and weaves in and out of the film as she offers him the position of show director of the theatre she has inherited in her soon-to-be-divorced settlement. As he’s tasked with pulling together a new show in four weeks, there are battles with the repressed council judicial trying to shut it down (played staunchly by Vicki Pepperdine), and a swift casting audition process, showcasing some impressive contemporary dance and ballet talent. 

The overall narrative falls a bit flat, and unquestionably plays second fiddle to the stunning dance choreography. However, there are moments of genuine humour, mostly imparted through Mendoza’s butler played by Ayub Khan-Din, and although it feels wrong that most of the voice narration is through Mendoza’s adolescent daughter Phoebe (Nancy Carroll) when the themes of the movie are so adult, Magic Mike’s Last Dance is undoubtedly there to entertain and satiate the hoards of repressed housewives and hen night parties.

Ezelle Alblas

Magic Mike’s Last Dance is released nationwide on 10^th February 2023.

Watch the trailer for Magic Mike’s Last Dance here: