Reviews · TV

TV Review: Entourage 5.2 – Unlike a Virgin

Vince is finally coming to realize his career is in the toilet; Eric attempts to increase his client base by adding two unproduced screenwriters to his minuscule stable; Drama deals with an obsessive girlfriend who may not actually be that obsessive. and Ari wonders how to deal with Vince now that his career may be over.
By  · Published on September 15th, 2008

Entourage, HBO, Airs Sundays 10pm E/P

Episode: “Unlike a Virgin” (Season Five, Episode Two)

Synopsis: Vince is finally coming to realize his career is in the toilet; Eric attempts to increase his client base by adding two unproduced screenwriters to his minuscule stable; Drama deals with an obsessive girlfriend who may not actually be that obsessive; Turtle whines about wanting sex; and Ari wonders how to deal with Vince now that his career may be over.

Review: Anyone looking for dramatic character growth or sweeping plot changes from Entourage‘s fifth season, may have to think about dropping (or at least altering) that particular pipe dream. Certain things will always be mainstays on this show, and they can best be summed up with two words… Drama and Turtle. I understand for the actors (Dillon and Ferrara) this show is a dream gig, but for actors they have to be wanting more from their characters. At least I would hope so. I don’t think Ferrara actually even reads a script anymore, since it’s a given that Turtle’s scenes will always consist of whining about the sex he’s not having, driving the SUV, talking dirty about sex he’s not having, making digs at Drama’s expense, or jerking off to the sex he’s not having. Drama fairs slightly better now that he has a TV show of his own, but the character refuses to grow beyond obsessive caricature and lets his personality ruin his long-distance relationship with the French girl from Cannes. On the flip side of those two, Vince and Eric may be about to step things up a bit. Eric continues to branch out with his own enterprise, this time finding himself in a strip club trying to convince two un-produced screenwriters to take him on as their manager. The duo (Lukas Haas and Giovanni Ribisi) talk and behave like rednecks although we’re led to believe that they’ve written a brilliant script about firefighters. Vince and Ari alone make the episode worthwhile though as they both come to realize that Vince’s career is in serious trouble. Ari has a fun chat with guest star (and producer) Mark Wahlberg on the subject where they reference The Truth About Charlie as being a bad career choice. Again I have to wonder how far in advance these episodes were filmed, because surely this calls out for a nod towards The Happening. Vince and Ari have a heart to heart which ends with Vince re-committing himself to the business side of acting and Ari telling him he’s not that great of an actor… yet. Probably the most serious words these two have spoken since the series began.

Overall, an average episode. The laughs, limited as they were, all came from Piven’s ranting and raving Ari. The lady flesh was non-existent. And the believability meter scored remarkably low due to the gun-toting screenwriter duo and the scene where a hot chick actually leaves a party with Turtle implying that they’ll be having sex.

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Rob Hunter has been writing for Film School Rejects since before you were born, which is weird seeing as he's so damn young. He's our Chief Film Critic and Associate Editor and lists 'Broadcast News' as his favorite film of all time. Feel free to say hi if you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.