I Saw Magic Mike On Opening Night & Lived To Tell The Tale
by Sarah Devlin | 11:57 am, July 2nd, 2012
For months, I have been sending my friends trailers, photos, and news articles about Magic Mike , usually under the subject line “My Favorite Movie”. This Friday, a group of 12 of my closest friends and I finally got to see the film we had all been waiting for. The verdict? So worth the wait. Here are 10 highlights from Friday’s premiere (very, very minor spoilers ahead):
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1. 1. The Merch
I had the good fortune to see this fine, foooine film at the Clearview theater in Chelsea, which definitely knew which movie was going to be bringing in the most money that weekend. To wit: glass cases full of polyester/spandex sequined...gear of some kind? For sale? Maybe?
2. 2. Magic Eddie
The theater hired some dude to stand around in his underwear prior to the lights going down/previews starting. This man's name was Magic Eddie.
3. 3. Awkward Dancing
Several theater employees asked the drunkest ladies in the theater (who were facing some stiff competition) to go to the front of the theater to dance with Magic Eddie. A few obliged. They got T-shirts.
4. 4. The Audience
Everyone in the audience wanted to hoot and holler their way through the movie very badly, but they were also feeling shy about it, so the result was a lot of quiet "woos" every time a shirtless dude appeared onscreen, followed by a LOT of tittering.
5. 5. The Most Iconic Stripper Anthem Of Our Time
Throughout the film Channing Tatum's character takes part in a lot of group numbers, but when we see him do a solo it is to the sweet strains of Ginuwine's "Pony"...
6. 6. The 'Dancing Alone To Pony' Tumblr.
Which was a welcome reminder to me of the existence of this Tumblr.
7. 7. Tarzan
Tarzan is a tertiary character in the Magic Mike universe, an aging stripper with very few lines, but I did not ever get tired of watching him phone in his dance moves (he's the guy on the left with the poor form).
8. 8. Magic Mike Dog Tags
The theater gave out black dog tags with "MAGIC MIKE" and the premiere date printed on them, which allowed certain members of the peanut gallery (it's impossible to say who) to turn to their friends and say through clenched teeth, "I am never taking these off!"
9. 9. Magic Eddie (Again)
At one point I left the theater to use the restroom and saw Magic Eddie posing for a bunch of photos with people in the lobby. He was the real winner of the night.
10. 10. The Palpable Disappointment When The Credits Rolled
The ending of the movie is a bit abrupt, and everyone looked like they were emerging from comas, wearing matching disappointed expressions. I have never seen a group of people leave a theater more slowly.
Channing Tatum Magic Mike Magic Mike review