Brad Armstrong brings his filmmaking expertise to this derivative version of the Channing Tatum hit, anticipating its sequel in the title. It's a better than usual product in this dubious genre.
Basic format is familiar to any fans of the original, with Derrick Pierce barely adequate in the title role. Impressive at first due to the accuracy of his carbon copy imitation of Matthew McConnaughey, Ryan McLane overstays his welcome in a hurry and is fortunately written out of the last half of the overlong (nearly 3 and a half hours) feature.
He is the boss of the group of male strippers, and is replaced by their new major domo, well-played by Misty Stone, a porn actress who clearly could cut the mustard in mainstream acting roles if given half the chance. Wicked Pictures contract talent appear in supporting roles (Asa Akira, Jessica Drake) but stealing the movie by virtue of their sexiness and thesping ability are two cougars of the first order: Kendra Lust and India Summer.
Brad plays up the elaborate male dance routines and production numbers (including stripping of course), and even has the temerity to provide as a bonus his own stripping in a Zorro costume evidently rented from Ricky's. He also appears in a brief cameo as a fellow construction worker, Magic Mike's day job.
As usual with these "prestige" Wicked releases, the second disk in the DVD package is worthless.
