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That Thing You Do!
1996
Set in the 1964 and steeped in Americana, this Tom Hanks's directorial debut chronicles the meteoric rise--and equally quick demise--of a music group called the Wonders. The talented musicians start out playing in neighborhood joints. However, that changes after they meet a shrewd record executive (Hanks), who advises the boys .. Read more
| Starring | Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, Ethan Embry, Tom Hanks |
|---|---|
| Director | Tom Hanks |
| Genres | Drama |
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That Thing You Do!
Set in the 1964 and steeped in Americana, this Tom Hanks's directorial debut chronicles the meteoric rise--and equally quick demise--of a music group called the Wonders. The talented musicians start out playing in neighborhood joints. However, that changes after they meet a shrewd record executive (Hanks), who advises the boys on how to dress, act and sing. Soon their song, "That Thing You Do," hits number one, and the group is on top of the world. Unfortunately, the song is the Wonders's only hit. And that's just one reason why the group's collapse happens so quickly... In addition to Hanks, the film features Tom Everett Scott, Steve Zahn and Liv Tyler.
| Starring | Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, Ethan Embry, Tom Hanks, Clint Howard, Kathleen Kinmont, Alex Rocco, Peter Scolari, Barry Sobel, Gedde Watanabe, Rita Wilson, Bill Cobbs, Warren Berlinger, Kevin Pollak, Chris Isaak, Steve Zahn, Tom Everett Sco |
|---|---|
| Director | Tom Hanks |
| Studio | 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 43 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Croatian, Czech, Danish, English, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 30 Jun 2003 Production year: 1996 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Tom Hanks made his directorial debut with this immensely likeable pop fable about the meteoric rise and fall of the Wonders, an all-American small-town mythical rock 'n' roll band. Set in a period-perfect 1964, and featuring a marvellously evocative soundtrack of cod-Golden Oldies, it deliberately emphasises the Forrest Gump-style feel-good nostalgia, rather than making any hard-hitting statements about the price of fame. Hanks also plays the group's opportunistic manager, but it's sweet-natured Tom Everett Scott who registers strongest as the drumming driving force behind the aspiring Beatles, and Liv Tyler is equally affecting as the band's mascot.
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Sanitized 60s rock for those who grooved to Forrest Gump; nostalgia for a simpler, more innocent time (at least, as seen through Hanks's distorting lens) acts as a narrative sedative, though audiences may respond to its generalized warmth.
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Most helpful member's review
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Sparkling, light-hearted comedy
My respect for Tom Hanks just keeps growing. He wrote, directed, and co-starred in this, and by writing I don't just mean the script -- he penned the music, too, and "borrowed" the name of his own production company (Playtone) as "Play-tone", the record label that figures largely (and not entirely flatteringly) in the film.
The soundtrack is both catchy and authentic -- you could easily imagine the title track being a 60s hit, and after the movie you'll probably be humming it for days :-) According to the included documentary, the cast learned/played their own instruments -- and perhaps this is what gave such an authentic feel to the film because the team was forced to gel in more than the usual on-set sense.
The song "That thing you do" is created by a band of young musicians and gets picked up by progressively larger markets -- the school talent competition, the local bar, the roving spotter/manager, and finally by Play-tone. The band members undertake similar journeys as they variously implode or blossom. There's plenty of artistic and romantic conflict, but this is mainly feel-good comedy: only the most miserable curmudgeon could fail to come away from it feeling uplifted. -
Most recent members' review
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Customer Review
This film is an intresting/entertaining piece of cinema. Written and directed by 'Tom Hanks' the film follows 4 young lads on there journey from group struggle to group stardom. This film is great for the family and if you fancy watching a bit of 'make you smile' filmage with some great music then I recommend this one for you.
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News and features
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Hanks junior to hook up with Dad for new magician flick
- 10 Mar 2006
Tom and Colin Hanks are to join up again for a new film, it has been reported. The dad and son duo will star alongside each other in the picture The Great Buck Howard. Colin will feature as a school leaver who decides to become a magician's assistant, while Tom will play the role of Colin's father. Kevin Kline has also been pegged to play the role of Buck Howard himself, an illusionist whose career is on the slide. The film will follow the magician's career and fall into decline. Tom and Colin... Read more
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Set in the 1964 and steeped in Americana, this Tom Hanks's directorial debut chronicles the meteoric rise--and equally quick demise--of a music group called the Wonders. The talented musicians start ... -