Inside Pulse DVD Review – Entourage: The Complete First Season

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(Credit: www.HBO.com)

Creator:

Doug Ellin

Cast:

Adrian Grenier……….Vincent ‘Vince’ Chase
Kevin Connolly……….Eric
Kevin Dillon……….Johnny ‘Drama’ Chase
Jerry Ferrara……….Turtle
Jeremy Piven……….Ari Gold
Debi Mazar……….Shauna
Monica Keena……….Kristen
Samaire Armstrong……….Emily

Warner Bros. Home Video in association with leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions present an HBO Original Program. Executive producers: Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Doug Ellin, Larry Charles and Steven Tompkins. Total running time: 240 minutes. Unrated.

The show:

And now for something completely different: a satirical look at Hollywood behind the scenes. Having never seen the show, I didn’t know what to expect. Then, after watching all eight episodes, I realized I couldn’t get enough. The show may not be laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish, but it has its moments.

Vince, Eric, Drama and Turtle are four friends from Queens, New York, living the life of luxury in Hollyweird. Vincent Chase is a young rising movie star whose latest project has him co-staring with Jessica Alba. His friends are his entourage, helping him navigate the ridiculousness that is Hollywood.

Eric (Kevin Connelly) is Vince’s manager, getting paid four thousand a month to make decisions for Vince. Not bad for a guy who was once the night manager at Sbarro’s. Drama (Kevin Dillon) is Vince’s older brother. At one time his acting talents were in demand, but lately he can’t get a rehearsal or a callback. His major claim to fame is Viking Quest, a cult TV show that was cancelled nine years ago. The biggest mystery is Turtle (Jerry Ferrara). Unlike Eric or Drama, Turtle does not have a specific job. He’s more like an errand boy, picking up the dry cleaning and getting posters and the like signed so Vince and the gang can get free sneakers from Nike.

Doug Ellin may have created Entourage, but the show’s inspiration came from actor Mark Wahlberg. Makes sense. Both Vince and Mark come from New York. However, unlike Wahlberg, Vince never modeled underwear and his entourage was never known as the “Funky Bunch.”

The season opens with Vince and Co. talking shop at a local dining establishment. From there they go to a premiere party for Vince’s new feature Head On. Thereafter, they indulge in sex, parties and booze. All in a hard day’s night.

The show may glorify the down-and-out nature of Vince and his friends, but no complaints here. Entourage epitomizes how the Mark Wahlberg’s or the Ashton Kutcher’s in Hollywood spend their days when they aren’t performing on set. So what to do with all that free time. Well, Vince has multiple girlfriends. Eric is conflicted about his ex-lover and his new love Emily. Drama is still upset about his lackluster appeal in movies and television. He also has a grudge against Jimmy Kimmel after a falling out years ago. And Turtle, well his only concern is the next time he can get laid.

Adrian Grenier whose most noticeable role until this show was staring opposite Melissa Joan Hart in Drive Me Crazy, is spot on as Vincent. His face is scruffy and his hair is of the bedhead variety. And when it comes to deciding what to wear, he dresses down instead of up. The same can be said for his lovable hangers-on. Though, when the occasion calls for it, they sport a suit and tie in style.

To decide just who is the best character in Entourage would do the show a great disservice. Besides, it’s hard to love anyone on the show. They drink, curse, cavort and do it with relative ease. But the characters do have their moments. Kevin Connolly as Eric is the most calm, intelligent and sober member of the bunch. He acts as Vince’s conscious, telling him what movie scripts to read and which to pass. Eric even had the balls to confront Ari Gold, Vince’s agent, and on numerous occasions the two go nose-to-nose. No scuffles, but plenty of profanity-laced tirades that are almost as beautiful as poetry written in iambic pentameter. OK, maybe not.

Jeremy Piven is a surprise as movie agent Ari Gold. No longer just that guy in PCU or the guy in numerous John Cusack movies, Piven is now somebody. A Golden Globe nominee, in fact. Sports agent Jerry Maguire is a pussycat when compared to Ari. This guy is steadfast in his actions. He coddles an actor like Larry David, but treats Vince’s right-hand man Eric like crap.

Despite Piven, Adrian, Kevin and the rest of the entourage, the show is distinctive for its use of cameo appearances. Most of the actors play themselves, adding to the realism. Yes, it is make believe but you can’t help but be amused seeing Ali Larter, Jessica Alba and Luke Wilson. Still, if there was a special award for this show’s best cameo role it would go to Val Kilmer. As The Sherpa, Kilmer takes pleasure in smoking pot all day long. Hey, who doesn’t?

Entourage is a fun, energetic show with a good ensemble. Ah, if only HBO could release their shows at a reasonable price. The hefty thirty-dollar price tag is too much for only eight episodes. That’s premium cable entertainment for you.

Score: 7/10

THE DVD:

VIDEO: How does it look?

Presented in its original fullscreen presentation 1.33:1, the video transfer is good. There are signs of grain on the print, but not much. There is one pixilation glitch, though. Near the end of the pilot episode where Vince and Eric are conferring in the kitchen a video problem pops up. It only appears in this episode; the other seven are fine.

Score: 7/10

AUDIO: How does it sound?

Profanity and the clinking of alcoholic beverages come in three audio formats: English 2.0, Spanish 2.0 and French 2.0. Too bad HBO couldn’t pump up the audio and give us a 5.1 audio track. You’ll enjoy listening to Ari’s verbal lacerations and the entourage’s repartee in 2.0 clarity. Not to mention the musical stylings of Outkast and the Eagles.

Score: 6/10

SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary tracks with Doug Ellin and Larry Charles and a behind-the-scenes featurette!

The commentaries are spread over the two-disc set. The tracks appear on the “pilot” episode, “Busey and the beach” (Episode 6), and “new york” (Episode 8). Unfortunately, Doug Ellin and Larry Charles aren’t very enthusiastic on the microphone. Oh, sure, they do their best, telling stories about the show’s production, but it seems flat. A better alternative would have been Jeremy Piven as Ari berating the entire show – except for his acting job, of course. Another option could have had Vince, Eric, Drama, and Turtle in a group commentary session. The possibilities are endless.

The only other extra is a 10-minute behind-the-scenes feature about the show. The casting is explored as is the bond the four friends have. The cameo roles are also discussed. Overall, this featurette is merely a fluff piece, which intercuts small sound bites with clips from the show.

Score: 2/10

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!