Movie Review- Jackie K Cooper
"Entourage" (Warner Brothers)
Entourage is a movie made for the fans of the popular HBO series of the same name. For those, like me, who never saw an episode this is a movie full of mystery. What is the basis for the plot; who are these actors; and more than that who are these characters and why should audiences care about them. I didn't know them going in and I didn't know or care about them as I was leaving.
As far as I can gather Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) is a young actor who has had some success in Hollywood. He now lives and works in Hollywood and has brought some of his good pals from back east to town with him. These include Eric (Kevin Connolly), Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and his brother Johnny (Kevin Dillon). They make up his entourage. Ari (Jeremy Piven) is the man who discovered him and he is now running a Hollywood studio and wants Vincent to star in his next big movie.
Vincent agrees as long as he can direct the film and Eric can produce it. Johnny must also have a good role in the movie while Turtle is along for the ride. Larsen McCredle (Billy Bob Thornton) and his son Travis (Haley Joel Osment) are the money men behind the film. When the film goes over budget Ari has to try to wheedle some more money from McCredle.
While all of this is going on the audience gets a look at what goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood. It basically looks like Beach Party Bingo with bikinied girls making up most of the cast. To make it authentic people/actors such as Liam Neeson, Kelsey Grammer, Mark Rubin, Gary Busey, Bob Saget and Jon Favreau pop up for a quick hello.
The subplots involve Turtle trying to get a date with Rhonda Rousey. Eric is coping with possibly two pregnancies. Johnny is trying to be more than a joke as an actor. And Ari is trying to control his anger. All four don't add up to a smidgen of something interesting.
Grenier is one of the least charismatic actors I have seen on screen since Jake Gyllenhaal tromped through "The Prince of Persia". Dillon is totally unlikeable as Johnny but that's okay because I think he was intended to be unlikeable. Billy Bob is once more playing what we think of as "the Billy Bob Thornton" character, while Osment looks like he would enjoy seeing some "dead people" if that would liven things up.
The only actor to make a good impression is Piven as Ari Gold. He is in totally manic mood and it gives the film the little energy it has. I would happily go see a movie about Ari Gold if they would leave all those other characters at home.
The movie is rated R for profanity and nudity.
The fans of the TV series must have been a loud group because they got a slick movie made that takes up supposedly where the series left off. Here's to their success in getting it done. But now that it is made, how are you going to sell it to the rest of the country?
I scored "Entourage" a crowded 4 out of 10.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com