Film Snail

That Thing You Do!
That Thing You Do!

6.9

That Thing You Do!

PG·1996·108m

Summary

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.

Cast

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks

Mr. White

Tom Everett Scott

Tom Everett Scott

Guy Patterson

Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler

Faye Dolan

Johnathon Schaech

Johnathon Schaech

Jimmy Mattingly

Steve Zahn

Steve Zahn

Lenny Haise

Ethan Embry

Ethan Embry

T.B. Player

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron

Tina

Obba Babatundé

Obba Babatundé

Lamarr

Giovanni Ribisi

Giovanni Ribisi

Chad

Chris Ellis

Chris Ellis

Phil Horace

Alex Rocco

Alex Rocco

Sol Siler

Bill Cobbs

Bill Cobbs

Del Paxton

Peter Scolari

Peter Scolari

Troy Chesterfield

Rita Wilson

Rita Wilson

Margueritte

Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak

Uncle Bob

Kevin Pollak

Kevin Pollak

Boss Vic Koss

Robert Torti

Robert Torti

Freddy Fredrickson

Chaille Percival

Diane Dane

Holmes Osborne

Holmes Osborne

Mr. Patterson

Claudia Stedelin

Claudia Stedelin

Mrs. Patterson

Dawn Maxey

Dawn Maxey

Darlene Patterson

Jack Milo

Villapiano

Keith Neubert

Dentist

Lee Everett

Kitty

Sean Whalen

Sean Whalen

Heckler

Clint Howard

Clint Howard

KJZZ Disk Jockey

Sarah Koskoff

Sarah Koskoff

Chrissy Thomkins

Mark Brettschneider

Talent Show Emcee

Kathleen Kinmont

Kathleen Kinmont

Koss' Secretary

Warren Berlinger

Warren Berlinger

Polaroid T.V. Host

Clive Rosengren

Clive Rosengren

Wisconsin Cop

Brittney Powell

Brittney Powell

Shades Fan

Jonathan Demme

Jonathan Demme

Major Motion Picture Director

Erika Greene

Major Motion Picture Assistant Director

Dave Oliver

Rick

Tracy Reiner

Tracy Reiner

Anita

Barry Sobel

Barry Sobel

Goofball

Paul Feig

Paul Feig

KMPC DJ

Gedde Watanabe

Gedde Watanabe

Play-Tone Photographer

Michael P. Byrne

Michael P. Byrne

Play-Tone Reporter

Dick Corman

Play-Tone Reporter

Diane McGee

Play-Tone Reporter

Randy Fechter

Play-Tone Tour Manager

Mars Callahan

Mars Callahan

Ernie the Disc Master Engineer

Benjamin John Parrillo

Benjamin John Parrillo

Marine Sergeant

Robert Ridgely

Robert Ridgely

Hollywood Showcase Announcer

Marc McClure

Marc McClure

Hollywood Showcase Director

Karen Praxel

Hollywood Showcase Script Supervisor

Paulie DiCocco

Hollywood Showcase Floor Manager

Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston

Virgil "Gus" Grissom

Charlie Frye

Plate Spinner

Colin Hanks

Colin Hanks

Male Page

Elizabeth Hanks

Elizabeth Hanks

Bored Girl in Dress Shop

Renée Lippin

Renée Lippin

Beautician

Robert Wisdom

Robert Wisdom

Bobby Washington

Gina Aponte

Gina Aponte

Band Fan (uncredited)

Heather Hewitt

Heather Hewitt

Sales Lady

Crew

Director, Screenplay

Tom Hanks

Reviews

FilipeManuelNeto

FilipeManuelNeto

May 14, 2023

8

**Tom Hanks gave life and affection to this project, which easily reminds us of the golden years of rock-and-roll.**

The film is a very nice story that revolves around the world of ephemeral "rock and roll" stars. In 1964, a group of youngsters from Pennsylvania suddenly emerge from obscurity when their garage band, the Wonders, achieve fame and success on the back of a single song, "That Thing You Do". Believing in a potential that might not exist, the scouts of the music world waste no time and the boys get a contract with a major label, which is waiting expectantly for equally good songs. However, sudden fame will test the strength of the group, the maturity and responsibility of that guys and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible.

Tom Hanks is more than a protagonist, he is the engine that pulls the film and makes it possible. He had achieved fame at the expense of good comedies like “Big” or “Money Pit”, but he had his consecration in films like “Sleepless in Seattle”, “Philadelphia”, “Forrest Gump” and “Apollo 13”. In addition, he already had two Oscars on his shelf, so he had the means to leverage a project he liked, and there is no doubt that he liked this one, and it was the lever that made it go forward. And contrary to what often happens in these situations, he didn't want the lead role: it's in a reasonably more modest role that we see him, a role where he doesn't fail to stand out.

The main role is assured by the band's boys, played by Tom Everett Scott, Johnatton Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry and Giovanni Ribisi. All quite young, still at the beginning of their respective careers, all capable of relatively slick and honest work, especially Scott, who is given a little more visibility. We also have to highlight the pleasant participation of Liv Tyler and Charlize Theron.

The film is quite light, lively and cheerful, even in the most tense moments, and in which it takes paths that could make it denser, more dramatic and profound, which it always avoids. That was a conscious choice, I'm sure, and that's debatable. Where the film stands out is in its attention to historical details, in the care with which it seeks to recreate the era and environments through the choice of suitable props, good costumes and make-up, as well as a set of excellent sets. And being such a musical film, the soundtrack is unavoidable and vibrant, with songs that stay in the ear and where the main melody, created especially for the film emulating the aesthetics and taste of the time, deserves a very special highlight.

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$26,000,000.00

Revenue:

$34,585,416.00

Keywords

pop star
pennsylvania, usa
record label
recording studio
battle of the bands
1960s
one hit wonder