Every month at the box office, there seems to be more and more films targeting female audiences through the exploration and celebration of feminine sexuality. "Magic Mike XXL," incredibly, is one such film. While certain narratives, like "Fifty Shades of Grey," arguably squash feminist advances in cinematic storytelling, "Magic Mike XXL" is a genuine and entertaining movie, one that actually presents female sexuality as a positive thing. The infamous "Fifty Shades" series was said to have instigated a "sexual awakening" across the country—but those books and the movie adaption are terrible benchmarks for positive portrayals of the heterosexual female experience. "Magic Mike XXL" successfully portrays these scenes and more; it creates an environment where pleasure is designed and executed for the sole benefit of women. "Magic Mike XXL" is for women: a feminist, sex-and-body positive film celebratory of all ages, cultures and orientations.
"Magic Mike XXL" is a sequel, following the boys of Tampa as they reunite for one last hurrah—a stripping convention. While the main cast is all men, the movie explores and worships female sexuality. Far too often, the female sexuality in films is a visual tool, purely for the pleasure and benefit of men. Women are not given the opportunity to explore, both physically and emotionally, that which gives them sexual satisfaction. "Magic Mike XXL" is, in a sense, dedicated to this cause—the cause of motivating women to explore what pleases them sexually—instead of buying into the belittlement of female sexuality as it exists in the media.
In one inspirational scene, Mike and the boys go to an old friend’s house to convince her to be the MC for the convention. Rome runs a male strip club, where every paying patron is given intimate, personalized attention—no matter what they look like. The exploratory scene of the strip club is one of the movie's most body positive, as women of all shapes and sizes and are celebrated and given the show they deserve.
One common occurrence in cinematic scenes involving sex and sensuality is the lack of positive body representation. The women are only viewed as sexual objects, and only actresses who are conventionally attractive are casted. This is the root of absurdity, within the film industry—for women of every body type enjoy sexual encounters. "Magic Mike XXL" is a breath of fresh and diversified air.
All of the strippers who work with Mike, are aware that their existence. The male stripper, is of extreme importance to society, even if it is not recognized. It is a common occurrence to stumble upon a strip club full of female strippers doing whatever men want them to, but rare to run into a male strip club doing the same for women.
"Magic Mike XXL" also makes sure to make the point that females can celebrate their sexuality, regardless of their age. There is a very extensive conversation, between a group of southern matrons (who are 50-plus years old) and the strippers about how the women's’ ex-husbands fail to address their sexual needs and desires. Mike and the boys were appalled that the women hadn’t received the respect and care that they should have, sexually. They told the women that they deserved much more, and gave them a chance to express what makes them happy. The strippers made a point to tell the women that even at an older age, even as mothers and wives, they deserve sexual celebration.
"Magic Mike XXL" is a movie that, on the surface, seems like a shallow summer blockbuster. But it is not without substance; it is a revolutionary whirlwind, a feminist, interactive movie going experience. This film focuses on celebrating the sexuality of females and their pleasures, has plenty of positive body representations and has both anti-ageist and queer-positive sentiments.
The main characters are men, yes—but they are men who are completely dedicated to their job. They have learned, quite simply, how to listen and please women. It is their life, it is their passion and livelihood. It's their job. And what a job they do.
