ENTOURAGE
US, 2015, 104 minutes, Colour.
Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Rex Lee, Debbie Maza, Billy Bob Thornton, Haley Joel Osment, Greg Louganis, Alice Eve, Judy Greer, Richard Schiff, Emily Ratajkowski, Piers Morgan, Martin Landau. Cameos: TI, David Arquette, Gary Busey, Jon Favreau, Andrew Dice Clay, Mike Tyson, Pharrell Williams, Liam Neeson, Ed O'Neil, Kelsey Grammar, Chad Lowe, Nora Dunn, Mark Wahlberg, Common, David Spade, Warren Buffett, Jessica Alba, Armie Hammer.
In many ways, it depends whether the audience have been fans of the long-running television series, Entourage, or whether they are coming to it, so to speak, cold. This review comes from the “cold” perspective.
We are told that the movie version begins nine days after the last episode in the series ended in 2011. Which means that the characters may only be nine days older but look four years older. Be that as it may, it seems that the principal characters are all back again. There is Vincent, Adrian Grenier, the film star, having his marriage of nine days dissolved and his machinations not only to star in a blockbuster (which, when we see the opening credits, does not seem to be all that blockbusting) but to direct as well. He is dark and handsome. Then there is his producer, Eric, Kevin Connolly, usually with a rather beatific and youthful smile on his face, which rather belies his ability as a movie producer to deal with agents and money men, and definitely covers over his rather promiscuous attitude towards women, especially his pregnant ex-girlfriend, which seems not only exploitative but misogynistic. There is Turtle, Jerry Ferrara, rather scruffy-looking but wealthy enough, who serves as a friend and chauffeur in the entourage. The last of the group is Jack, Kevin Dillon, Vincent’s older half-brother, an obtuse and crass type, putting his foot in it, continually auditioning to try to get better parts – and not always succeeding.
The powerhouse of the film is fast-talking, wheeler-dealer agent, Ari, played with both infectious and antagonising exuberance by Jeremy Piven. He is certainly the best thing in Entourage.
One of the features of the television series, apparently, is the number of cameos from real stars and celebrities – and it is certainly the case here, some turning up only in passing, but usually in something of a huff or antagonistic. However, more striking in support is Billy Bob Thornton as a rich Texan who is investing in films and, a surprise to those who still remember him only from his child role in The Sixth Sense, a rather roly-poli Haley Joel Osment as Fulton’s rather stupid and over self-confident son who interferes with Vincent’s film.
It is all bright and colourful, with Hollywood sunshine, shows the Entourage’s men about town, using women rather than befriending them, and showing a lot of the uglier aspects of Hollywood high life and the exploitative aspects of filmmaking. Some of it is amusing, much of it less so.
1. The popularity of the television series? Long-lasting? Audiences familiar with the characters, their idiosyncrasies? Life in Hollywood, show business, the
movies? Agents and their role? The spoof aspects, realism?
2. The title, the focus on the group, each of the individuals, their working as a group?
3. The transition to the movie, years after the end of the series? The ages of the characters, their appearance? Vince and his marriage, nine days, collapse? On the boat, celebrating, his friends turning up? Intimations of the high life, glamour, sex?
4. The characters in the entourage? Vince, his star status, Jack as his half brother, Jack and his crassness, the parts in films, auditions? Eric, producer, friend, sexist, promiscuous, his partner and her pregnancy? Turtle and the money, driving, friendship?
5. Ari, Jeremy Piven in the role, in the television series, his past work as an agent, skills, the pressures, plus? His wife, love, family? Becoming a studio head? His plans? Vince as a star, Vince wanting to direct, Ari opposing this? Issues of budgets, funding? The Texan millionaire, the investment, the visit by Ari to Texas? The response about the film? The Texan’s son, his presumption, interfering?
6. Fulton, Texas, the money, ideas, business, his son, thinking him an idiot, sending him to Hollywood, exercising power, antagonism towards Vince, the attraction towards Emily, stalking her? His seeing the footage, hostile, wanting Jack’s part eliminated completely? The later visits, father and son?
7. The film, Vince as star, directing, Eric and his support? Needing more money to finish? The plea to Ari? The setting up of the preview, the crowds, the screen? Putting it off? The audience seeing glimpses of the film – and agreeing or not whether it was a masterpiece?
8. Ari seeing the film, privately, supporting it?
9. Vince, his marriage, the collapse, the actress, relationships? Eric and the range of girls, the two girls with sex on the one day, the irony of their conspiring against him and exposing him? Jack, sexist, crass, at meetings, his comments, relationships? His role in the film, relying on his reputation? Vince supporting him in the film?
10. The entourage group, their coping, the Texan, his son, the meetings, the resolution and the son’s humiliation?
11. The focus on Ari, his wife, family, meetings, his feeling unwell, the board and their dismissing Ari? His leaving? The experience of exasperation?
12. The success of the film, the different stances, Jack being allowed to stay?
13. Hollywood, real and unreal, human monsters and their interactions, achievements?
14. The celebrity jokes – especially the appearances of the celebrities?
15. The tone, spoof, jokes, the entourage group as nitwits and knuckleheads? The misogynistic tone, exploitation of women? But all seeming to come right in the end?
