That Thing You Do!

Watch: That Thing You Do!

10/4/19961h 48m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ The Fab Four without the Mop Tops ~

Overview:

A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager.

Director:

Tom Hanks

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$26,000,000.00

Revenue:

$34,585,416.00

Key words:

pop star
pennsylvania, usa
record label
recording studio
battle of the bands
1960s
one hit wonder

Cast

Tom Hanks

~ as ~

Mr. White

Tom Everett Scott

~ as ~

Guy Patterson

Liv Tyler

~ as ~

Faye Dolan

Johnathon Schaech

~ as ~

Jimmy Mattingly

Steve Zahn

~ as ~

Lenny Haise

Ethan Embry

~ as ~

T.B. Player

Charlize Theron

~ as ~

Tina

Obba Babatundé

~ as ~

Lamarr

Giovanni Ribisi

~ as ~

Chad

Chris Ellis

~ as ~

Phil Horace

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

Filipe Manuel Neto
Written 2 year(s) ago
8
Tom Hanks gave life and affection to this project, which easily reminds us of the golden years of rock-and-roll.

The film is a very nice story that revolves around the world of ephemeral "rock and roll" stars. In 1964, a group of youngsters from Pennsylvania suddenly emerge from obscurity when their garage band, the Wonders, achieve fame and success on the back of a single song, "That Thing You Do". Believing in a potential that might not exist, the scouts of the music world waste no time and the boys get a contract with a major label, which is waiting expectantly for equally good songs. However, sudden fame will test the strength of the group, the maturity and responsibility of that guys and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible.

Tom Hanks is more than a protagonist, he is the engine that pulls the film and makes it possible. He had achieved fame at the expense of good comedies like “Big” or “Money Pit”, but he had his consecration in films like “Sleepless in Seattle”, “Philadelphia”, “Forrest Gump” and “Apollo 13”. In addition, he already had two Oscars on his shelf, so he had the means to leverage a project he liked, and there is no doubt that he liked this one, and it was the lever that made it go forward. And contrary to what often happens in these situations, he didn't want the lead role: it's in a reasonably more modest role that we see him, a role where he doesn't fail to stand out.

The main role is assured by the band's boys, played by Tom Everett Scott, Johnatton Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry and Giovanni Ribisi. All quite young, still at the beginning of their respective careers, all capable of relatively slick and honest work, especially Scott, who is given a little more visibility. We also have to highlight the pleasant participation of Liv Tyler and Charlize Theron.

The film is quite light, lively and cheerful, even in the most tense moments, and in which it takes paths that could make it denser, more dramatic and profound, which it always avoids. That was a conscious choice, I'm sure, and that's debatable. Where the film stands out is in its attention to historical details, in the care with which it seeks to recreate the era and environments through the choice of suitable props, good costumes and make-up, as well as a set of excellent sets. And being such a musical film, the soundtrack is unavoidable and vibrant, with songs that stay in the ear and where the main melody, created especially for the film emulating the aesthetics and taste of the time, deserves a very special highlight.