ArchiveHave You Seen Channing Tatum's Most Underrated Movie?
April 15 2014, Published 7:54 p.m. ET
As Mila Kunis and (especially) Jonah Hill pointed out this past weekend at the MTV Movie Awards, Channing Tatum is a super talented actor. Oh, sorry, that’s “Chan” to his best bud Jonah Hill.
WATCH: See the trailer for Gone Girl now
Yes, he was crazy hot and amazing in Magic Mike. His dance moves wowed everyone in Step Up. And he was hilarious in 21 Jump Street. Jonah even shouted out a small film called A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints where Channing wears sweatpants a lot. But did you know he showed off all of those qualities and more in his most underrated film?
It's a little movie from 2006 called She's the Man starring Channing and Amanda Bynes and it was the first display that we did indeed have a "Trailblazer" on our hands, as MTV so rightfully acknowledged at Sunday's Movie Awards. While Channing stayed ever so modest about the honor, it's true. This is a guy that, barring any future embarrassing arrests, sex scandals or jumbo flops at the box office, is poised to continue starring in and even producing some highly entertaining films for the rest of his career.
So, She's the Man. It was the first real introduction to this hunk of a man that mainstream audiences got to experience and yet not enough have had the pleasure yet. It's inspired by Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night (and the similar movie Just One of the Guys from 1985) and centers around Amanda's character, Viola Hastings, who disguises herself as a guy to prove she's just as good at soccer as the boys. In the process, she (while pretending to be her brother Sebastian) becomes roomies with Channing Tatum's Duke. He helps "Sebastian" with his soccer skills in return for help trying to win over a female classmate. Yes, studly Duke needs help with the ladies! And here's where Channing's brilliance comes in.
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
He plays a super hot, rarely-shirted jock, who is shy around the ladies. Swoon! This allows Channing to show off: his athletic skills, his body, his ability to be dorky, his ability to be funny, his ability to be self-deprecating (in one scene he uses an unlikely item to stop a nosebleed), his "flirting" skills, his tuxedo-clad body which is almost as good as that shirtless bod and so much more, which is really remarkable for one of his first starring roles. He plays soccer like a pro! He does a nerdy dance when he lands a date! He's vulnerable! He's macho! What can't Chan do?
It was a simpler time for Amanda Bynes who will keep you laughing throughout the whole movie, but it's Channing who really steals the show. When 21 Jump Street blew up the box office, so many movie-goers found themselves wondering "When did Channing Tatum get so funny?" Go back and watch She's The Man for some solid evidence.
Now, is 22 Jump Street here yet?
Have you seen She's The Man? Did you love it too? What's your favorite Channing Tatum movie? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter @OKMagazine.
