As a former athlete attempting to establish this professionalism in a different field, having Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Spencer Strassmore in HBO’s latest half-hour comedy series Ballers is damn near perfect casting.
The latest from Entourage producers Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg and Rob Weiss (with Levinson also serving as creator), comparisons between both shows are almost impossible to ignore. Though having the former release its cinematic return in the same month doesn’t necessarily help. The hyper-masculine world of acting is now transferred onto looking inside NFL agency's perceived fancy-living, and it’s about as breezy and sleek and over-confident as you would expect.
Yet it’s also smarter and more self-aware than it’ll have you believe at first glance. For one, Spencer is no Ari. He’s not flawless, but he’s straight-laced, clean-headed compassionate and, not to mention, less prone to shout people out. Although, that’s not to say that he doesn’t have some violent tendencies — as seen later on. He can be a little dash, and also knows how to win the affections of a woman or two between working in clients to his firm — once a player, always a player they say, and the term obvious fits here in more ways than one — but as he says in the first episode, early on, “I’m not an agent, I’m a friend,” and, through Johnson, this is felt.
Beyond his natural charisma and charm, Johnson does a solid job to establish the care and affections his character has for his job, and that’s also what made people enjoy Ari beyond his colorful catchphrases. And while Spencer, as a character, is a little more flat than the Levinson, Wahlberg and Weiss’ other agent personality, Johnson gives Ballers the spark it needs to shine. As for the supporting cast around him, they're a bit of a mixed bag.
Rob Corddry as Spencer’s buddy and fellow agent Joe is a lot of fun, and his antics provide the rowdy fun audiences members want from this kind of low-stakes series. And while Ballers aims to be a man’s man show, Arielle Kebbel, as sports reporter Tracy Legette — more or less this universe’s Erin Andrews — doesn’t necessarily make up for the lack of strong female characters but definitely asserts herself a smart and worthwhile addition. Omar Benson Miller’s Charles Greene, an early-retired, settled-down lineman that never quite left the world of professional sports behind him, also is likable in an intentionally affable way, even if his character doesn’t necessarily feel vital thus far.
Plus London Brown as Reggie, the slimy a-hole holding Spencer at arm’s length from his big deal, is just the kind of arrogant foe you want to hate as you follow along this series. But the rest of the cast — save for an enjoyable-if-underused Dule Hill as Coach Larry — is unfortunately kinda bland. Much like Turtle, E or Vince before them, the other managers and sports players don’t really stand out and lack charisma or the will power to stay interesting, even when the writing desperately tells you to. It’s not as though they just fill space, but rather don’t give or add anything. And Ballers really needs to stand out if it wants to avoid the comparisons it’s getting already.
Though to its credit, after director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) sets the stage for its fast-paced but character-orientated tone with the pilot, and Julian Farino — a director on several Entourage episodes — takes over the wheel for the next three episodes, Ballers does find its own groove and swing. The energy’s consistent and the stimulation on male fantasies, provided through high-end parties, precariously spending money and indulging in drugs and alcohol, is ever prevalent. But the show’s concentrates on the hangovers as much as the partying, and yet never let the fun completely fizzle out. That’s an accomplishment, I would say.
So Ballers isn’t necessarily a touchdown. But it’s not a fumble either and, once it begins winning you over, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in its pounding enthusiasm. With The Rock on board, this one not likely to fall through the cracks, but hopefully Levinson and his gang learn this time to quit while they’re ahead. With its carefree vibe and chest-pound masculinity, it’s not long-term viewing material and by no means should this HBO series be stretched out to more than a handful of seasons. Though how they could ever do so with its lead ever-busy schedule is an even bigger mystery. As a carefree summer free-throw of a program, though, there’s no need to call an incompletion on this pass. Did I get the sports terms right?
Image courtesy of INFphoto.com
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