Magic Mike's Last Dance * * ½

Why are nearly all dance movies dumb?  Once in a while a smart one comes along (The first Magic Mike for instance)  but generally speaking they are almost as light on the brain as the dancers are on their feet.  Such as this one.  

This is the third in the Magic Mike series, and as the title suggests the last of the Magic Mike films.  Probably just as well.  It's certainly not going to go out in a blaze of glory.  Though if you're there for the sexy male dancers it will most likely satisfy you.  There's a lot of that. 

Mike and team. Looking remarkably
like the author of  this blog.

What is missing is the endearing bromancing humor and camaraderie that was in the first one. But I guess that was missing from the second one too. 

Whereas the first Magic Mike' was entertaining women on the showman's terms, after the whole "Me Too" thing it now seems to be about entertaining women on her terms.  They keep making a big deal about how asking for permission is the sexiest thing in the world.  

For the main part the dancing is a bit like what was in the early Magic Mike's, with lots of bumping and grinding. 

Like the first one, Mike is again in a position where he is not exactly meeting his full potential. He is working in catering as a barman.   The host at one event learns about him, his background, and asks for a private dance. So he does his moves on her (rather a long scene) and the next thing you know they wake up together and he's got a job. She's insanely rich and she's got some insane ideas.

Off to London they go in her private jet.  She owns a theatre which is putting on a dry old play and she wants to spruce it up.  She believes Mike might just be the man to do it. He might well be if you want a strip show rather than theatre and it appears most people do.  Just as some people would rather go to a strip show than a movie.

It's got all the quirky London features you'd expect in a simple movie: A grand old musty mansion, an eccentric butler, stuffy spoil-sport bureaucrats, and a fine old Rolls Royce.

It has narration from the school age daughter of the rich lady as she reads some essay that she's written on dance. Very profound.  

Magic Mike's Last Dance puts Stephen Soderberg back in the directors seat.  I'd expect better from him, but maybe he's got it right for the anticipated audience. The group bookings for "girls night out" should let him know.