That Thing You Do! (1996)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Manu G

  
  In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do. Good movie with a happy ending for everyone. The movie features one of my favorite actors of all-time Tom Hanks and even though he's not a big part of the film you can't help but feel his… More
  In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do. Good movie with a happy ending for everyone. The movie features one of my favorite actors of all-time Tom Hanks and even though he's not a big part of the film you can't help but feel his touch in this movie and it was great. The film's plot is fairly simple, yet it doesn't veer off into the typical VH1 Behind The Music avenue of excessive sex and drugs. The cast was amazing, lots of good and funny actors, all contributing to fine piece of film. The film follows the career of the Erie, Pennsylvania, rock band that formed in the middle of the Britsih Invasion following the Beatles success. Guy Patterson, son of a local appliance store owner and a good drummer who idolizes jazz, is involved in a shallow relationship with Tina Powers. He is asked by rhythm guitarist/singer Jimmy Mattingly and lead guitarist/singer Lenny Haise to substitute for their unnamed beat group's regular drummer, Chad, who has broken his arm, at that night's annual Gannon College talent show in an attempt to win the $100 first prize. Rounding out the group is the band's never-named bass player T.B. Player. They are to play a ballad written by Jimmy, "That Thing You Do", which they rehearse in a garage. At the suggestion of Jimmy's girlfriend Faye Dolan, inspired by a comment from Guy, they adopt the name "The Oneders" (pronounced "ONE-ders"), but it is almost always mispronounced as the "oh-NEE-ders." At the talent show, Guy sets the beat substantially faster than its original ballad tempo. Although the rest of band struggles to keep up, everybody gets up to dance to it, they overwhelmingly win the $100 top prize, and they get their first paying gig, at a pizza parlor near the airport. After a fan requests their record, they enlist the help of Guy's Uncle Bob, who records songs and sermons for churches and choirs, to record and cut the song on vinyl, which Faye sells at their gig. Talent scout Phil Horace sees them play, buys a record and introduces himself to Guy at the appliance store. Based on Horace's promise that he will get them radio airplay and performance bookings in big cities like Pittsburgh and Steubenville, The Oneders sign him as their manager, despite Jimmy's initial reluctance to assign rights to his music. Horace is successful: the song is played three times in one day on WJET and they are booked at a gig in Pittsburgh sponsored by well-known mattress salesman "Boss Vic Koss". Although the first set is a failure due to a series of technical mishaps, Horace has secretly arranged for a record company A&R (Artist & Repetoire) man, Mr. White to see the show. He is impressed by their record, buys the band's contract, signs the band to his employer (the Play-Tone record label), changes the spelling of their name to The Wonders, and decides that Guy should always wear sunglasses on stage and be known as "Shades" as a gimmick. He also arranges for Faye to accompany the band as "wardrobe mistress." At the same time, Tina (not very impressed with Guy's newfound semi-stardom) falls in love with her new dentist and dumps Guy. Alongside other Play-Tone artists, the band tours state fairs across the Midwest, and the single enters and climbs the Billboard Top 100. As the tour progresses, The Wonders go from being the opening act to the feature attraction, even earning band-specific stage decorations. Throngs of teenage girls mob the band at one tour stop. While on tour, Jimmy engages in an affair with aging siren Diane Dane. When the song hits the Top 10, the band is ordered to leave the tour in Wisconsin and head for Hollywood for a slot on The Hollywood Television Showcase. On the airplane, White announces that the band also will be appearing in a major motion picture and, at Jimmy's urging, doing a recording session for an album, while Faye comes down with a severe cold. Meanwhile, in Erie, original drummer Chad has taken Guy's place as a salesman at Patterson's Appliance. While at a promotional photo shoot at Play-Tone records corporate headquarters they meet Sol Siler, the owner, who wants his deli (luncheon spread) more than meeting the talent. White has also made arrnagements for the Wonders to appear as "Cap'n Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters" in a film, Weekend at Party Pier, a beach movie typical in the 60s. Jimmy becomes disillusioned and sulks. During an off day, the bass player abandons the band to visit Disneyland with a group of Marine Corps sargents, whose ranks he had previously committed to join. Alone, Guy goes to a jazz club, where he meets his idol, jazz pianist Del Paxton, and drinks with him until closing time. The next day, experienced studio bassist Scott "Wolfman" Pell joins The Wonders in placve of the Marine ensconsed bass player for a live performance on The Hollywood Television Showcase. During the Wonders live performance, the words "Careful girls, he's engaged!" are captioned on the screen beneath Jimmy's image (an homage to "Sorry girls, he's married!" to John Lennon on the Ed Sullivan Show, which is referred to in the film). After the show, an angry Jimmy rudely tells Faye and the rest of the band that he is not engaged and that he doesn't intend to marry Faye. Hurt by Jimmy's callousness and insensitivity, Faye ends their relationship. At the recording session the next day, the Wonders learn that they are to record songs from the Play-Tone catalog for their album. White promises Jimmy one original song per side of the album, but makes it clear that he wants "snappy" material, not ballads. Jimmy promptly quits the band and walks out. Lenny never even shows up for the session (he went to Las Vegas with a Play-Tone secretary the night before and then married her). With the departure of everyone but Guy, there are no more Wonders. Guy remains in the recording studio alone, as it was his first time in one, and his impromptu drumming catches the ear of Del Paxton, who is recording next door. The two record a jam session where Guy plays a drum routine entitled "I Am Spartacus" while Del improvises an accompanying piano part. Back at their L.A. hotel, Guy tells Faye that Del thinks he can make it as a session musician in L.A., and Faye and Guy finally declare their love for one another. In a written epilogue, Guy and Faye remain in Los Angeles, marry the following year and raise four children, and found a music conservatory in which Guy teaches Jazz Composition. Jimmy rejoins Play-Tone and records three gold albums with a new band called The Heardsmen (his choice for the original Erie band). Lenny manages a casino in Laughlin NV, but he is now single. The Bass Player was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained while serving in the Marines, and becomes a building contractor in Florida.

