Look Who’s – Wait for It – Coming Back!

Before he was cast as a towering hunk of werewolf on HBO’s True Blood, and long before he had us going in Magic Mike and professing his love of Miami to me, Joe Manganiello was featured on TV’s How I Met Your Mother.

Come fall, the actor will be reprising that early part for a couple of episodes.

It’s not entirely clear what brings his character – an old law school buddy of Neil Patrick Harris’ Marshall’s – back to the Motherverse, but what is known for sure is that he won’t be the only guest coming back for more: Michael Trucco from Battlestar Galactica and Ashley Williams also will be popping up during the show’s upcoming eighth season.

Since these people have played love interests for some of the regulars, I will predict fans ought to expect a little drama with their funsies....

Photo: WetPaint.com.

Boys Gone Wild

I think I know the answer to this question, but are you ready for some Magic Mike?

’Cause I know you know that I have been for quite some time.

Well, it’s almost June 29, at last – but the Steven Soderbergh-directed eye feast (my, you have earned your spot in heaven, S2!) is opening in less than six hours. So the noise you hear is the sound of thousands of ladies (and their gays) like, rushing to the nearest theater double-horny and double-pronto for a midnight screening.

What awaits them there is...a dramedy that totally surprises about friendship and not-so-young love?

WTF!

Wait, hold up – you probably thought this movie was just gonna be about this charming guy Mike (played by the beyond-irresistible Channing Tatum, proving once and for all that he has arrived) and his studly strippin’ band of bros (Joe Manganiello and Matthew Bomer among them) shakin’ their junk for the cameras, huh.

There’s plenty o’ that, but the powers that be have dared give the blockbuster more than titillation – they’ve come up with a whole story, based in part on Tatum’s pre-acting experiences as a real-life booty shaker.

The nerve.

Good thing, though, that, on its own, the story holds its own (light) weight. Looking past the bronzer that covers the façade of the main character and his nemesis, a cowboy-twangin’ old timer named Dallas played by Matthew McConaughey – oozing equal amounts of the smarmy and the sexy – the movie is a classically told story. It’s little guy trying to make good while bigger guy tries to keep him down (ish, on the sly) as he plots an equity-promising-never-delivering plan to head south to Miami, baby, and take the Magic City by storm.

Except both dudes spend a healthy chunk of their time on screen gyrating as, say, a homeboy (people, Tatum has the moves!) or a leather-clad, harness-wearing (H-O-T!) pseudo-svengali with a penchant for folky songs and saying “alright, alright, alright” like only a Texan macho man could, thankyouverymuch.

It’s obviously all good and dandy, except I get how the subject matter may give people pause. For audiences to see women strip is one thing, but for men to do the same, well...that’s like this new frontier. Mind you, there isn't any full frontal in Magic Mike (and if there had been it woulda been a bit of a cop-out). The closest we get to som’in’ akin to it involves Manganiello’s character and how he...uh...pumps himself up before going on stage, and the beyond-tease that he offers when he’s out there in as Big Dick Richie.

Serious, that’s his character’s name.

The A conflict comes from the fact that Mike, a part-time construction worker who’s the the star of Tampa’s Xquisite Male Dance Review at night, is pushing 30 and still chasing his dream of becoming a furniture designer. That’s rather commendable, except it’s evident that it’s also not gonna happen because the guy has shed his clothes for 1s – and the thrill of knowing and letting every lady who’s ever come out for a night on the town know he can have them – for longer than he should have now.

When he meets Adam (Alex Pettyfer), a clueless 19-year-old, he sees a chance to do something nice for someone who 1) kinda reminds him of himself at that age and 2) maybe, just perhaps, could be groomable into something of an heir apparent. As these things go, though, shy Adam emerges from his cocoon and becomes a butterfly that doesn’t know not to test his wings so fast and willy-nilly.

The “Kid,” as he’s nicknamed, gets in some unsavory trouble – y’ know, the sort that would come from hanging out in a strip joint, with characters whose personalities the script barely explores – right, Matthew Bomer? (We hardly get to know his Ken, or Adam Rodriguez’s Tito, or Big Dick Richie, for that matter. They’re eye candy, and that’s about it.)

The B story is the rapport that develops between Mike and Adam’s older, has-it-together sister (newcomer Cody Horn). This young woman is kinda out of his league because she has it going on in a different way: she’s smart and employed and she’s smokin’ hot and she wishes Adam would live up to his potential.

