Movie Notes: That Thing You Do!

February 6th, 2009

= 4 stars

Starring Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Tom Hanks
Directed by Tom Hanks

Synopsis

Drummer Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott) joins the “Wonders” a band with one hit that meets with sudden, unexpected success. The lead singer’s girlfriend Faye (Liv Tyler) and manager Mr. White (Tom Hanks) come along for the ride.

The Good

• Tom Hanks as director certainly has a way of getting the most out of the young actors, as all convey strong emotion in nearly every scene. Usually, said emotion is “goofy” (Steve Zahn’s performance in its entirety) — but there are some poignant moments — Guy’s palpable admiration for jazz greats, and Jimmy’s increasing frustration with the “business” side of the “music business.” Even Liv Tyler comes across as an actual, emotionally affecting actress. Also note Charlize Theron in an early role as Guy’s girlfriend.
• Thankfully, the band’s one hit song “That Thing You Do” is exceptionally solid and catchy. It must, in order to hold up under repeat listens as it’s played four or five times throughout the flick, during which I never really got tired of it. The band members also get increasingly more confident as the movie progresses, adding some additional musical interest.
• At the movie’s core is a wry sense of humor. Other than the joke on the band’s name (people keep mis-pronouncing their name “Oneders” as “Oh-need-ers”) the wild success of The Beatles inspired a litany of half-baked, four-man musical acts that had one hit and then vanished forever. The band’s name “Wonders” alludes to this history, and at one point, Mr. White says “One hit ‘wonders’ — a very common tale.” To base an entire musical biopic on a band nobody has ever heard of is a rather subtle joke, and in a way, also gives a possible answer to why this band, its members and the story is completely unfamiliar. It’s as if someone made a musical biopic of Dexy’s Midnight Runners or Martika, containing light criticism of the music industry. Perhaps the names have been changed to protect the innocent?

The Bad

• Largely a watered-down retelling of the Beatles’ story. Occasionally, the mimicry gets a little too close — the head shaking, the Ed Sullivan television show, and Stu Sutcliffe–like sun glasses for Guy.
• While the fictional band story is a useful plot device, one unfortunate result is no familiar, hit songs or actual musical celebrities.
• At times, cloyingly sweet (Steve Zahn dancing with a cardboard woman and Guy crying “I am Spartacus!”).

Conclusion

Despite a few moments where I had to take an insulin shot, the film’s cute performances and catchy music eventually won me over. It made me wish The Wonders were a real band — which is a wonder in itself.

IMDB: That Thing You Do!
Wikipedia: That Thing You Do!
Rotten Tomatoes: That Thing You Do!