Movie Information
Release Date: June 3, 2015
Director: Doug Ellin
Writer: Doug Ellin
Cast: Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Jeremy Piven, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Perrey Reeves, Rex Lee, Debi Mazar, Rhys Coiro, Constance Zimmer, Haley Joel Osment, Ronda Rousey, Scott Mescudi, Alan Dale, Emily Ratajkowski, Billy Bob Thornton, Nina Agdal, Lucas Ellin, Piers Morgan, Rocky
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 104 minutes
Production Company: Warner Brothers, Closet to the Hole Productions, Home Box Office (HBO), Leverage Entertainment, RatPac Entertainment
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
Country: USA
Budget: N/A
Some say the Entourage series is like the male version of Sex and the City. I’m not a fan of either show; but both appear to have much in common from the outside looking in. With the luxurious lifestyle of New Yorkers being a hit, Los Angeles living seemed like a safe bet for what’s to come next. The world that some dream about through billboards, runways, TV shows, and magazines was made almost tangible through the young men of Entourage. With all the promotions and praise, it still seemed like a forgettable adaptation that only caters to cult fans of the series. Instead, it was a hilarious telling of a group of guys whose friendship was pure and genuine.
Not knowing what to expect except for a great number of cameos, I thought adjusting to the casts’ relationship would be a task. It wasn’t, to say the least. The entourage, consisting of five childhood friends, was extremely easy to relate to. As far as their dynamic goes, it didn’t seem like a television series or film adaptation of a script reading. It felt like a group of guys just trying to enjoy the life ahead of them, with a camera following them around. Each member played their role well, and every guy out there in the world is like one of them or knows someone who is. The film is loosely based on producer Mark Wahlberg’s early Hollywood life, and if true, only focuses on the positive.
Their journey was fun to be a part of as well. The film did have its main character who it focused on, but it still gave attention to every other character. Each character had their own path to live, which assumedly stemmed from the series. It wasn’t jarring in any sense and was fairly simple to understand.
Through each of the casts’ daily endeavors, you begin to care about them, then find yourself becoming a fan of the show, even if you’ve only seen around two of its episodes. The only head-scratcher was that everything seemed a little too perfect at times. It’s hard to cram multiple seasons of story-building into a two-hour feature, but some drama would’ve been appreciated. I guess these guys get along too well.
Having never lived in Los Angeles before, I do now and I’m excited about it. That actually may be a bit much, but I of course wouldn’t mind visiting once or twice. It would be great to run into a celebrity on the street, but those are high hopes. In Entourage, that was another fun part of the film. The cameos are endless, and possibly could set a new record. There was one that stood out like a sore thumb, though, which is very confusing, considering who it was. Mark Wahlberg plays himself in one scene, and it appears that segment was put together fifteen seconds before filming. In other words, it wasn’t good. All the other cameos were fantastic, brief, and hilarious. What’s surprising is the great job Ronda Rousey did. I despised her in Furious 7, but she held her own this time around for what was asked. Then again, you can’t expect much either.
So for the longest time, many thought this project was dead in the water, but director Doug Ellin made sure it had life. He put together a piece about a group of friends and the Hollywood lifestyle they’re a part of. Whatever you’re into, there’s women, money, drugs, and more, all balled up into a laughter spree at the top of Mount Lee in the Santa Monica Mountains.
I enjoyed nearly every bit of Entourage. The quest that the group went on to find happiness was a pleasure to watch. The movie rarely had any dull moments, and if so, they were brief. I was not a fan of the show, but I will go back to the first season for more. It is just a testament to how much I enjoyed myself, and I’m sure anyone else who watches it will too.