THAT THING YOU DO!
A film review by Jeffrey R. Moore
Copyright 1996 Jeffrey R. Moore
"That Thing You Do!," the new movie written and directed by Tom Hanks, is the kind of movie that you would love if you rented it, and merely like if you went to the theater to watch it. It has great characters, a fun story line, fine acting, and even a guest appearance by Hanks himself. And yet it feels as though something's missing, something is just not there that should be.
The story revolves around a band who is struggling to make it out of Erie, Pennsylvania. The drummer accidentally hurts his arm right before a show, so the other members of the band ask a mutual friend issing, something is just not there that should be.
The story revolves around a band who is struggling to make it out of Erie, Pennsylvania. The drummer accidentally hurts his arm right before a show, so the other members of the band ask a mutual friend issing, something is just not there that should be.
The story revolves around a band who is struggling to make it out of Erie, Pennsylvania. They have come up with a "groovy" name (The "One-ders," which everyone eventually mispronounces as the Oneeders,) and a love song appropriately titled "That Thing You Do." However, es around a band who is struggling to make it out of Erie, Pennsylvania. They have come up with a "groovy" name (The "One-ders," which everyone eventually mispronounces as the Oneeders,) and a love song appropriately titled "That Thing You Do." As the band prepares to play an evening show at a diner, the drummer accidentally hurts himself and another friend has to stand in. During rehearsals, he seems bored and distracted, so at the actual performance he decides to jazz up the beat to the tune, catching his band mates off guard. They struggle at first, but then the crowd starts responding, and pretty soon the song is ending to thunderous applause and calls for an encore. Thus begins the "One-ders" ascent to stardom, with Tom Hanks eventually entering the picture as their guard. They struggle at first, but then the crowd starts responding, and pretty soon the song is ending to thunderous applause and calls for an encore. Thus begins the "One-ders" ascent to stardom, with Tom Hanks eventually entering the picture as their new record and tour manager.
Of course, as the movie progresses, and even the audience watching the film becomes tired of the once catcy, quickly annoying title tune, the eventual downfall of the group become evident. The sudden ing the picture as their new record and tour manager.
Of course, as the movie progresses, and even the audience watching the film becomes tired of the once catcy, quickly annoying title tune, the eventual downfall of the group become evident. The sudden ing the picture as their new record and tour manager.
Of course, as the movie progresses, and even the audience watching the film becomes tired of the once catcy, quickly annoying title tune, the eventual downfall of the group become evident. The sudden ing the picture as their new record and tour manager.
Of course, as the movie progresses, and even the audience watching the film becomes tired of the once catcy, quickly annoying title tune, the eventual downfall of the group become evident. The sudden ing the picture as their new record and tour manager.
Of course, as the movie progresses, and even the audience watching the film becomes tired of the once catcy, quickly annoying title tune, the eventual downfall of the group become evident. The sudden ing the picture as their new record and tour manager.
Of course, as the movie progresses, and even the audience watching the film becomes tired of the once catcy, quickly annoying title tune, the eventual downfall of the group become evident. The sudden new record and tour manager.
The band's rise to stardom is fun to watch, from their first appearance on a local radio station to a televised concert featuring their song. The actors all appear to be having fun, and Liv Tyler gives an incredibly restrained and honest performance as the girlfriend of the lead singer. Everything about the movie was fine from the beginning until the bittersweet, somewhat predictable ending. However, I would still have to recommend it with some reserve. You'd have to be a big fan of the 50's/60's rock era to enjoy all the "concert with wild fans" scenes. Plus, you'd have to be able to endure multiple playings of the title song. (Warning, it IS catchy at first, but after 8 or 9 times it starts to get annoying). All in all, on video you could easily fast forward any of those scenes and get back to what makes the movie good: acting, not ndure multiple playings of the title song. (Warning, it IS catchy at first, but after 8 or 9 times it starts to get annoying). All in all, on video you could easily fast forward any of those scenes and get back to what makes the movie good: acting, not ndure multiple playings of the title song. (Warning, it IS catchy at first, but after 8 or 9 times it starts to get those scenes and get back to what makes the movie a good movie: the acting. Not the singing. For anyone who remembers what it was like to live through such an exciting time when rock and roll really was new and revolutionary, or for anyone who wants to experience that feeling, then this movie will deliver the goods. For anyone who gets tired of hearing "That Thing You DO!" on your local radio stations, you might want to wait a while...
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