While the cast still has undeniable chemistry between each other, this movie can’t help but feel like just an extended episode of the show it was based on.
By Michael Menendez
Welcome to the world of Hollywood, a roller coaster ride with so many ups and downs that it’s hard to know which is which even when you’re standing flat on the ground. At least, this is the side of the industry we’ve been shown for years through watching the addictive show Entourage, on HBO. In that show, we follow Vinny Chase (Adrian Grenier) through his lucrative Hollywood career and how, through every step of the way, his crew was always with him, no matter the bad decisions that are made.
Cut to the present wherein this movie lies, and all we are really getting is more of the same, except this time Vinny wants to be in a movie that he also directs. From there, we see the issues with needing more money to finish production, trouble with the funders (played well by Billy Bob Thornton and Haley Joel Osment as his son), and their day to day shenanigans that go on between the movie’s production issues. What more can be said about this movie? Not much.
If you love the show, you will most likely enjoy the movie, but still only to an extent. The underlying question with this film, though, is “was it really necessary?” Through HBO films, this can’t help but feel like a recurring problem for the studio, stemming originally from the critical atrocity that was Sex and the City 2.
While the cast remains game, and the consistent cameos provide a handful of laughs (especially one involving rapper T.I.), this can’t help but feel unnecessary to the general public.
Without watching the chemistry between this group of friends for years on the show, it’s hard to become accustomed to their shenanigans and “sticky situations” in just the two hours the film provides. Without watching the show, there would be no casual interest in what this movie has to offer. Moreover, do we even really want to see what the thirty-something Vinny is doing with his life anymore? Much like how the movie that he is directing and starring in in the film, the cast and crew have to be worried about the general reaction to this film.
Now, with that being said, as a fan of the show I enjoyed the movie, but I also enjoyed The Green Hornet and know that that wasn’t a great movie by any stretch of the word. This is something that I can admit about this film unbiasedly. Said to be based off of Mark Walhberg’s experience in coming to Hollywood (who also serves as a producer on not only the movie but the entire show as well), where does this movie come into play? On a show that found years of success, this movie feels like the rag is being strung out for any last drop of water.
All in all, this film is a fun watch for the fans of the show, but doesn’t offer much in any other category or to general viewers unless there’s a new found interest in the partying lifestyle of five 30-40 something men living it up in Hollywood. Hopefully, the lesson is learned and we can leave this film (as fans of the show) saying, “it was fun, but that’s a good way to put these characters to rest.”
2/5 Stars
Michael Menendez is a student at the University of Central Florida, where he majors in journalism.
