LA BARE (review)

Review by Elizabeth Weitz

For those of you who watch Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike on a regular basis and dream of slipping around a stage with a hard-bodied dude dressed as a Police officer, you’re in luck, because Joe Manganiello (who played Big Dick Richie in Magic Mike and the upcoming sequel) has made his directorial debut in a documentary all about the guys of La Bare, one of the most famous men’s strip clubs in the country.

Featuring some tasty specimens of beefcake (including 34-year veteran, Randy “Master Blaster” Ricks, who has not only maintained a body of a thirty year-old but also acts as a mentor to the other dancers) the film tentatively illuminates the life of the men who make the women go crazy.

Unlike other documentaries that want to show you the dark underbelly of a profession that involves taking your clothes of for strangers, La Bare feels more like a love letter to the men who shake their money maker for dollar bills. Meaning, if you’re looking for depth about male stripping, you’re not going to find it here. But that’s okay. There’s enough joy and gyrating in the film to keep the intended audience happy.

And yes, I’m talking about women who want to see guys dry humping the stage.

Sure, there’s plenty of shots of asses and outlines of man meat to keep the viewer hoping for a peeny-slip (and at amateur night you do get a peek) but it isn’t all banana slings and hair gel.  The men of La Bare love what they do and are extremely open about it. Some of the dancers dream of earning enough money run their own businesses while others are constantly amazed by how much cash they can make during a six-minute routine (We’re talking about hundreds of dollars here) and the over-all feeling of the film is simply this: Being a dancer is awesome.  (The documentary also features interviews with the people who keep the show running smoothly like Pablo who runs the backstage, Nick, a former dancer who is now a DJ and the owner, Alex, a Russian who should probably get his own reality show- he’s that interesting-but they are mostly filler).

La Bare might have it’s faults, but it’s a fun 89 minutes filled with rump-shaking, grinding and yes, a lot of heart.

La Bare is currently in a limited run throughout the country but will be available on VOD on August 19th.