In the first movie, there's a reach for depth, a pretentious need to prove that this movie isn't just a movie about male strippers. And yet, there exists no moment where any of the guys wonder why they do this. In fact, Mike is all about how he does it for himself, busting out his most innovative dance when he's rebelling against Dallas. But in Magic Mike XXL, it's clear: they love dancing to please women. Yes, they still do it for themselves, but at every turn, women's pleasure is emphasized. Jada Pinkett Smith's character has a business devoted to giving women what they want, referring to her clientele as "queens." Donald Glover's character has a whole monologue about just asking women what they want. The guys even have a faux therapy session with several older women, imploring them to tell them their problems and let them help. The first movie is already progressive in its almost-exclusive objectification of male bodies (though there is a pair of bare breasts it loses points for), but Magic Mike XXL wins more points for its worship of women.
