The presence of the likes of Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer clotheless and gyrating throughout much of Magic Mike is likely to overshadow the majority of the discussion regarding the film, as female audiences and the gay community are expected to turn out in droves to see the much talked about male stripper film. What is likely to go undiscussed is the fact that Steven Soderbergh has managed to make a film that is not only entertaining, but works on multiple levels as a dramatic piece of filmmaking.

As with any Soderbergh feature, Magic Mike is anything but mainstream in its approach. With a constant yellow, sepia hue to each scene and thoughtful, impeccably crafted scene structure, the technical aspects of the film are pitch-perfect. In fact, it is within the dance scenes, which the dramatic beats revolve around, that Soderbergh lets the energy out in full force. Otherwise, the dramatic exchanges throughout are both thoughtful and well-constructed, down to the impressive performances.

Loosely inspired by Channing Tatum’s own time as a male stripper, Magic Mike follows Tatum in the titular role as a seasoned and talented stripper, with one true dream: open a custom furniture business. To Mike, it is his stripping and construction gigs that allow him to save and live comfortably as he gears up for the next stage of his life.

Photo: Warner Bros.

On a construction job, Mike meets 19-year-old Adam, or “The Kid” (Alex Pettyfer), a struggling young man sleeping on the couch of his sister, Brooke (Cody Horn). Mike reluctantly takes Adam under his wing, as the two grow a budding friendship as Adam begins stripping for Dallas (Matthew McConaughey), who puts his usual spice on the character, a demanding and enthusiastic male strip club owner.

The story unfolds from here, with equal doses of half-naked stripping and dramatic narrative beats which, surprisingly, work well together. While a few of the lesser characters – including the love interests/sex buddies of Mike and “The Kid,” Joanna (Olivia Munn) and Nora (Riley Keough) – don’t always work as well as the others, even these characters and their role in the story have redeeming qualities, as Soderbergh once again displays his knack for making mediocrity interesting.

Take these few character missteps, a bit too much on the male stripping front, and a few narrative bumps in the final act out of the equation and what’s left is truly a near pitch-perfect movie. Soderbergh has expertly constructed each scene here, and the acting is there to match it. The ease in which Tatum performs as “Magic Mike,” in both the onstage scenes and in the more dramatic turns, is impressive. Pettyfer, while a bit foolish and unlikable at times, is perfectly suited for the role as he has the temperament of “the Kid” down pat.

Photo: Warner Bros.

Cody Horn, meanwhile, adds the perfect balance to this testosterone-filled film. The daughter of Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn, she proves her worth in the role of Brooke. Unlike anyone in Hollywood, Soderbergh continues to coax unlikely and original performances out of his stars, with Horn being the latest example of this. Each of the supporting male performances are all solid, with the likes of Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Adam Rodriguez, and Kevin Nash offering their own takes on the male stripper persona. It is McConaughey, with his recognizable drawl and cool, calm and collected presence that steals the show and provides the most meat to the story (pun, intended).

Yes, Magic Mike is chock-full of what it promises – shirtless men gyrating and seductively dancing in a plethora of desirable personas. But more importantly (unless you’re one of the screaming, clapping ladies in the advance screening) the film is a truly impressive piece of dramatic storytelling, which happens to take place in the world of male stripping. Minor missteps and a few mediocre plot devices aside, Soderbergh has made a film to be admired by all, not just the targeted demographics. The only question is whether any of the film’s triumphs will be noticed over Tatum’s clotheless dance moves as “Magic Mike.”

Grade: B+

Rated: R (for pervasive sexual content, brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use)

Magic Mike opens in theaters on June 29, 2012.