I opened the front door to the theater and already there was a gaggle of women (real Orange County housewife types) huddled together giggling and eagerly waiting in line with anticipation...I waltzed in and said “MY PEOPLE!” out loud. They all looked at me and we just knew…there was a familiarity among us…somehow complete strangers felt like instant friends. We were about to embark on a journey together—a beautiful journey of miraculous muscles and manly men!
Everyone gathered around the bar anxiously waiting for their double wine glasses (that’s two pours per glass) and we were herded into the theater like a bunch of horny sheep. From the MOMENT Channing appeared on screen there were squeals of joy and whooping and hollering and tons of laughter. He was sitting on one of those wooden swings on the beach (you’ll learn swings are a big part of this movie) and I said out loud, "Swing on the swaaannnnnnnnnnnnng Channing!” Something came over me. Blame it on the wine (or the two martinis prior to the wine) or my being surrounded by other loud, like-minded women—but I just immediately felt comfortable and SAFE. For once we weren’t in competition. We were coming together for one purpose—to watch sexy men dance and treat us like the queens we are.
It was on odd thing. Not one male in the theater (seriously RUN don’t walk gentleman, because right after seeing this movie if you were a man and breathing I would have gone home with you). The setting allowed us to really let our hair down and just be free and wild and not give a shit what anyone else thinks. It was so refreshing to be free of the constraints that are normally put upon women, to be demure and well-mannered “ladies.” (Obviously that’s never an issue with me, but even my most-of-the-time composed sister and best friend were getting INTO it and letting loose). The dance sequence at the very end brought us to our feet (and knees) literally with a standing ovation.
It’s very rare that women get to reverse the roles and act like construction workers on the New York City streets. I was fully aware that I was exploiting these men and diminishing them into nothing but bodies...but I didn’t care! It felt good dammit! And it was a fantasy! So in this environment it felt safe to objectify them, I feel like that was their goal and they were in on the joke. Almost hamming it up just for us ladies. Not to mention this time around the types of women who were pulled up onstage were really big and curvy and beautiful and relatable! That is the fantasy, we all just want someone to lift us up (literally and figuratively). If these boys could do that with a 300 pound woman, then I should be no problem!
Opening night of Magic Mike XXL is like the Super Bowl for women. It was a holiday. It was the ONLY way to watch this movie. And it made me proud to be a woman surrounded by other silly, happy, funny ladies. You know who you are, and I love you.
written Tanya Schwied
edit Kristen Fogle