What Everyone Expected: A totally perfunctory, pointless follow-up to a surprisingly thoughtful movie, existing solely to part women (and their poor boyfriends) with their cash while showing off some light stripper play. What It Was: Not quite as good as the original, sure, but Magic Mike XXL is a totally different beast, and all the better for it. While the first film lingered on the dangers of the industry and Mike's (Channing Tatum) desire to get out, the sequel is a lighter, funnier romp, focusing largely on the brotherhood and banter between the strippers, and of course, all the flesh on display also. The film knows what it is and delivers accordingly: it doesn't try too hard to be profound (or really at all), but does just fine with its superb cast (Jada Pinkett Smith is a particularly strong addition) and is basically one of the summer's most gleefully entertaining films to date. Which movies have proved most pleasantly surprising for you this year so far? Shout them out in the comments!
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
