Entourage

I really don't like to admit it, but sometimes there is a fine line between TV and films. What I mean is there have been quite a number of TV series ,and movies have spun off them in succession, so there can be a blur between the two mediums. The list is endless: "Twilight Zone: The Movie" '83, "The Addams Family" '91, "The Flintstones" '94, "Lost in Space" '98, "Charlie's Angels" 2000, "The A-Team" '10, "The Three Stooges" '12--just to name a handful. So Hollywood is at it again with the likes of HBO's "Entourage".

Movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), together with his boys Eric, the manager (Kevin Connolly), Turtle, the driver (Jerry Ferrara), and Johnny Drama, the brother (Kevin Dillon), are back--and back in business with super agent-turned-studio head Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) on a risky project that will serve as Vince's directorial debut. The catch? Trying to convince their financial backer, Larsen McCredle (Billy Bob Thornton) as his lame son, Travis (Haley Joel Osment) that 100 million dollars is worth it for a pretty-boy that's never directed. Some of the guys' ambitions have changed, but the bond between them remains strong as they navigate the capricious and often cutthroat world of Hollywood.

Others to round out the cast are Emmanuelle Chriqui as Sloan, Perrey Reeves as Mrs. Ari, Rex Lee as Lloyd, Debi Mazar as Shauna, Rhys Coiro as Billy Walsh, Constance Zimmer as Dana Gordon, Ronda Rousey as Herself, Alan Dale as John Ellis, Piers Morgan as Himself, Mark Wahlberg as Himself, Jon Favreau as Himself and Greg Louganis as Lloyd's fiancé.

Considering that this is his baby, the directing by Doug Ellin ("The Waiter" '93, "Phat Beach" '96, "Kissing a Fool" '98) was pretty much familiar territory. He already knew his actors and visa versa, and he basically 'walked' through this, although it makes it nice for the audience, because then the audience doesn't have to get used to seeing these guys in any other light than through Ellin's. It was also written by Ellin--again familiar territory. If you've followed this series at all, it is like seeing an expanded version of the TV series. I'm not sure if this is a compliment or not. I suppose it depends on one's vantage point. The best thing about this and the series is that it shows how these guys (and guys like them), are so incredibly shallow, greedy, selfish, manipulative, and so in need of being accepted. It's like seeing Hollywood parodying themselves, all in the guise of comedy and antics. But this is why we love these guys--their antics are so over-the-top that we are egar to see what lame-brain thing they are going to do next. Not academy award writing or acting, but this is why it is the epitome of the perfect summer flick.

If you liked the TV series, you'll love this. Seeing this guys reprise their roles on the big screen is fun (bizarre as it is), and if you want to just zone out on total fluff, enjoy this summer flick.

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                            Rated: R                                104mins.