Entourage

It has been four years since this legendary HBO series ended.  If you've missed the show (as I have), then you will probably enjoy Entourage, written and directed by the show's creator, Doug Ellin. The film starts with Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) ending his lengthy marriage of 9 days and then throwing a party on a yacht -- accompanied by lots of beautiful women in bikinis -- to celebrate his freedom. Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) has just come out of retirement and is now the second in command of a major studio. He asks Vince to star in a potential blockbuster, "Hyde."  Vince agrees, but only if he is also allowed to direct. Vince and his entourage -- "Turtle" (Driver- Jerry Ferrara), "E" (Manager-Kevin Connolly), and his Chef and older brother, "Drama" (Kevin Dillon) hang out with each other, as well as a bevy of beautiful women. They crack many jokes along the way, just like on the series. (They live the high life us ordinary guys only dream about. Unfortunately, I'm so old now I couldn't live that life if I wanted to.) Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui) is pregnant with E's child, but they aren't together anymore, except for their Lamaze classes. Ari agrees to let Vince star and direct Hyde, but the film goes way over its budget, putting Ari and Vince in conflict with the studio CEO and the film's financier (Billy Bob Thornton). The movie is often funny and consistently amusing.  The male leads' characters are just like they were on the show, for better or worse.  There are also some funny cameos with Warren Buffett, Jessica Alba, and Mark Wahlberg (on whose life the show was based), among many others. Will Vince and Ari be able to complete the film, and, if they do, will it be a hit or a flop?  Will Ari find peace-of-mind chanting "Om," or continue throwing temper tantrums? Will E and Sloan get back together? This movie will work fine as a rental.  If you weren't into the show, I'd pass.  If you're a fan, it's essentially a good, two-hour episode.