MAGIC Mike bows out this week with the third and final in Channing Tatum’s surprisingly sensitive beefcake trilogy. Strippers have feelings too, you know.

Directed once again by Steven Soderbergh, Magic Mike’s Last Dance arrives somewhat removed from its predecessors, with Tatum the sole franchise returnee. In the stead of Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello come Salma Hayek Pinault and the Olivier and BAFTA winning Ayub Khan Din.

The plot is thus. Mike Lane (Tatum) is broke. Years on from XXL, Lane works as a bartender in Florida, his former success laid to waste when an all or nothing business deal fell woefully into the latter category.

Good fortune befalls our hunky hero, however, when he happens to serve wealthy socialite Maxandra Mendoza (Hayek Pinault).

One rippling night of passion later and Mike can’t resist Maxine’s offer of one final hurrah in London and a chance to return to the stage and his former glory therein.

Maxine, by contrast, has big plans of her own. With everything on the line, Mike soon finds himself trying to whip a hot new roster of talented British - read: repressed (it’s Hollywood) - dancers into shape.

If Tatum based the first Magic Mike on personal experience as a stripper in his pre-acting days, it’s abundantly clear we’re in more fantastical territory here. To this end, Tatum grounds things splendidly. Having made his name in the Step Up series, Tatum retains an air of almost unfathomable likeability.

That he’s an extraordinary mover too - even well into his forties - only adds to his screen allure.

Magic Mike will not be for everyone. Those who would rather steer clear with a barge pole know exactly who they are.

For fans, however, it’s a pleasing denouement in a series that has proved surprisingly thoughtful, in spite of a six pack heavy marketing campaign.

Also this week, Titanic returns to cinemas in celebration of its 25th anniversary - and just in time for Valentine’s Day.

What’s curious about this release is that it comes just as Avatar 2 is overtaking the Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet favourite for second place in the all time box office rankings.

Can Titanic retain its lead? Could it even overtake the original Avatar for a top spot return? Only time will tell.

Regardless, James Cameron will be happy. He directed all three.