Mom’s Favorite Magic Mike XXL Guy: Ken (Played by Matt Bomer)
Before we started the movie, I asked my mom to think while she watched about which of the guys was her favorite. This was partly so I wouldn’t catch her off guard when I asked her later, but also because I personally think Magic Mike XXL has a lot to say about embracing your personal fantasies, desires, and interests. It’s no fun if you’re not mentally participating at least a little bit, right?
By the early scene on the beach, we already had a frontrunner: Ken, the reiki-healing, mysticism-believing aspiring actor. As Ken and Mike had a conversation about their careers and ambitions, Mom looked over at me and said, “Oh, I just love Matt Bomer!”
I need to give credit where credit is due: my husband handily predicted that Ken would be my mom’s favorite. I thought she might be more of a fan of “Big Dick Richie,” portrayed by the hunky Joe Manganiello.
“Oh, do you think it’s because he’s one of the more sexually conservative of the acts in the final showcase?” I asked.
“No,” my husband responded, “I just remember she really likes that USA show White Collar.”
At the movie’s conclusion, I turned to Mom and asked her which guy had most won her heart, and she confirmed: it’s Ken! But her appreciation for him comes from more than the fun tv show affiliation.
“I thought I would like Joe Manganiello’s character the most, because he’s so—“ here, Mom struggled to find a word to describe the Manganiello magnificence.
“But,” she continued, “there wasn’t as much to his character. Sometimes he came off as cocky. Matt Bomer’s character was nicer, had a little more backstory, AND was fun to watch!” We also concluded that Matt Bomer’s stage persona is much less intimidating than Mangianello’s Big Dick Richie.
That’s fine, Mom! More Manganiello for me, I guess.