Magic Mike’s Last Dance takes a final bow

Warner Bros. Pictures hopes the third time is a charm for “Magic” Mike Lane and the gang with Last Dance and for audiences looking for lighter fare at the tail end of awards season, this might just do the trick.

Life has not treated Lane kindly this time out as he's bartending rich house parties in Florida. He can run from the past but he can't seem to hide as a wealthy woman named Maxandra Mendoza takes a fancy to him and requests his first dance in the Last Dance for the right price. Before you can say “Pretty Woman” this unpaid escort with a heart of gold won't accept the money and is whisked off to London for an adventure instead.

A flimsy plot unfolds with Mendoza hiring Lane to produce his lighter version of The Full Monty at the Rattigan Theatre owned by her husband's family. The original production called Isabel Ascendant that was planned for the theater is quickly axed with everyone fired but the miscast Juliette Motamed as Hannah.

During some downtime, previous Magic Mike cast mates play a game of zooming with the strippers where gay men are finally thrown a bone with the appearance of Matt Bomer followed by the hunky Joe Manganiello barely getting a word in before the virtual call is interrupted.

Things then heat up with an audition sequence for fresh dancers from all over the country who show impressive skills with several Cirque du Soleil stunts where dancers fly in the air and sharp street-style choreography before a grand finale.

Channing Tatum displays his talented genes and tight jeans once again as Magic Mike. There are no g-strings or nudity with number three that might make one wonder why the young Zadie played by Jemelia George would have to leave the room during the final performance.

Director Steven Soderbergh returns to the franchise after the first Magic Mike and keeps the clunky storyline created by original writer Reid Carolin moving even when it lags strangely behind.

Salma Hayek Pinault replaced Thandiwe Newton to depict the magnetic Mendoza with a real enthusiasm for the previous plot departure of presenting a more appropriate female lead.

The truly talented team of dancers at the end is fascinating to watch while providing lots of eye candy for horny soccer moms planning to sneak flasks into the movie theater.

Magic Mike Live fans will rejoice while others will feel duped that the same trio of Tatum, Soderbergh and Carolin also executive produced the HBO Max series Finding Magic Mike. Say goodbye to Chippendales and say hello to the new improved Magic Mike Stands!

Some people might be charmed and others frustrated, but this franchise has clearly known its limitations since the beginning and seems in on the joke, which can be charming at times.

It is quite obvious to the audience and cast that this film might not set the world on fire, but there are some Ginuwine moments of “Pony” pleasure along the way during this final installment and that can be celebrated.

Tatum can now take his final bow with Magic Mike's Last Dance gyrating into theaters on February 10, 2023, let go-go of his past and graduate to more meaty material in the future!