Vince (Adrian Grenier) and his entourage are back and, if you were a fan of the HBO show, then it’s more of what made Entourage a hit show. It’s a male fantasy of fame, fortune, and excess while bringing your friends along for the ride. I would compare this to Sex in the City for men in that it gives an insight into the male psyche even if it isn’t a realistic attainment for most. The story picks up right where it left off with super-agent Ari (Jeremy Piven) becoming the head of a major studio and Vince deciding to make the jump form major movie star to his director debut. If I have one complaint is that this movie just felt like another episode of Entourage. No stakes were raised nor was anything new brought to the big screen. Other than upping the amount of celebrity cameos and exotic locales, nothing new was brought to the table. However; that doesn’t mean it’s not a lot of fun and if you enjoy living out a male fantasy then, well I would call it a nostalgic ride, but it just went off the air a few years ago. How long does something have to be off the air before you get nostalgic.
Each of the members of Vince’s Entourage have their own sub-plots in this film, which play out in sit-com formulaic gags, but the true fun in this film revolves around Ari’s attempt to live a calmer and more normal life (no one plays manic intensity better than Jeremy Piven). His ability to do that is tested when Vince goes over his production budget and the film’s Texan financier (Billy Bob Thorton) sends his buffoonish son Travis (played by dramatically changed Haley Joel Osment). Travis takes an instant jealous dislike to Vince and starts threatening to shut the production down unless changes he demands are implemented. Namely, cutting Drama (Kevin Dillon) from the film in an effort to cause a rift among Vince’s life long friends.
It’s a fun plot, but not enough to fill up an entire film, so as I stated, sit-comesque sub-plots are introduced. The weakest of which (but that doesn’t mean it’s not funny) is Drama getting caught in a sex tape scandal. Turtle (a slimmed down Jerry Ferrara) also had a weak sub-plot which was basically a showcase for Ronda Rousey to try to make her cross over from mixed martial arts. I think if the two had better chemistry it would have been more interesting, but Ronda didn’t embarrass herself and might have a future action career. E (Kevin Connolly) oddly had the most engaging sub-plot where he wrestles with the birth of his child with his ex-wife Sloane (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and becoming what he always denied he would become; a shallow Hollywood player.
The reason Entourage works is the same reason Sex in the City worked. It’s not that the stories are that complex, but it’s characters we come to care about living a life we all wish we could. What male hasn’t wished for enough fame and fortune to bring his friends along for the ride and to have them watch his back no matter what happens. Ari, despite all his rants and berating, loves this crew and the star he discovered. Piven does a great job at showing his reluctant affection and in turn, the Entourage is there when Ari needs them most. Sure the nudity is gratuitous and the excess and parties are a juvenile fantasy at best, but it’s a fun indulgence if you don’t mind watching a movie that does not try to have any redeeming social value.
This could have very well have been shown last Sunday on HBO and I wouldn’t have known this was a movie. That is my primary complaint. If you feel like paying $10 for something that used to come as part of your HBO package then have at it. It’s a fun time filled with lots of Hollywood life and cameos. Go ahead and live the fantasy, but be prepared to come back to reality afterwards.
I give this film ** stars
