Entourage

The show that started in 2004 and ran for 8 seasons has finally reached its end. Or has it? With a reported production budget of just $30 million, and domestic gross of nearly $20 million in its first weekend, a continued success may lead to a… sequel? I kind of hope not.

The basic premise is based on Mark Wahlberg’s experiences as he entered stardom status some twenty years ago. Entourage the show follows a rising star (or in the case of the film, a superstar) and his band of hangers-on; his older half-brother, his childhood best friend, and another friend as they navigate the excess and pitfalls of Hollywood.

Adrian Grenier plays Vincent Chase, a movie star mourning/celebrating the end of his Hollywood marriage (a week). His crew jet boat out to his yacht in Ibiza where there are scantily clad women dancing (some not even clad) and they show the audience right off the bat the kind of lifestyle they have accrued together over the last fifteen years. A big difference between the show and the film is that the excitement of new money and new celebrity has faded. All four of them have become accustomed to this life, and that takes away a big part of the vicarious appeal (at least for me).

Vincent is embarking on his directorial debut, a $100 million passion project, much to the chagrin of his agent, Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven). Ari is the centerpiece of the Entourage franchise; his flamboyant, ruthless personality drives the whole Entourage vehicle and injects the humor and soul that it needs to survive. He also is given the brunt of the clever dialogue, and he delivers them so naturally that you actually believe his character might actually exist somewhere in Tinseltown.

The other three members of Vinnie’s crew have their own lives keeping them busy. Eric (Kevin Connelly), Vincent’s best friend and manager has a pregnant ex-girlfriend, a bevy of beautiful women throwing themselves at him, and an ongoing love/hate relationship with Ari. His character just isn’t that interesting, and never has been. The storyline of his estranged baby mama lacks conviction, so consequently it’s hard to care.

Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is a success story in his own right. Having lost a considerable amount of weight and amassed an undisclosed fortune through a tequila investment with Mark Cuban, the writer’s aren’t shy about making biggest loser jokes throughout the whole film, and his fling with Ronda Rousey is entertaining, but isn’t given enough time to actually develop.
Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon), plays the older, far less successful Hollywood supporting player burnout half-brother of Vince. A bit of verisimilitude as he’s the slightly younger brother of the more successful Matt Dillon in real life. His character is probably the most entertaining besides Piven’s Ari. He is foul-mouthed, inappropriate, blunt to the point of being awkward, but it is somehow endearing and really defines the foursome at their cores.

The newcomers to the film are Billy Bob Thornton and Haley Joel Osment as a rich Texan father/son producer team who meddle too much in their investment. Osment is great in an unlikely role, and plays the antagonist with a sweet Texan charm that simply suits him.

Doug Ellin is the writer, screenwriter, director, and producer of the series and the show. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one person’s names so many times in the opening credits of a film. I lost count at 4. He has obviously created a successful idea, and marketed it to the point of near exhaustion, but I am curious if he has anything else left in him, or if his legacy will be the world of Entourage and that’s it. Bully for him, because it has created a significant net worth for him in any case.

The lifestyles of the rich and famous is what makes Entourage fun. Dozens of cameos complete the Hollywood experience, but there simply isn’t any story. Or any measurable semblance of a plot. I felt like I binge-watched four straight episodes of the show, and the final one happened to be a season finale.

It’s a trip down memory lane if you were a fan of the show, and if you’re watching the film, you likely are. Just don’t expect anything more than an inflated episode filled with boobs and cameos. 6/10.