That Thing You Do (Widescreen): Amazon.ca: DVD: DVD

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Tom Hanks's debut as a writer and director is a lively, affectionate account of the shooting-star career of a forgotten (fictional) '60s pop-rock band called The Wonders--as in "one-hit wonders." Hanks plays the manager of the group, which includes drummer Guy "Sticks" Patterson (Tom Everett Scott) who works the floor at his parents' appliance store in Erie, Pennsylvania; Jimmy (Johnathon Schaech), the talented and temperamental lead singer and songwriter; Lenny (Steve Zahn), the goofy guitarist; and Ethan Embry as a geeky little fellow identified in the cast list only as "The Bass Player." The movie traces their meteoric rise and fall, from cutting their first record, to going on tour with a Phil Spector/Motown-type revue, to the internal tensions that lead to the band's disintegration, which comes when they fail to follow up their smash hit single, "That Thing You Do!" And that song, by the way, is so catchy it would definitely have been a hit in 1964--and deserves to be one today. This delightful movie would make a great double-bill with Allison Anders's wonderful Grace of My Heart. --Jim Emerson

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Customer Reviews

129 Reviews

5 star:		(95)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (129 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "We can use the 'Wonders' with an 'O' 'N' 'E'", July 13 2004

By

A. Banaag - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: That Thing You Do (Widescreen) (DVD)

This is one of Tom Hanks' best!
Written, directed, and starring Tom Hanks, 'That Thing You Do!' tells the charming story of a small town band hitting the big times. It starts with the find of a perfect drum player and ends in a wonder.
Guy Patterson is helping run the family appliance store, something he could live without doing, Jimmy is the lead singer to a newly started rock band with one problem: his band has its first gig and no drum player!
That's when Guy comes in, with his amazing fast drum playing skills, which turns the band's best song, "That Thing You Do", from good to great!!! They recieve a standing ovation and are asked to perform another gig! After making a single recording of "That Thing You Do!" on a record, they get a manager, who leads them to their new manager, Mr. White (Hanks).
After making the radio and hitting a state fair tour, the band fly to California where they are given a chance to perform live on TV!
As the worst would happen, something dramatic with Jimmy and his girlfriend, who is also their costume mistress, and the band break up. Giving the song "That Thing You Do!" a lable as a One-Hit Wonder.
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The movie is awesome, all in all. It delivers fast, fun comedic jokes and has very snappy and catchy music. The ending is very sweet, giving a brief on all the main characters and where they are today. This movie will touch your heart, if not through the story, then the music.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Not deep, but highly etertaining slice of 1960's pop music, July 12 2004

By

Kathryn Atwood (Midwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: That Thing You Do (VHS Tape)

This is a movie about a 1964 garage rock band called "The Wonders" that catapults to the big time in one summer then disbands, having made only one hit -- get it? The one-hit-Wonders!

My husband came of age in the 60's and he finds it immensely entertaining. He always laughs at the all-girl band Tom Hanks cleverly creates to showcase local 60's mediocrity -- and he's laughing at himself, remembering some of his own mediocre music ensembles from the same decade. But he only laughs during that one song; the rest of the music in this movie is excellent. Every time he hears the alterative version of the main song (during the end credits) he wishes that his own garage band would have had access to music like that.

1964 was an interesting time for pop music; it included 50's type genres as well as rock and roll (which is usually associated with the 60's, although it began earlier), and this movie (and soundtrack) capture it beautifully. The "Playtone Galaxy of Stars" (Playtone being the fictitious recording lable featured in the movie) includes a black girl's group, a glamourous blond pop singer and a tall, dark, handsome guy, reminiscent of a certain "look" from the late 50's/early 60's who sings a song hummorously reminiscent of "Secret Agent Man." Even jazz is featured: when the group falls apart, the drummer gets to jam with a black Jazz pianist that he's admired for years.

Not only do the Wonders sing the phenominally catchy and immensely listenable title tune (and the actors are really playing and singing, which is quite an achievement) but several others: my personal favorite is the jazzy "Dance With Me." But the wonderful (there I go again) title song is what seems to magically captures a whole decade of rock and roll; it would have been a major hit if it had existed in 1964.

My husband and I obviously love this film and what's really great about it is that our kids love to watch with us; they especially love anything Steve Zahn says or does -- he's hysterical. All the other performances are great as well; it's a very good piece of ensemble work and everyone gives a very natural performance. The plot clips right along, the screenplay is witty and the cinemetography is very cleverly done.

All right, so it doesn't have a deep meaning, but it's not trying to. If you enjoy music from the 60's, you can't find a more entertaining film than this one.

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5.0 out of 5 stars I Am Spartacus, Mar 17 2004

By

Joseph J. Slevin (Carlsbad, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: That Thing You Do (Widescreen) (DVD)

No matter what you hear, this is one really fun movie. From the start with the frustrations of relationships within a neighborhood rock and roll band, to the development into a number one hit, this movie takes you on the ride from small Erie, PA across the country to Hollywood.

Hanks does a tremendous job bringing together some unknowns to develop a great idea. This band, the Oneders - then the Wonders - goes through changes and the movie seems to be like the life of both the early Beatles and the Monkees combined. There is a 60s quality to the movie that gives it a very pleasant charm. Innocence is really shown in the movie, then characters develop and become a little more experienced in life.

The life of the bands working on a cross country trip as part of a record label as they track their meteoric rise to the top is especially interesting.

There is one scene in the movie that actually can give you the chills, you really get a kick out of the joy the band feels as Liv Tyler and friends run down a busy Erie street, probably State Street, screaming and yelling and jumping up and down when their new song has hit the airwaves for the first time. If there was ever a scene showing immense joy, this is possibly it.

Well casted, well produced, the movie is a fun romp through the development of a Wonder. The extras in the DVD are fun as well. This is a must for families and is watchable for any age.

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Just OK, nothing special
I expected an entertaining movie judging by these reviews,
but I was disappointed. This is a trite, ordinary movie with a catchy song.

Published on Jun 16 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars An ode to garage bands
Yes, on the surface, That Thing You Do! is somewhat of a feel good movie. More than that however, it is a heartfelt ode to the garage band movement gaining momentum in the early... Read more

Published on Jan 26 2004 by Dr. Jason B. Miller