‘Entourage’ grows up into a worthy big-screen ride

I’ve never been a fan of “Entourage.” Early in the series I found the characters insipid and annoying. Vincent Chase, played by Adrian Grenier, was the worst one of them all.

Vince’s aloofness to his success and “everything will work out fine” attitude was even more annoying when things always did work out fine. Things always came easy for him and his simpleminded cronies, who were only too happy to tag along for the sex, parties and other benefits of Vince’s success.

I was ready, and dare I say eager, to hate “Entourage”… but that was not the case.

Ten years later, the show has aged surprisingly well. The characters have matured some (as much as four guys can mature in series creator Doug Ellin’s version of Hollywood) and now have their own successes outside of Vince’s shadow. The most notable is a slimmed-down Turtle, played by Jerry Ferrara, who has become the money man of the group after launching his own tequila brand.

Jeremy Piven is brilliant reprising his role as Ari Gold, now the head of the studio producing Vince’s latest big-budget movie.

When the movie goes over budget, Ari is forced into a deal with Texas investor Billy Bob Thorton and his gun-toting son, played by a nearly unrecognizable Haley Joel Osment. Osment’s character is a former fan who now despises Vince for having the looks, success and life that he can never have. They threaten to scuttle the film before it is even released.

Vince’s past aloofness is gone now. He feels the pressure of not only carrying a film as its star, but answering to the studio as its director.

But there is no doubt at any point that Vince and the guys will once again come out on top.

Despite the predictability of the plot, I found myself rooting for these characters, none more than the show’s perpetual “Charlie Brown and the football” character, Vince’s brother Drama, who has become very aware of his position within the group. On the brink of his greatest achievement, Drama acknowledges that he always talked about success, but he never actually saw himself succeeding at anything. He never gave up on becoming a successful actor outside of the shadow of his more successful brother. It took eight seasons and a movie, but things are finally starting to look up for Drama.

All the shenanigans and cameos that made “Entourage” popular during its original HBO run are still there. That makes this a must-see for fans of the show, but you need not have watched the series to enjoy these Hollywood hijinks.

Limited screenings are being held tonight at venues across Oahu. The movie’s official release date is tomorrow, June 3.