‘Entourage’ movie captures all the vice; might not attract new viewers

If you didn’t understand the title, it’s because you’re not a big fan of “Entourage,” the HBO hit series that follows a group of friends that leave Queens to make it big in Hollywood (based in part on the real-life story of Mark Wahlburg and his friends).

Queen’s Boulevard was the movie project (within the TV show) the characters longed for and was received as a masterpiece. Medellin (another movie within the TV show), becomes a vanity project and box office disappointment. This theatrical version of the hit series would fall somewhere in-between.

Adrian Grenier stars as Vinnie Chase, a kid from Queens, New York, who hits it big in Hollywood after a hotshot, super agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) plucks him from obscurity after seeing him in a Mentos Breathsaver commercial.

Vinnie shares his wealth and power with the friends of his youth who become his entourage. There is Eric “E” Murphy (Kevin Connolly), his level-headed moral compass and business manager; “Turtle” the once pudgy, now fit, friend/official driver; and “Drama”, Vinnie’s half brother (Kevin Dillon).

People who haven’t seen the series will catch on quickly, as most of the series deals with the spending of incredible wealth, the sexual power of fame and fortune, whether the friends will stay together through it all and whether each will find an individual path to their own fame and fortune.

This time around our partying heroes are plagued by Oil-rich movie financiers from Texas. Billy Bob Thorton plays a Redneck oil tycoon who foots the bill for Vinnie Chase’s first directorial effort which is now over-budget. The boys need more money before the film can be finished, but before the Redneck will release more funds, the movie needs approval from Redneck Jr., Travis McCredle, played by Haley Joel “I see dead people” Osment. And therein lies the problem with this film.

Billy Bobb and Osment are such ridiculous caricatures, they distract from the rest of the film. Osment especially seems out of place. It’s like the Buford T. Justice and son characters from Smokey and the Bandit have been inserted into “Entourage.” They are unworthy adversaries for super-Hollywood-agent-turned-studio-head Ari Gold. The movie is a masterpiece, but the Redneck is out to sink Vinnie and Ari for good.

“Entourage” still delivers moments that are sure to be fan favorites; beautiful women, sometimes clothed; embarrassing moments for Drama; hot-tempered, stream-of-consciousness rants from Ari; sexual conquests for Eric and Vince; and cameos of fan-favorites and new celebrities galore. Seattle fans will get special joy seeing Russell Wilson advise E on overcoming his height issues.

Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillon were given their defining roles for this franchise. Piven’s Ari Gold is ruthless, driven, vulgar, crass, and yet behind his supposed evil is a man who cares about those he loves even if they can’t stand him for it. Dillon’s Johnny Drama is a relentless braggart and self-deluded ego-maniac with just enough insecurity and loyalty to his band of brothers to avoid becoming a cartoon.

Behind the glamor, the drugs, the money, the stars and the girls, “Entourage” has heart. You care about Vinnie Chase even if he is bedding every beauty he can lay eyes on and seems entitled to his pampered treatment. You want to see E and Turtle successful on their own terms. And even as they laugh at him, audiences feel pain for Johnny Drama, Vinnie’s deluded half-brother who so desperately wants to be a star but is always living in his younger brother’s shadow.

“Entourage” the movie captures all the vice of the series, and enough of its heart to make it work, but probably not enough to attract those who haven’t already invested in the series.