It would come as no surprise to learn that “Back on the Strip” started out as a “Magic Mike” parody. I’m not saying that it did. (The main character is named Merlin, not Mike, after all.) But what …
” started out as a “Magic Mike” parody. I’m not saying that it did. But what else could explain the bizarrely literal premise of an ensemble indie comedy in which our hero is a wannabe magician who heads to Vegas hoping to be the next David Copperfield, only to wind up shaking his wand for a Chippendales-style male dance revue instead?
How to put it politely? Merlin may not be much of a magician, but he’s “blessed” with other gifts — the joke being that this oblivious kid has missed his calling. Every time he goes on stage, the audience winds up oohing and aahing. Whether it’s the audition where his costume catches fire, exposing Merlin’s bulging basket, or the talent show at which his rivals yank his pants down in front of the whole school, the movie makes a big deal of his endowment .
Rather than casting hot bodies, the movie looks to comedians to embody the out-to-pasture old team — which turns out to be a much better strategy. Think about it: Unless you’re a strip club regular, chances are, nervous laughter is your natural reaction to a burlesque show. Sanders treats the routines as comedic set-pieces, devising obstacles for each of the dancers, while den mother Rita cheers them on.
In real life, none of these men would likely find work stripping on the ultra-competitive, image-conscious Las Vegas Strip — but they’re a lot more amusing than bodybuilders slathered in baby oil would be. “Back on the Strip” is a bring-your-friends, girls’-night-out kind of movie, and like “Magic Mike XXL,” it has a more expansive view of what women find sexy. I LOLed when “daddy” Tyriq picked up one woman’s vest and folded it, the way he does his daughter’s laundry.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Review: Flight by Nothing, BACK FOR MOREBlood-pumping choruses fuel the Austin fivepiece's indie rock debut
Read more »
Bringing VHS back to brick-and-mortar with Back Room VideoThere's a hidden gem tucked away in Irvington that will bring joy to every person who felt nostalgia for VHS amid the latest technologies.
Read more »
Back To School: Students in 5 districts go back todayIt's the first day of school for many kids around Central Ohio.Students are heading back to school in Dublin, Gahanna, Newark, Olentangy, Bexley and Whitehall.R
Read more »
Lakers schedule takeaways: 15 back-to-back games could be a problemThe Lakers will open the upcoming NBA season the same way they ended the last — facing the Denver Nuggets under a national spotlight.
Read more »