That Thing You Do! [1997]

I've watched this film so many times over the years, it doesn't get old. Tom Hanks acting, writing, directing and song writing too - it couldn't get better. That Thing You Do is a brilliant look at the way fame can change you, or not - depending on what you do with it. The cast is engaging and believable, they all learned to play their instruments especially for the film, and it shows (not like the ham fisted playing of Tia Carrere in Wayne's World (ouch!). The supporting cast is wonderful, the sets, costume and styling is all perfection - every detail is captured magnificently. I never noticed until I watched the DVD extras, that The Wonders bass player is never named in the film - just like Joan Fontaine's character in 'Rebecca'. The sound track is genius! I have it saved on Spotify and listen to it a lot. It has a genuine feel to it, and I can imagine that if these songs were released in the mid-1960's they would definitely have topped the charts. The jazz is very cool too. Best line of the film... A drunken Guy Patterson talking excitedly to his Jazz hero Del Paxton - "...but I listened to all your records (long meaningful pause) YOU... are my biggest fan!" <3

Great and fun film that takes you back to the 60s and shows how some ordinary kids that form a band end up having a nr. one hit on the billboard charts. The story is how they got up there and what life and all the excitement is like for these young band members. Very entertaining, funny and moving. Would recommend for music fans. Everything was fine with the DVD and the delivery.

I do not know if this was Tom Hanks intention, apart from a bit of nostalgia (he is a big Beatles fan), but this film explains well why American bands tend to last a lot less than the British bands. The people over there, who get into this business do it for very different reasons from those of their British counterparts. The real purpose there seems to be limited to fame and fortune and, when that is over, they see no reason to stay together. There is the ego aspect related to the same. Conversely, you get British bands, even from that era, that have been through the worst of times and they decided to stick together and come back with force.

A truly outstanding musical movie. If you love the sixties you'll love this and the soundtrack captures the spirit of that generation spot-on. I never get tired of listening to the title track and though it was recorded in the nineties, it is one of my favourite all-time sixties tracks. Good quality, good value for money, and great music. Magic.

I was so excited to receive my DVD. Its so enjoyable. Thank you.

Love this film-nostalgic perhaps but it's not cheesy or lacking in dynamics-a great watch made great by the performances by the central characters and the overall snappy direction by Tom Hanks, nice editing and good story.

Since seeing "That Thing You Do" at the cinema I have wanted to own it. It's just a brilliant emulation of how bands in the sixties found fame. Tom Hanks is brilliant as the manager of The Wonders and the way the band reached the heights of popularity, only to find it all a bit too much, causing rifts to happen, resulting in their break-up....Liv Tyler is excellent as the "love interest"

For what is obviously intended as a lightweight film, this is surprisingly more thought-provoking by the end than the general feel throughout. Well done Mr Hanks. The one-hit wonder (theme?) tune is a good piece in its own right. Some nice acting from several of the cast treats the audience as if they are capable of thinking for themselves, instead of being bluntly told what the director thinks is meant to be going on. Which is a rare compliment from some directors, so well done again Mr Hanks.

História fantástica; e na versão do diretor, fica tudo muito melhor encaixado. 40 minutos de cenas adicionais. Vale cada centavo.

Nun jeder der auf Tanz und Music Filme steht, mag auch bestimmt diesen. Ich habe einige daheim >wippe bei Grease mit und würde am liebsten tanzen... Der Film ist genauso- irgendwie zieht das Lied einen mit. Der Film steigert sich und man kann richtig die Freunde mitfühlen von dem Moment an, als das Lied das erste mal im Radio ist und die Band aufsteigt, bekannt wird und sich manche dadurch ändern. Der Film ist lustig, bringt gute Stimmung beim Filmabend, und es sind viele Schauspieler dabei die man kennt. Würde gerne mehr von Tom Hanks alten Filmen kaufen, leider gibt es einige nicht mehr daher war ich froh diesen so schnell und günstig hier zu erwerben daher in allem 5 Sterne.

This is such a cute film. I saw it years ago in the theater, and it was just as cute now on DVD. Steve Zahn was an acquaintance in Jr. High, so it always fun to watch him act. A cute story, romantic but with the depth of life decisions that impact a band. Glad I added it to my Comedy Romance collection.

That Thing You Do! is Tom Hanks' first attempt at writing, directing and appearing (in a supporting role) a film - and what a film it is. Hanks' tale follows the rise and fall of a '60s garage band as they go from playing in amateur battles of the bands scenarios to, after replacing their drummer (their first one broke his leg) rising from a small town to traveling the country with a hit single (the titular song) before falling apart and fading from the international limelight (they were big in Japan!). Hanks takes classic types - the cute one, the brooding singer/songwriter, the goody one, the catalytic one - and gives them fresh coats of developmental paint and really delves into how the band comes together; why some of them may have reached their bliss while others might not; tracks the development of the song and how one seemingly small change (tempo!) makes all the difference. The song, of course, has to be perfect - it has to simultaneously sound like a product of the '60s and be so timeless that present day listeners will find themselves humming it, or singing along. Well, that, and it has to to be the musical pillar on which the movie stands. So, no big deal. The song, written by the late Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), does everything the film needs it to do - a minor miracle all by itself. Add to that compelling characters and the fun and strife a band might enjoy/suffer through in such a meteoric rise (and fall) and you've got a delightful, completely engaging film that will leave with the biggest smile. There is no filmmaker's commentary track, but that's the video's only real flaw. Extras include a music video (Fell Alright), The Wonders: Big In Japan; The Story of The Wonders; Making That Thing You Do!; That Thing You Do! Reunion, and HBO's First Look: The Making of That Thing You Do! That Thing You Do! Grade: A+ Extras: B+ Final Grade: A

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