• Cynthia S

  
  I can't explain why I enjoy this movie so much. Yet it seems every time it is on TV, and it is on quite often, I always enjoy watching as much of it as I can, no matter which scene I happen to catch. There are only a few movies that do this to me. It must just be a reflection of… More
  I can't explain why I enjoy this movie so much. Yet it seems every time it is on TV, and it is on quite often, I always enjoy watching as much of it as I can, no matter which scene I happen to catch. There are only a few movies that do this to me. It must just be a reflection of me. Let's pretend it is due to an unhealthy appreciation of Steve Zahn, and leave it at that. But even so, this a fun fun toe tapping good romp of a time! ! Doesn't hurt that it is chock full of fantastic actors, too. :)

• Lenny M

  
  I really have reviewed this before, this is an outright classic. Never gets old. Fresh to deaf.

• Cassie H

  
  A cute movie. Tom Hanks was very good in his part in this movie. I really enjoyed it. :)

• Conner R

  
  While it has its moments, it is a hollow movie without any real meaning. Tom Hanks was entertaining, but his smaller role hurt the film as he was the only one that delivered an actual performance. It is a plea at the celebrity story, but doesn't really hit home at all.

• Thomas B

  
  this is a great film, no matter what people say. the song is the most catchy thing you will hear all year and tom hanks shows his versatility, directing and acting in this very different look at bands and their members.

• Candy R

  
  Tom Hanks manages a school band to stardom with a 1960s hit called 'That Thing You Do'.

• Curtis L

  
  I think they sung that damn song way too many times in this movie.

• moon r

  
  a love letter to the fans of the fab four, albeit delivered a tad too late...

• xGary X

  
  Flimsy but inoffensive feelgood film about a 60s pop band directed by Tom Hanks. Strictly by the numbers but efficiently done.

