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ENTOURAGE 705 - Bottoms Up| Review By:
Conan
Milne
Original Air Date: August 1, 2010
HBO
Rating: 4/5
Dub Quotable:
Here’s hoping that writers Doug Ellin and Ally Musika can sustain this momentum as they stride towards the season finale on relatively stable footing
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After a promising start, this season of Entourage looked
in danger of crawling its way towards its conclusion. Recently Vince has been
repeatedly banished to the background, in favour of Turtle’s lacking subplot,
E’s jealous feuding, and Drama’s unrelenting search for a job. Fortunately,
“Bottoms Up” returned Vinny to prominence. It also motivated the occasionally
lagging season, sparkling with the savvy dialogue and group dynamic that has
always made the show so enjoyable.
It was immediately clear that the episode was off to a good start when it began
with the boys partying together. Between Turtle’s exploits in Mexico and Vince’s
sudden detachment, this charismatic reunion was appreciated. It was also
peppered with the shameless chatter synonymous with a guys night out. “Vagina is
my third favourite hole,” Drama authoritatively announces while on the sudden
topic of anal sex. That was just one such example, but another came courtesy of
an increasingly likeable Scott Lavin. As Turtle eagerly insists that he recently
“made out” with current interest Alex, a tickled Lavin enquires, “Where? At the
freshmen dance?”
The largely racy conversation was fitting considering this episode marked the
introduction of one widely-discussed guest, porn star Sasha Grey. Adrian Grenier
and Grey shared a surprisingly believable chemistry, as a fascinated Vince spent
the episode flirting like a lustful, particularly hormonal teenager. Grey,
meanwhile, certainly deserves commendation for bravely acknowledging her career
trajectory on such a popular show. Playing herself as unapologetic and carefree,
she will undoubtedly ensure that Vince becomes near-impossible for E to reign
in. Right now the pairs behaviour is somewhat juvenile - playfully downing
mid-afternoon shots, for instance - but one can only assume that things will
quickly become problematic.
Suffering his own professional crises this week was a warring Ari. With Lizzie
Grant intently circling his clients, it was left to the worlds most powerful
agent to ensure that nobody - “sitcom star or circus freak” - opted to follow
the conspiring Grant. This development prompted some of the most authentic Ari
scenes in recent memory. Gold has always been the volatile super-power with
limited time and patience for any client short of a Hollywood A-Lister like
Vince. However, his vehement principle never to steal other agents clients has
long been established. Here, he hounds Jessica Simpson, Aaron Sorkin, and Mike
Tyson for reassurance simply because he will not allow Lizzie any victory,
irrespective of its significance. Best was his counsel with the afore-mentioned
Tyson, who excitedly proposes starring in the Black Brady Bunch. “And then when
Bobby acts up, you bite his ear off,” Ari blurts. After suffering a disapproving
silence, the agent struggles to explain that he was joking. “It wasn’t funny
Ari, okay?” mutters a solemn Tyson, before bowing his head remorsefully and
adding, “It just wasn’t funny.” Cue a tactless Ari scurrying to redeem himself.
“Bottoms Up” was a great episode, with several subtle touches vying with the
usual snappy exchanges as highlights. Director Randall Wallace’s concerned glare
at an oblivious Vince was perfect, as was the unexpected but welcome return of
one of Ari’s old foes. This familiar face will inevitably cause further
frustration for the highly-strung shark over the remaining episodes. With both
cast and crew having promised a dramatic season, it seems like the compelling
twists and turns are only now beginning to present themselves. Yes, there were
some misfires, like E and Sloan’s awkward sex scene that was both figuratively
and literally painful, but this was largely a rousing return to form. Here’s
hoping that writers Doug Ellin and Ally Musika can sustain this momentum as they
stride towards the season finale on relatively stable footing.
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The views expressed here are those of the authors and not
necessarily
those of Dubcnn as an organisation.
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