It’s been nearly eight years since the second Magic Mike movie, Magic Mike XXL (2015)and 11 years since Magic Mike (2012). This time the original director Steven Soderbergh is back with Channing Tatum for Magic Mike’s Last Dance.
Also starring Salma Hayek and Caitlin Gerard; we catch up with Mike following a business deal that went bust. Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Hayek) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse.
I’m not quite sure how worthwhile I’ll feel this third instalment of the Magic Mike films is by the end. But I do love Salma Hayek, impressive dance moves, the London setting, and how fun this all looks. Plus, what a great way to promoteMagic Mike Live, which has existed in London for some years now.
So, fans of Tatum, Hayek, Soderbergh, dance and London; are you intrigued?
Gavin Spokes, Christie-Leigh Emby, Nas Ganev, Ayub Khan-Din, Christie-Leigh Emby, Barbara Ryan and Daniel Llaca also star.
I wasn’t even aware that it was Stan Lee narrating at first. I was moved when the music started at 0:36 seconds. Then the sight of Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther happened, and I was reminded of the emotionally taxing mess that was 2020.
Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, and particularly the first movie, along with its incredibly thrilling Comic-Con trailers are the reason that DC will always have a small piece of my heart. The largest part of my comic book movie appreciating heart, however, that’s allocated to Marvel Studios superhero movies because they get so many things too right to fail at being my favourite.
That’s not to say that I consider every movie/series Marvel makes perfect. Their trailers, action sequences, the music they use and how much sense the execution of their universe makes strategy-wise is the most impressive to me. And that’s just me writing as someone who’s never read a Marvel comic book, or any comic book for that matter. I simply love movies as ‘the perfect amalgamation of all the arts’ that movies are.
To think that the above three minutes and ten second celebration has even more Marvel stories and characters for me to discover gives me much to look forward to. Even if I don’t love everything released, I know I’ll find something memorable. How can I not with two of my favourites, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie as fresh additions to the Marvel family?
Black Widow (2021), Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Marvel Studios
Of all the Avengers movies I’ve seen so far, the action sequences I remember most fondly take place in Captain America – The Winter Soldier(2014). Specifically, the Nick Fury vehicular chase sequence and the epic elevator scene that follows soon after. Just thinking about it recently had me interrupting my writing session to click on Disney+ to re-watch the scene. Only, I ended up watching the whole movie and liking it even more than the first time. I also properly noticed Robert Redford’s character; how well written it is. No wonder he said yes to the part.
There are only two months to go until my first visit to the movie theatre for a Marvel film. It will probably be my second cinema visit in 2021 because the first movie on my list is A Quiet Place Part 2, which comes out a month earlier. Which movie will mark your return to the theatre?
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021), Salma Hayek, Samuel L. Jackson, Lionsgate Movies
A sequel to Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek’s action/comedy/adventure The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017) is here.
Directed once again by Patrick Hughes; bodyguard Michael Bryce (Reynolds) is, against hi swill, reunited with assassin Darius Kincaid (Jackson), And the two of them must work together to save Darius’s wife Sonia (Hayek).
In addition to being ready for The Hitman’s Bodyguard‘s very special brand of ‘definitely not realistic‘ but fun action sequences, plus great dialogue, I can’t wait to see Hayek as an action star in this sequel.
The three leads, Reynolds, Hayek and Jackson are some of the most fun talk show guests you could ever wish to see. Especially if the host in question is my absolute favourite, Graham Norton. As such and for several other reasons, there’s just got to be no way that the three of them on screen together won’t result in plenty of fun for all involved; particularly the audience.
Morgan Freeman, Tom Hopper, Antonio Banderas, Richard E. Grant, Caroline Goodall, Giulio Berruti, Blake Ritson, Gabriella Wright, Tomi May, Dragan Micanovic and Hiten Patel also star.