• Aaron N

  
  Lenny: Are you crazy? A man in a really nice camper wants to put our song on the radio! Gimme a pen, I'm signin'! You're signin'! We're all signin'! A movie that is a lot of fun to watch. Tom Hanks wrote his directed his first movie here, and it's… More
  Lenny: Are you crazy? A man in a really nice camper wants to put our song on the radio! Gimme a pen, I'm signin'! You're signin'! We're all signin'! A movie that is a lot of fun to watch. Tom Hanks wrote his directed his first movie here, and it's nothing heavy like the previous three films he made, it's just something a lot of fun to enjoy. A fictional 60s pop band called the Oneders or, "The Wonders", rise to fame and have to deal with it. Tom Hanks shows up as the manager, but not as a big star, just a supporting role. The main cast is the band, with Tom Everett Scoot in the lead as the drummer and Steve Zahn stealing all his scenes as the guitarist. Mr. White: This "Oneders" thing, with the o-n-e, it doesn't work. It's confusing. From now on, you're just The Wonders. Lenny: As in, I wonder what happened to the O-Needers? Liv Tyler is also very cute throughout the film as the lead singer's girlfriend. A fun movie with some good original songs as well as a good overall soundtrack. Fun time watching, and that doesn't change. Jimmy: She told me never trust a label. And I'm beginning to believe her. Lenny: Well, sure. I mean, come on. They put us up in a first class hotel, all expenses paid, while our record climbs the charts; bunch of lyin' snakes. Jimmy: Sorry I'm buggin' you! I guess I'm alone in my principles. [leaves the room] Lenny: Oh come on. Oh, there he goes off to his room to write that hit song "Alone in my principles."

• danny d

  
  the first boy band, well i guess that was the beatles, anyway this flick is good

• Jason S

  
  A fun one.

• Eric B

  
  Underrated, infectious film. Nice to see Tom Hanks playing an unlikable character, for once. Great song, too. I just wish the film's ambience wasn't so terribly spotless and well-scrubbed -- it's as if every scene has been freshly wiped with Windex.

• Mark K

  
  It's catchy, it's snappy, it's charming. It's one of those films I see on cable half-way through, and with a lack of anything else to do late at night I watch the rest of it. That Thing You Do features a lot of talent wrapped in an early music industry story,… More
  It's catchy, it's snappy, it's charming. It's one of those films I see on cable half-way through, and with a lack of anything else to do late at night I watch the rest of it. That Thing You Do features a lot of talent wrapped in an early music industry story, topped off by a little romance, and a hefty dose of good humor. You also get a bunch of original songs by 'original' bands and singers that sound suspiciously like other groups and singers of the mid-60's. Directed and Written by Tom Hanks, it's just one of those films with so many 'make-you-smile' moments, I don't have time to list them all. Can you tell I like this film? It's also fun to see Charlize Theron in a small role before she was A-list, and a host of familiar faces in various cameo roles. It's just a fun film, but recalls with more accuracy than you might expect the early days of rock and roll. Recommended.

• Tedd P

  
  Rarely is it the case when a movie's soundtrack is more popular than the movie itself, but this is one of them. Even with that said though, even if the music were nothing special you'd still have a pretty darn entertaining film- simple, earnest and full of wit and likable… More
  Rarely is it the case when a movie's soundtrack is more popular than the movie itself, but this is one of them. Even with that said though, even if the music were nothing special you'd still have a pretty darn entertaining film- simple, earnest and full of wit and likable characters

• ashley h

  
  This is a great look into the behind the scenes of the music business-from the strive of a small town band, to the fame that separates them in the end. Very good movie-I love the soundtrack

• Henrik S

  
  Despite it several weaknesses, the film is still enjoyable because writer/director Tom Hank's love and interest for the era pervades through the film like music from the radio. In fact, the story follows the basic principle of all band biopics, be it fictional or not, the rise… More
  Despite it several weaknesses, the film is still enjoyable because writer/director Tom Hank's love and interest for the era pervades through the film like music from the radio. In fact, the story follows the basic principle of all band biopics, be it fictional or not, the rise and downfall are portrayed in stoic conservatism and there are no surprise twists or anything to be found for miles. Yet, the innocent lust for life that is such a (alleged) part of the 50s pop culture makes this film enjoyable and interesting. The costumes, sets, music, hairstyles etc. make this a journey back in time, if only into a bubble-gum kitsch version that - even back in the 1950s - would have been a caricature of itself. The actors are solid and good thing that most of the characters are too young to sport any considerable depth anyway and Tom Hanks plays with more suave than his usual dorkyness but he is far from hitting that enigmatic character he tries to portray (Phil Spector anyone). Liv Tyler provides the necesary eye-candy. This film is definitely not a turkey but still nothing more than your average Hollywood rom-com fare and Ton Hanks amazing talent as an actor does not translate into direction and while he does not slip up, he never hits a ball out of the park either. Great if you're into the 50s in particular, good for everyone else.

• Timothy O

  
  I watch this over and over again.

• matt s

  
  Nostalgia, good soundtrack as well.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings