Dreaming a little too big...
TV shows being adapted for films can always be a troublesome process. Whether Hollywood wishes to revitalise a show in a reboot-like manner like with the upcoming Man from U.N.C.L.E or the Star Trek franchise (granted, that's more of a reboot of the film series, but incorporates many aspects from the original series too) or simply continue the stories told on the small screen for the wider audience, audiences tend to have other ideas. The more successful cases in the past tend to be continuations of children's cartoons, with SpongeBob Squarepants already having two feature films and many of the nostalgia-driven productions of the likes of The Smurfs, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Yogi Bear all taking a plunge with financially successful but critically disappointing results. Hollywood of course continues to try, and this weekend HBO try their hand at bringing the male equivalent of Sex in the City to the big screen.
The major issue with the Entourage movie is simple: it isn't trying to pander to new audiences - just the established viewers. Going by the film's low income on opening weekend in the US, despite opening earlier than the competition, the marketing certainly hasn't done well enough to encourage those new viewers, and going by some of the later trailers they were advertising the cameos more than the stars themselves. At least other cameo-heavy films from the recent past like the two Muppet movies could focus on the actual story at hand when promoting them primarily. If that is where all the big jokes are going to be coming from - or the social commentary on Hollywood, if they dare approach it - you don't need to offer audiences a bingo card.
Because it's only idea to introduce new audiences is by having cameos, it doesn't open up to how these characters actually are. The promotional material is more inclined in introducing these characters by how people already know them to be, not as something new, and because general audiences don't know these characters (and it doesn't help that what's been shown has presented them as rather unlikable) it makes it harder to appeal to them. Unlike the previously mentioned films (bar U.N.C.L.E) the characters are all well-known. They have characters which are instantly recognisable. At least U.N.C.L.E goes the route of rebooting the property - which considering how old it is makes even more sense - to reintroduce these characters or the basic plotline. Entourage doesn't have that option, so it's kinda screwed in that area.
It's not an issue that Entourage is alone in though. Cartoons being brought to the big screen make sense because there isn't a linear timeline to it all, and it has no long-lasting effect on the show itself if it returns for another season. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water ends by reverting the standard character relationships from the start. It doesn't make sense in the context of the film, but does so in order to not introduce a new dynamic for viewers who don't end up watching the film. The return of The Simpsons after their 2007 movie related to the events in the opening credits, but never explicably refers to them unless it's a cameo or a sly reference. And films like The Smurfs or Scooby Doo don't need to rely on the past because it's a new leaf for a new audience. Bringing about live action comedies from the recent past doesn't work unless it's one with a high viewership or following, not a cult one. Is it like Sex and the City? Yes. Is it as big as Sex and the City? No.
But take it from a different show's viewing; a show that has often rallied for a specific goal including a movie - Community. Initially crying out for six seasons and a movie way back in its second season, it became a cry for the fans when the show was constantly at risk of being pulled. And now that it has reached the sixth season - now through an online format - it's now time for them to cry out for the movie, unless they really want a seventh season. And whilst fans of the show would love one, there's no denying that, especially in its current situation of being made by Yahoo!, there won't be that big an audience. It’s been a cult show for years to the point that those fans pushing for further misadventures from the characters needs, and bringing it to the big screen will not only be a difficulty for Yahoo! (although Sony will likely distribute) in terms of the financial side of things, but also rather lacking in the box office gross. If it was a VOD-type deal like the recent Veronica Mars ordeal and the finances were helped by fans, it'd make sense and I'd join in with the input. But otherwise it doesn't necessarily work outside of being just for the fans.
Then there's the other show that's always thrown out there - Doctor Who. It's a big show with a large history and a global fanbase. When film discussions are thrown out there, either through Sony leaks or Variety reports, the opinion is always split on whether it should be a straight retread a la Dr Who and the Daleks or a continuation from the show. With Who, it's history is a lot more important in the grand scheme of things thanks to the 50 year back catalogue. To continue on from that means a lot of alienated newbies who'll either be drawn to it or be pushed away. And if it continues on from that point in the following season, it brings about alienation from the casual viewers who'd rather not go out of their way to see a movie - especially seeing as the show already has feature-lengthed episodes on a semi-regular basis. And by rebooting, you have the fans who boycott it because it's not part of the show, and if it fails becomes yet another aspect of the show that is rarely discussed (joining the ranks of K9 and Company and Torchwood: Miracle Day).
No matter how big the show is, it’s always going to have a big speedbump when it comes to coming to cinemas. Entourage is only different because Mark Wahlberg is pushing for it. Fans may be too, but Wahlberg has that power. It's a bit of a mess as a result, with critics essentially saying the film is a longer episode of the show. Films need to be more than that - offer more than what the show can offer without avoiding new audiences. Don’t just show the bigger budget by having bigger actors (Entourage), grander scale paintball battles (Community) or just better special effects (Doctor Who); be new without straying far from the original material. If cartoons can do that, why can't live action shows?
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