That Thing You Do! (1996)

Director:

Tom Hanks

Writer (WGA):

Tom Hanks (written by)

Release Date:

4 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do.

Plot:

A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager.

Plot Keywords:

Band | Pennsylvania | Jazz | Appliance Store | Drummer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Tom Everett Scott	...	Guy Patterson
Liv Tyler	...	Faye Dolan
Johnathon Schaech	...	Jimmy Mattingly
Steve Zahn	...	Lenny Haise
Ethan Embry	...	T. B. Player
Tom Hanks	...	Mr. White
Charlize Theron	...	Tina
Obba Babatundé	...	Lamarr
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Chad
Chris Ellis	...	Phil Horace
Alex Rocco	...	Sol Siler
Bill Cobbs	...	Del Paxton
Peter Scolari	...	Troy Chesterfield
Rita Wilson	...	Marguerite
Chris Isaak	...	Uncle Bob

MPAA:

Rated PG for some language.

Runtime:

108 min | USA:149 min (Director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Clavius Base

Trivia:

The exterior shots for Erie, Pennsylvania, the hometown of the band, were actually filmed in Orange, California.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The video switcher master control panel seen in the Hollywood TV studio control room is an early Grass Valley model. The Grass Valley company did not make such equipment until 1968.

Quotes:

Lenny: Well let's just call us "The Band You're About to Hear"

Movie Connections:

References Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)

Soundtrack:

Back Together

That Thing You Do - A Review By Jo Henshaw

That Thing You Do! In every life there becomes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do.

That Thing You Do begins with a group of friends practising for their college talent show. Their band - the amusingly named One-ders win the contest with their catchy song - That Thing You Do. But this is only the beginning of their success story. In a blur, the newly renamed Wonders become a hit - playing at their local clubs, and then moving on to a national tour with Playtone records under the guidance of Mr White (Tom Hanks) The beauty of the film is there is no conflict, just the excitement and exhilaration that the band feels as they become celebrities and this is can't be shown better than in the scene where they first hear their song on the radio and they are literally dancing in the street, you can't help but feel happy for them too. Tom Everett Scott plays the charming Guy Patterson - the electrical store assistant who becomes the band's drummer and a national sex symbol with his trademark sunglasses. Lenny (Steve Zahn) is the carefree guitarist who sees the bands success as a huge lark and just throws himself into enjoying every day. Jimmy (James) Mattingly II is the band's creativity - writing the songs - and also its serious side. He sees the commercialisation of the wonders as stifling his creativity and is reluctant to sign anything to do with his music. Liv Tyler is also a delight as Jimmy's girlfriend Faye and the band's biggest supporter. The success of That Thing You do lies in the little things that are so easy to miss yet are the glue that brings the whole film together. Watch out for how well Guy's family react to his success and how the bands first drummer with the broken arm keeps turning up. Also notice how it is Guy that keeps looking out for Faye. It is these little things that will bring you to the film and that find you leaving with a smile and a desire to see it again.