Entourage – Movie Review by Fran Winston

Directed by: Doug Ellin

Starring: Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Dillon, Kevin Connolly, Debi Mazar, Haley Joel Osmet, Billy Bob Thornton

Based on the TV show of the same name you don’t have to have followed the hugely popular HBO series in order to follow this flick. Although it picks up after the events of the series finale the cinematic audience are cleverly brought up to speed thanks to none other than Piers Morgan!

In case you have been living under a rock Entourage tells the tale of aspiring actor Vince Chase (Grenier) and his, well, Entourage. As the series ended he had finally achieved the success he dreamed of and now as he prepares to direct his first movie Piers Morgan interviews him and his crew for his TV show – handily filling the audience in on what’s going on in the process.

Although Vince is given pretty much free reign on his directorial debut by his former manager turned studio head Ari Gold (Piven) he locks horns with the son of his financier (Osmet) and he, Ari and the crew must find a way to ensure that they get the rest of the funds they badly need to finish the flick all the while facing opposition from all quarters. This coupled with the gangs super complicated private lives ensures that there is never a dull moment in this star studded feature.

Celebrity cameos are rife with an appearance by our own Liam Neeson drawing peals of laughter at the screening I attended. Kelsey Grammer’s self deprecating appearance is also noteworthy but there is plenty here for even the most avid star spotter. Amongst other noteworthy names popping up are Jessica Alba, George Takei, David Spade, Armie Hammer, Pharrell Williams and Mark Whalberg all playing fictionalised versions of themselves. It is a testament to the popularity of the TV show that they were able to pull in so many big names willing to play themselves as a caricature.

Like many adaptations of popular shows this doesn’t really push the characters boundaries or teach us anything new about them. Rather it plays out like a glossier extended episode of the show. But that’s fine. They know their audience and they pander to it. The TV show always made you feel like you were getting a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of Hollywood and this is no different. It is engaging and entertaining and has plenty of laugh out loud moments.

All the actors do a competent job but that is to be expected when you have been playing a role for so long (the original show ran for eight seasons). However the real revelation is Hayley Joel Osmet who completely puts the Sixth Sense behind him to play a millionaire redneck hick.

Fans may be disappointed that they didn’t utilise this opportunity more but seeing their favorite characters on the big screen will surely go some way towards dissipating this. For those who have never seen the show they will be treated to 104 minutes of glitz, glam and bromance with plenty of giggles thrown in.

This has been treated harshly by critics on the whole but if you take it in the spirit it was intended – as a celebration of friendship and a parody of Hollywood and all that goes with it this is thoroughly enjoyable. I know I left the cinema with a smile on my face and you can’t ask for more than that.