Better then the first.

Rating: 9/10 (30 August 2015)

OK so if you watch this film for nothing but the stripping, a little advice... skip through to towards the end of the film as there is none until then. But you know what? That's actually OK.
So I'll admit I watched the first film for the stripping and walked away loving the plot and realizing that a film still can take me from one place to another by it's conclusion.
So I commenced this film for the sake of seeing what would happen in the sequel. Yeah I wont lie, the chance to see Channing Tatum get his groove on and strip down to as little as possible was part of the appeal, but I truly wanted to see where Mike would end up after deciding to step away from stripping and open up his own custom made furniture business.
So we do open up seeing exactly that. Mike has a business up and running with just one employee, but still he's indulging in his passion. We come to find out that things didn't work out with Brooke and he is, sadly, single again. But rather than let that get him down for the entire film (which believe me, so many films will do) Mike actually seems to be doing OK.
One day one of the guys from the old Kings of Tamper calls him to tell him that Dallas (Matthew McConaughey) has died! So Mike goes to visit them thinking he's going for a wake. Turns out Dallas only left the group and ran off with 'the kid'. Mike seems to revel in being back with his old buddies though and goes home that night and (after turning on some music) proceeds to dance (stripper style) while working. As passionately as you can imagine, part way through his work he tosses everything aside and dances for the fun of it, smiling at the conclusion of the song.
So not surprisingly he decides to join the old Kings of Tamper for a one last hurrah! They take a road trip down to the destination their headed where they will be part of a convention for strippers.
The film just glows from start to end with many fun scenes along the way and not really any moments of sadness at all.
Andie MacDowell stars in an awesome scene where (in her home) she has a few women over drinking and the men arrive. Everyone gets to drinking and lets just say its a lot of fun and a whole lotta laughs!
Jada Pinkett Smith also stars as the awesome Rome (wont say more here, you gotta watch)
And it all culminates in the final climatic strip show that you await as eagerly as you do Harold and Kumar making it to white castle. The only difference in this film is you enjoy every moment of the journey and don't really mind if they take their time, many detours, or even if they would happen to be a month late you're having that much fun!
The final strip scenes are good, however not as good as the first one Ill admit. But you do see Channings (behind) and another guys. Otherwise it's mainly stripping to above the waste action.
But as I said, the stripping was always a small part for me and I loved every moment of it.
Gregory Jacobs... I score you a 9/10! (Which for me this week is quite generous- I've been throwing out 1's and 2's!) The only reason it's not a 10 is because the stripping was better last time. Otherwise a perfect movie and Jacobs ultimately achieves what any director wants to, by allowing us to loose ourselves and leave our lives behind (for just under two hours) and get lost in the *magic* that is Mike XXL- Well Done :)