Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2013

A naive young Tampa kid gets his start in the male-stripper business, but don’t mistake this for a male version of Showgirls. Steven Soderbergh wends his way through the minefield of campiness and clichés such a subject presents, and comes up with a non-judgmental, increasingly dark allegory on doing something soulless just for the paycheck. Particularly convincing is Channing Tatum as the titular Mike, whose own pre-movie-star experiences considerably informed the script. And Matthew McConaughey is tops as the savvy club owner. Arty but energetic, frank but funny, and smart with a heart.