This Friday, America’s favorite actor, Channing Tatum, will reprise his role as Jenko in the highly anticipated sequel, “22 Jump Street.” The film is already drawing raves — it’s currently sitting pretty at a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks in part to Tatum’s hilarious performance.
But why does the world love Channing Tatum so hard? Here are 22 reasons that he’s worthy of your adoration, lust and praise.
He can break it down like no other
As a former stripper, Tatum’s been practicing his moves for years, which he showed off to fine effect in both “Step Up” and “Magic Mike.”
But he can also dance like a gentleman
He proved it with Charlize Theron at last year’s Oscars.
His body was sculpted out of steel for all others to bow down to
“Magic Mike” made sure we all recognized this.
Despite that body, he loves cake
“Confetti cake, to be specific,” he told GQ this month. “It has little colored candies inside the cake, and then you get the confetti icing, which is really hard to find sometimes It’s really hard to explain to people, because it’s not icing with sprinkles on top. It’s icing that actually has candies inside of it. It’s Funfetti icing…It’s a beautiful mix. It is an angel sent from heaven.”
Which means sometimes he gets adorably pudgy
In February, he told Ellen DeGeneres he loves time off when he can be “fappy…fat and happy.”
In fact, he even has a restaurant to help him get fappy.
It’s called Saints and Sinners, it’s in New Orleans and the menu includes “Miss Lulu’s Classic Jambalaya.”
He can arm wrestle like a boss
Jimmy Fallon never stood a chance.
He met his wife on the set of “Step Up” in 2006, and they’ve been together ever since
Even as Hollywood has catapulted him to superstardom, they’ve stayed close. Jenna Dewan-Tatum is one lucky lady.
He’s a family man
A year ago, he and Jenna gave birth to their daughter, Everly. He recently celebrated the big 12-month mark on Instagram.
http://instagram.com/p/orwpJNgCIV/
And he’s comfortable in his manhood
At least comfortable enough to grind on Elton John for charity.
He’s a dog person
He takes pals Lulu and Meeka everywhere. He and Lulu can even do that “Dirty Dancing” jump.
He knows how to “bang”
Before anyone knew what a Channing Tatum was, the up-and-comer appeared in Ricky Martin’s iconic 2000 video for “She Bangs.”
He used to model for Abercrombie & Fitch
Hey, it was a different time. Ripped jeans and T-shirts with sexual innuendos were hot as hell.
He likes to be naked
“Chan gets home [and] he strips off all of his clothes,” Jenna told Ellen DeGeneres. “But he leaves it right by the front door so…this is not a bad thing, I know, this is not a bad thing… but at the end of the night I’m always having to pick up his clothes.”
He’s overcome life’s setbacks
He has dyslexia, and as a child he struggled with reading. Now he gets paid massive amounts of money to read and memorize lines.
He had an imaginary friend growing up
“His name was Boy,” he told GQ. “I just lived in an imaginary world. I was always playing war in the woods, people are chasing me…I wasn’t doing it because I was desperate for friends. I had friends.”
He’s pretty much Steven Soderbergh’s muse
The famed director worked with him on “Magic Mike,” “Haywire” and “Side Effects,” and he’ll also be a part of the “Magic Mike” sequel.
He is the master of the cameo
Tatum gave a memorable turn as a “Hollywood actor” in “Don Jon,” but it was his cameo as Danny McBride’s gimp in “This Is the End” that stands out.
And he’s game for anything
Including a music video for “(I Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum” with Jamie Foxx.
He nails comedic performances
Like this unforgettable drug scene in “21 Jump Street.”
He can fight like a badass
In this scene from the criminally underrated “White House Down,” Jamie Foxx needed a gun, while Tatum just needed his hands.
But most important, he also has serious acting chops
No, really! He first got noticed for his craft in movies like “A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints.” Now, there’s awards buzz for his turn opposite Steve Carell in the upcoming “Foxcatcher.”
Watch your back, Oscar.