That Thing You Do! [VHS] [1997]: Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler, Charlize Theron, Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Obba Babatundé, Giovanni Ribisi, Chris Ellis, Alex Rocco, Bill Cobbs, Tak Fujimoto, Richard Chew, Edward Saxon, Gary Goetzman, Jonathan Demme, Terry Odem: Amazon.co.uk: Video

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Tom Hanks's debut as a writer and director is a lively, affectionate account of the shooting-star career of a forgotten (fictional) 1960s 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

Synopsis

An American rock group called The Wonders are catapulted to fame with the hit song 'That Thing You Do'. Tom Hanks stars as the group's agent.

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4.5 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Hanks film to date, 10 Aug 2009

By	Dead Ted Danson (Truth Or Consequences, New Mexicock) - See all my reviews

This review is from: That Thing You Do! [1997] [DVD] (DVD)

I'm going through a bit of a Tom Hanks season at the moment. In the past few days I've worked my way through Bachelor Party (endearing but idiotic), The Man With One Red Shoe (in no one way engaging), Big (something of a missed opportunity I think), Philadelphia (harrowing, sublime performance), Forrest Gump (possibly overrated, and based on a character its hard to emphasize with), and this, That Thing You Do!, not only Hanks' best film to that point, but also his debut as a writer AND director. Watching it only makes me wish he'd make more projects of his own, so filled to bursting is it with character nuance, throwaway zingers and crucially, a controlled, believable plot.

I'm sure you know the story; if not, allow me. Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott, sporting the very same hairdo Hanks did in all of the above movies bar Gump) is drafted by the One-ders (pronounced as Oh-nee-ders by the marvelous Steve Zahn and just about everyone else) after their drummer breaks his arm actin' the lig. Much to Jimmy's (where-are-they-now candidate Johnathon Schaech) dismay he plays the band's one song much too fast come Talent Show night, and wouldn't you know, it becomes a hit. What follows is a brief brush with fame for the four members (plus an adorable Liv Tyler as Jimmy's put-upon girlfriend) before internal conflict tears things apart. Along the way Tom Hanks becomes their manager and changes their name to The Wonders. "That Thing You Do" proves to be their one hit.

It's an interesting plot but it's the way in which it's handled that makes the picture such a joy. Hanks' script is uncluttered, concise and at times absolutely hilarious. Much of the latter hilarity is delivered by Zahn, in my mind the major comedy star that never was. If any one actor stands out in this superb young cast, it's him. His every line is a joy. Regarding Hanks as a director, it should come as a shock that this is ostensibly a debut feature. It's a Oneder he hasn't directed any movies since.

I don't think I can do this film justice with any amount of praise. In the simplest terms, I admire how Hanks keeps things simple- the band's fame is brief, and their downfall believable, inevitable even. From the earliest scenes it's clear these four young men are headed in different directions, but drug and violence cliches are avoided. He treats his characters with a subtle warmth- witness Guy meeting his idol in a small jazz club, or Tyler's heartbreaking breakup speech- as well as imbuing his own performance with a mature sensibility that at the time was a fresh approach for him.

That Thing You Do is buying That Thing You Do! post-haste.

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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable - fun - not one to strain the brain!!!!, 27 April 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: That Thing You Do! [1997] [DVD] (DVD)

Tom Hanks doesn't have as a large a role as expected but worth every screen second - Liv Tyler as the girl who helps the band get organised but can't recognise a jerk when she see's one and Tom Everett Scott just being cute but slightly dumb not realising a good thing when its there in front of him. One of those films for a Friday night in with a bottle of wine and box of choccies either on your own or with the girls. Music is catchy - bet the main song (penned by Hanks himself apparently) will keep going round in your head for days. Good Clean Family Fun!!

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this thing is good, 7 Jun 2001

By A Customer

Imagine you wish you were a rock and pop star and wanted to have fame,fortune,success and gained it all from just one record making it in the charts. Imagine being a touring member of a band that came from a small town and made it big and appeared on tv too. What a dream come too?That thing You Do does all of this and captures the moments brilliantly.Set in the late 50s early 60s Tom Hanks directorial debut and writing project brings these dreams come to true for a small band in a samll town who win a local talent contest and go on to achieve short lived success in the American Top 100 with a song that has you singing it constantly long after the end credits have finished.The casting of all the band memebers is excellent with the drummer Tom Everett -Scott a sort of Tom Hanks lookalike, taking centre stage in the movie with great acting, and if he isnt a drummer he sure knows how to play like one too. Great movie, great fun and great music capturing the roadshow tours of the time. Even the Beatles worked like this too!!!!!!!