Director Marco Ragozzino, with writer Eddie Alfano, delivers a surprisingly soulful moment between male strippers as they go a little Jerry Maguire meets Magic Mike with Mondays at the Office.
Eddie Alfano is Andre. He’s where the buck stops at Hollywood Studs, the one-stop shop for hot male entertainment. But it’s Monday. He’s got people up his butt left and right. Is it a wonder he isn’t walking with a limp?
On top of family issues and money problems, Andre has a stable featuring a varied assortment of professionals, from first-time strippers. Some he has tutored, trained, given confidence, and an edge to. Others he has to coddle, convince, and reason with, just so they’ll drop the diva act and just show up and dance.
“Atop family issues, money problems, Andre has a stable featuring a varied assortment of professionals to first time strippers.”
Then comes a confrontation/culmination that Andre has with his top earner and long-time business partner, Passion (Jordi Vilasuso). Turns out a little side-quest into real estate is catching fire. Now the exotic dancer finds himself at a crossroads. Should he stick to the safe and familiar, or put the hard work he’s been doing on the side to the test?
Of course, Andre is in full back-peddle mode as the moment evolves. He recognizes and praises his friend’s triumph, but selfishly tries to manipulate him into sticking around, just in case the part-time gig success turns out to be nothing but a short stumble.
Yet when Andre really examines his stance, he understands he is simply jealous and envious, but he would never stand in the way of a friend, let alone come between a man and his dreams. Because both men began the business that surrounds them with the same luster and intensity. Now a choice must be, and the page toward the next chapter turned.
Marco Ragozzino’s Mondays at the Office is a short drama about male strippers that really surprises. So often we’ve seen this kind of story from the perspective of the opposite gender. Now, with this picture, we see that the struggle and the glory of remaining sexy and show-ready isn’t always easy. Especially if it’s a Monday.
"…a short drama about male strippers that really surprises."
