I have never seen anything from the HBO series “Entourage.”  Not one minute.  I’ve known of it, of course, but I had not been exposed to any of it.  Part of that was due to the casting of Adrian Grenier as “the movie star.”  I didn’t know the guy, and I didn’t think the show would work without a name actor as the movie star character. I was obviously wrong, since the show ran for ninety-six episodes and has now borne a film adaptation (the first of three planned by creator Doug Ellin).

The movie Entourage follows movie star Grenier and his three best buddies (Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrera) and a high-profile agent (Jeremy Piven) as he decides to produce and direct his own movie.  Nine months later it’s crunch time as the director-star, his entourage and his agent are forced to pander to money men in order to finish the film.  Meanwhile, their personal stories move in and out of the spotlight, along with a bevy of Hollywood stars and starlets — and Ronda Rousey.

It is clear from the movie that I have missed a great deal of backstory involving this quartet of friends, yet that didn’t detract very much from watching them interact in inimitable ways.  Doug Ellin’s film works so well because these guys know each other so well, and do stuff that friends do with and to each other.  It’s easy to see why the series was such a hit, because the camaraderie and byplay is utterly convincing, and darn funny.  Especially Jeremy Piven, who is perfect as studio head Ari Gold.

A myriad of Hollywood in-jokes pervades the script, which I found hilarious.  From Liam Neeson to Rousey, from Mark Wahlberg to Andrew Dice Clay, famous faces pop in and out of the story with aplomb.  The funniest is Gary Busey actually making sense of the Jekyll-Hyde motif, and nobody understanding what he’s talking about. The upshot is that I had a great time at this movie, and I’d love for two more to be made.  Now I may have to actually watch the series!  ☆ ☆ ☆.  10 June 2015.