Mike promises to look out after the Kid, but what he fails to realize is that now that he’s met her, he’s the one that needs taking care of, for he’s begun to change...to like, reprioritize, already.

Ultimately, what Magic Mike mines are the depths to which one is not only willing to plunge to have a good time and make an honest, albeit easy living, but to analyze how well they know themselves – and what kind of decisions they’ll make once an epiphany hits. (Toldja the movie would give ya something to ponder and not just recall when you get home and are taking a cold shower.)

For Mike, the choice isn’t 100 percent clear, but the reward is...and he may just have found it in a hopeless place he’s come to know as home but may not be where his heart is anymore.

My Rating ***

Photo: The Karpel Group.

Happy Summer, From Joe Manganiello

So I met Joe Manganiello last week.

And Channing Tatum.

Oh yeah, I’m bragging and I know you know it.

Anyway, the two were in Miami promoting their upcoming Magic Mike (more on that coming up as the movie’s June 29 opening gets closer) with Manganiello sticking around South Beach to party it up at LIV and hit the beach, much to the delight of the lucky ones who happen to catch a gander at his hotness coming out of the water.

One word: Yum!

Photo: People.com.

Why So Covered Up, Big Dick Richie?

Alright, so this picture of Joe Manganiello in the upcoming Magic Mike leaves way too much to the imagination....

But, oh boy, does he smolder.

Worry not, though – the actor will totally bring his big ol’ ax to the party, ladies and gays. His character’s name is Big Dick Richie, after all.

Photo: The Karpel Group.

That Lucky Elizabeth Banks

Some girls are just luckier than others.

Not only did Elizabeth Banks take win some Golden Popcorn (for her Best Transformation in The Hunger Games) at last night’s MTV Movie Awards, the gal – one of my faves – made me incredibly jelly by receiving her award from Magic Mike stars Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, and Joe Manganiello in character as Big Dick Richie and his big ol’ ax, she also got to grind those boys.

Urgh, just thinking about it gets me thinking things....

Check it:

Get More: MTV Shows

Good for you, El. Banks – work ’em good for the rest us!

The Abs Have It...

The promotion for this months Magic Mike continues....

Check out the movies latest one-sheet, which features the teasetastic tag line “Work All Day. Work It All Night.” And a heckuva lot of abs.

Werk!

Photo: The Karpel Group.

Now This Is More Like It!

A new trailer for this summer’s Magic Mike has hit the Web, and – plot schmlot – this time you won’t to imagine what strippin’ shenanigans Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, and Matthew McConaughey will get into for your (viewing) pleasure.

So, without further ado, check it girls and boys who like H-O-T boys:

I wonder how many randy beeyotches are going to take June 29 off so they can go see Magic Mike on opening night....

I know I am considering it.

This Is What Heaven Must Look Like

Are you sitting down? ’Cause you must agree, this photo of Chris Hemsworth, Channing Tatum, and Joe Manganiello has got to be givin’ ya the vapors.

The three studs were on hand at the grand opening of the IWC – whatever that is – flagship boutique in New York City last night, looking all H-O-T and s---.

Like...right?

Photo: UsMagazine.com.

Did Somebody Call for a Little Magic?

The first trailer for this summer’s much-anticipated Magic Mike, so without further ado:

Yeah, lest anyone should think it, the powers that be (un)wisely decided to highlight the love story between the titular character (Channing Tatum, on whose pre-acting experiences the sure-to-be-a-hit dramedy is based), a successful stripper with dreams of becoming a furniture designer, and his reluctant object of affection (newcomer Cody Horn).

So don’t expect anymore than passing strippin’ glances of Alex Pettyfer, Joe Manganiello, and Matthew McConaughey. Or any whatsoever, from what I can tell, of that beautiful creature we know as Matthew Bomer.

Studly Christmas Present Much?

Leave it to Channing Tatum and his Magic Mike co-stars to brighten up this Christmas.

Behold the first image from Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming must-see based on Tatum’s life in the strippin’ world back when he was 19 years old.

Pretty enticing, IMHO.

In addition to Tatum you’ll see plenty of Joe Manganiello, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, and Matthew Bomer, who, unfortunately, isn’t pictured here.

Merry Christmas, y’all!

Photo: Collider.com.