Night at the Movies: That Thing You Do

Night At The Movies

That Thing You Do (1996) (Fox)

Synopsis:

In the midst of the Beetle-mania of the late sixties, a small band from Erie, Pennsylvania record a song which takes the United States by storm. Beginning in a garage and ending up at number 2 on the Billboard charts, the Wonders experience the music business and find a little time to relish their new-found fame.

Avaiability:
VHS: Pan and Scan only

Cast/Crew:
Tom Hanks                        Director / Mr. White
    You Have Mail
    Sleepless in Seattle
    Toy Story
    The Man With One Red Shoe
    Big

Tom Everett Scott
An American Werewolf in Paris

Liv Tyler                            Faye
    Empire Records
    Armageddon
    Inventing the Abbotts

Miscellaneous:
    Aside from being the director, writer, an co-star, Hanks also wrote some of the lyrics, although not to the title song.
    Rita Wilson, Hanks' wife, had a cameo as the waitress (?) who introduces Del Paxton
    The song "That Thing You Do" played all winter and summer of 1997, much to the chagrin of alternative music lovers
    The group's bass player is never named. In fact, his name in the credits are "T.B. Player" . . . standing for T(he) B(ass) Player.

MPAA Rating
PG some language

My Rating:
Perhaps it's the upbeat spirit of the film that makes it fun. Hanks is good in his role as the music exec, and the band members do a good job exploring the friendships and jealousies that plauge groups, whether they've been around a while or are one hit wonders. It is the American Dream, and the band members rise and fall according to their own wishes and desires.

****
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Night at the Movies