Having never watched an episode of the HBO series, I was surprised to find that my favorite character in the "Entourage" movie was Travis, the rich Texan blowhard portrayed by Haley Joel Osment. Travis is the film's one unlikable character who's creepy, conniving, entitled, obnoxious and a total pig.
All the other creepy, conniving, entitled, obnoxious total pigs in the movie are apparently supposed to be the heroes.
"Entourage" comes to celebrate the privileges of being white, male, wealthy and famous, not to bury them. While there's nothing wrong with creating a little vicarious wish fulfillment for people who dream of living La Vida Hollywood, it would have been nice if writer-director (and show creator) Doug Ellin had given the movie as many funny lines as there are opening credits for himself. (I counted four.)
For all its Tinseltown gloss and hot cars and swimsuit-clad female extras and name-dropping and pointless celebrity cameos — apparently the ingredients that kept the TV show on the air for eight seasons — "Entourage" is never particularly amusing, nor does it take the characters anywhere new or interesting.
Say what you will about the "Sex and the City" or "Veronica Mars" movies, but they at least acknowledged the passing of time and allowed for changes in people's lives.
"Entourage," like "Paul Blart Mall Cop 2," opens by unraveling its own previous happy endings: Movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) has annulled his marriage after nine days, and Vincent's former agent Ari (Jeremy Piven) is pulling the plug on his Italian retirement and eagerly returning to Los Angeles to become a studio chief. Ari has a project that he thinks would be perfect for Vinny, who counter-offers that in addition to starring, he wants to direct.
Cut to several months later, when Vinny and his producer and best friend, E (Kevin Connolly), have gone over budget and are going back to Ari for more postproduction money, which means Ari has to go begging to studio backer and Texas gajillionaire Larsen McCredle (Billy Bob Thornton) for cash. Larsen agrees only if his son Travis (Osment) can accompany Ari back to Hollywood to learn more about the picture business.
