Entourage: Enjoy the Ride

Vinny Chase and the boys are back, and they’re just as entertaining as ever in ENTOURAGE the movie!  The award winning HBO series ran eight seasons from 2004 to 2011, and now they hit the silver screen to round out this beloved series that documents movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his loyal friends as they party their way through the Hollywood life.  ENTOURAGE takes place about six months after the series ended. Vince has another big movie opportunity, but this time he also gets to sit in the director’s chair thanks to his former agents who is now a new studio head Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven).  Ari Gold has quickly come out of retirement for this bigger role in the industry after some marriage problems, and he seems to be back to his normal self while attempting to be less stressed out…yeah good luck with that!  Vince’s manager Eric (Kevin Connolly) is also back in the dating game after his relationship recently ended again with the gorgeous and very pregnant Sloan (Emmanualle Chriqui).  Vince’s driver Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is now rich from his tequila company and quickly sets his sights on romantically pursuing UFC Champion Rhonda Rousey whom he recently ran into.  Meanwhile, Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon) is as pathetic but loveable as ever as Vince’s half-brother who lands a supporting role in Vince’s upcoming film.  New to ENTOURAGE is a wealthy studio investor Larsen McCredle (Billy Bob Thornton)  who embodies the Texan stereotype to the core.  After Ari requests more money to finish funding Vince’s directorial debut, Larsen sends his son Travis McCredle (Haley Joel Osment) to Hollywood in order to check it out, and Travis begins to cause obstacles for the film soon after he arrives. 

ENTOURAGE is a fun and lighthearted movie just as the TV shows was.  There are a plethora of actor and athlete celebrity cameos which is part of what makes ENTOURAGE so loved, and fans will be pleased to see several reoccurring celebrities from the series.  I always enjoy how the audience gets to see the behind-the-scene Hollywood politics, and the movie within this movie is no different.  I always get hyped up about Vince’s movies, and I wish I could see this one as well!  Because Ari is one of my favorite characters, I’m so glad to see him back on top in Hollywood as most fans have grown to love his power trips.  The movie also takes time to focus on Ari’s friendship with former assistant Lloyd (Rex Lee) as someone who helps keep him grounded.  Meanwhile Drama finds drama, as always, while struggling to find that big break in his acting career. 

This movie has the ease and entertainment of an Entourage episode along with the hot girls and even hotter cars.  If I were binge-watching the series on HBO GO, this movie would fit in nice and snug following the unfortunately rushed series finale episode.  I wasn’t necessarily happy with the ending of the tv show (it was a bit too tied up with a big bow), so I’m pleased to see that the film was well-done and not trying too hard.  ENTOURAGE has such a smooth pace that it would feel like you’re just watching another longer and more well-rounded episode.  Director and writer Doug Ellin does a great job rounding up the gang again for a fun summer flick that follows up the series perfectly.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I think long-time fans and newcomers alike would also enjoy the ride.

For more ENTOURAGE goodness, check out our ENTOURAGE Otto Snap cap giveaway!