If you’ve turned on the TV in the past month, no doubt you’ve seen that there is a Magic Mike sequel: XXL. This piece from The Atlantic discusses the gender politics in the film and the possibility of a movie about male strippers being a loud affirmation for feminism.
This movie is another shift in the right direction. “Between the Mike franchise and 50 Shades of Grey, we’re watching the formation of a would-be-blockbuster genre, one that celebrates and profits from the sexual appetites of people other than straight men.”
Yes, 50 Shades was very shady and has many problems, but like MMXXL, it makes the topic of sexuality less taboo. The Atlantic piece highlights that while there are parts that could have been fixed and focus on what men think women want, this movie is about celebrating women and their sexuality. Starting a conversation and becoming more comfortable talking about it is one of the best things we can do!
“It’s a narrative structured entirely around the objectification of men and the veneration of women, whatever their age or body type. In the sense that almost all the female characters have money to dole out to men (the aforementioned Bentley, the many, many, many, many dollar bills cascading all over the scenery), it’s a reversal of the typical Cinderella story: Here are good-looking dolts being rewarded for their charms. But what makes Mike and Richie and Ken so appealing isn’t just their looks, it’s the fact that they focus so intensely on how to make women happy. (“My God is a woman,” as Mike puts it, in simple terms.) In Ken’s case, that means telling a married woman that she’s enormously desirable and deserves to be made love to with the lights on. In Mike’s and Richie’s, it’s simply making people smile. If the film were just about greased-up Adonises showing off their abs, it wouldn’t be half as affirming, but the sense throughout that female contentment and pleasure is the ultimate goal makes it infinitely more engaging.”
Not only did this piece affirm the film as a victory for feminism, it deals with issues of masculinity.
“One thing that’s not traditional about the guys is their utter lack of gay panic. Early on during their trip, they stop in at a drag show and start vogue-ing on stage, having as much fun as anyone at a Pride parade. It makes sense that guys who regularly bro out while in chaps would be secure in their sexuality, but these pointedly macho guys seem exceptionally, blissfully free from anxiety about being labeled as feminine. It’s much-needed evangelism: Behold, men can still joke around, have sex, and make money once we’ve smashed the patriarchy!”
We’re adding this film to our list of summer films to see!