Salma Hayek, Tiffany Haddish, Billy Porter and Rose Byrne, are the stars of Like A Boss, a new Miguel Arteta directed comedy about two friends who decide to start a beauty company together.
A key challenge being that one is more practical, while the other’s focus is mainly on earning her fortune so she can live a lavish lifestyle…
Fingers crossed for a great result because I really do like the cast I’m quite sure I’ll enjoy the colourful costumes too.
Jennifer Coolidge, Ari Graynor, Billy Porter, Karan Soni, Catherine Parker, Jessica St. Clair, Jimmy O. Yang and Jacob Latimore also star.
Salma Hayek, Alexander Skarsgård and Jesse Eisenberg are the stars of The Hummingbird Project, a Kim Nguyen written / directed drama about two high-frequency traders facing off with their former boss.
The prize available is serious money in a fibre-optic cable deal…
I’m in for the showdown, because I love Hayek, I want to see Eisenberg in what looks like a more crazed version of his role as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network (2010). And lastly, I have to see more of Skarsgård’s character running.
Michael Mando, Johan Heldenbergh, Ayisha Issa, Sarah Goldberg and Kwasi Songui also star.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017), Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Reynolds
I had a good time with The Hitman’s Bodyguard, the Patrick Hughes directed action/comedy in which Ryan Reynolds stars as the bodyguard to Samuel L. Jackson’s Hitman who needs to be safely delivered to testify in court.
A lot of the fun in this movie is thanks to the dialogue and action sequences. It ended up not really mattering how ridiculous and unbelievable some of the action seemed, let alone the forced romance that resulted in awkward dialogue and questionable chemistry between Reynolds and his love interest (Elodie Yung). The reason why The Hitman’s Bodyguard remains watchable is because the most important chemistry, that between Jackson and Reynolds is near enough faultless.
The number of times the word m********* flew out of Jackson’s mouth didn’t bother me at all. After all, no one really delivers that word quite the way he does. There’s also the beautiful visuals of London, England and Amsterdam in the summertime to enjoy.
The truth is, you’re not going to be able to completely suspend your disbelief as you watch this movie, But, a good time, you shall have. Especially if you’re already a fan of Jackson and Reynolds individually. I haven’t even mentioned how fun Salma Hayek and Gary Oldman’s characters are to watch.
How To Be A Latin Lover (2017), Eugenio Derbez, Rob Lowe
Starring Salma HayekEugenio Derbez and Rob Lowe, How To Be Latin Lover is a movie I watched because I adore Salma Hayek, I was curious about Eugenio Derbez and the trailer amused me.
How To Be A Latin Lover centres around Derbez’s character – Maximo; a man who’s forged a career out of seducing rich older women. Unfortunately for him, however, his 25 year marriage just ended and with nowhere else to go, he finds himself living with his estranged sister.
Quite early in the movie, I realised precisely how the story was going to go. A lot of what I realised could have been guessed during the trailer; only, I was far too busy being amused. I stayed with the movie until the end because of the reasons I already mentioned – but additionally, I happened to be in the mood for a film that didn’t require too much from me. The often silly humour was OK. Though, the ending did seem to come about quite abruptly – and in a way I wasn’t fully expecting. Overall, I can say I regret nothing because I knew what I’d signed up for. My love of Hayek remains and Derbez… He’s OK.
I can’t say that I picture myself telling people ‘you simply must see this,’ but I do see myself at some point in the future, referencing the scene in the trailer with the shoe dye and the pool.
I am a big Salma Hayek fan and I just couldn’t be happier to see her in a role that looks as great as the one of Beatriz in Beatriz At Dinner. Also starring Connie Britton, Chloë Sevigny, John Lithgow and Jay Duplass, Hayek’s Beatriz is a holistic medicine practitioner who attends a wealthy client’s dinner party after her car breaks down. And so begins very thought provoking dialogue…
Directed by Miguel Arteta, this great trailer has me very impatient to take in all of writer Mike White’s words.
The Movie My Life 