Channing Elizabeth Tatum came into my life in the year 2006; I was still in high school and he was all anybody was talking about, cinematically that is. Girls were gushing about his then film Step Up and how adorable it was, and describing the main guy as, “Hot and so sweet.” Me, being the (still am) film snob I was (am) stuck my nose up at the thought of paying eight dollars to see this poorly acted, 90 minute dance flick all the girls were buzzing about. So I ignored it and bought, “One for Good Night, and Good Luck” instead. I eventually found out Mr. Tatum was not going to be a single film success.
One Sunday afternoon my sister was watching She’s The Man so I sat down with her to enjoy some modernized Shakespeare and to my surprise there he was. And there I was again; listening to the same praise he had received from my female schoolmates, now coming from my sister’s mouth, which was, “He’s so hot!”
Now, let’s be clear, I very much thought he was hot. I mean you have to have no pulse to not think he is not a cut, simmering piece of flesh born for GQ Magazine covers. But I thought, what else does he have to offer me? Just physical appearance is not enough. I want George Clooney, established, educated, sexy, and knows what he wants (to save Africa and never to get married again.) This Channing Tatum guy to me was a model that probably thought this acting thing could be fun for a bit.
Whether I liked it or not Mr. Tatum was in my life to stay. We both went on living our lives. He kept putting out movies, and I kept having absolutely nothing to do with his box office earnings. Not only did he not appeal to me, he was just in movies I would never see, so he was making it harder and harder for me to jump on the Channing Tatum Train. That is, until I saw ads for 21 Jump Street.
I will never forget it. I watched the trailer, and I laughed. I laughed out loud. I laughed in front of and with the rest of the auditorium. Mr. Tatum actually made me LOL. My sister even looked at me weird conveying with one look, “Are you seriously laughing right now? You hate Channing Tatum.” When she gave me that look, I knew I had to suppress this happiness he caused me. After all, people might see. And then, I panicked. Was I now falling for America’s golden boy? Am I sick? Have I been the idiot this whole time? Maybe I should rent Step Up? I was getting ahead of myself. But I knew if I was to watch anything Tatum, it had to be in secret, and as soon as possible.
My sister came home from watching 21 Jump Street with her best friend the weekend it came out and it was one of the hardest things I had to do: Pretend to be not interested, but also ask how it was without seeming out of character. I think I did pretty well. I think I might have given away my girl crush cover I was trying to well, cover, by asking, “So, you thought it was good?” three more times then necessary, but I got the answer I was looking for. I heard nothing but great things and had to find a way to watch it.
The day finally came when it was available to rent on iTunes. I was so excited; it was so thrilling, like the feeling you get after a haircut. The download felt like an eternity but then, it started. The opening credits, the laughter, the action sequences, and finale happened and I was a changed person. In that moment I was experiencing high amounts of (what I like to refer to as) Chann-demonium and immediately wanted to “Like” Channing Tatum on Facebook. I was now one of those girls that thought, “He’s so hot!” And not only was the movie hilarious, he was actually really good in it.
I admitted my new addiction to my friends (The first step is admitting you have a problem right?) and let’s just say they were more than enthused to enjoy his BODY of work now with myself included. So this time around my friends and I all bought, “One for Magic Mike.” And I officially stripped away all my judgments in regards to Mr. Tatum.
In the beginning Channing Tatum had everything going against him in my book: I didn’t like him and I thought he was just some “regulation hottie” trying to become an actor because his manager told him to. You could say to sum it up; I was Mr. Darcy to his Elizabeth Bennett. Mr. Darcy (Beth) overcomes his (her) pride, and Channing Elizabeth overcomes his prejudice, leading to us both surrendering to the love they (we) have for each other. Now, you can absolutely say our love is one sided (because it is) and Channing has zero prejudice against me because that would require him to know me. So perhaps that reference sucks. But, I did overcome my pride and I can now surrender to the love I have for him by watching Magic Mike on Blu-ray. But, if he didn’t love me, he wouldn’t have produced a stripper film now would he?
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