Magic Mike XXL

Magic Mike XXL, which swaps the original film's 'stripper Boogie Nights'' beats for a looser road movie set-up, may initially seem like a typical cash-in sequel, albeit one retaining most of the first's key personnel – Steven Soderbergh is still around on cinematography duty, with directing handled by long-time collaborator Gregory Jacobs.

In a most welcome surprise, not only is the euphoric, oft-hilarious XXL a better film than its predecessor, it's a revelation as the most (casually) progressive mainstream movie of recent memory. An all-inclusive film overflowing with positive energy and life, it has real depths (if you're not completely inattentive) regarding notions of women's sexuality, body-positivity and platonic male love, but never stops to pat itself on its back. Elsewhere, the cast is exceptionally entertaining, especially a revelatory Jada Pinkett Smith, replacing and outshining Matthew McConaughey in the role of magnetic impresario. This is the Nashville of male-entertainer films.