On T List of Movie Reviews
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That Thing You Do! (1996)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
12/20
12/20:
The only one of his directorial career prior to the turn of the century, That Thing You Do! is a nice, catchy,
and three-cheers picture by Tom Hanks.
Yes, there've been tons like it, and all have been formulaic: a hot, new music band enters the scene, rises meteorically,
hits the peak, and goes down in flames just as quickly. This time, it only took three months for these guys of The Wonders,
making for the shortest run of a one-hit wonder band in movie history.
The star of the film is Tom Everett Scott who strangely looks like a Tom Hanks clone. However well-developed as his
character is, it leaves little to no room for the rest of the guys in the band. I mean, who are they? I don't think
one had a name. What happened to the drummer who got replaced? It's like he never existed after he broke his arm.
The ending is abrupt, thanks to the disappearance of three band members. Out of the blue, there's love in the air that seems
to have nothing to do with what's going on. At one point, Tom Hanks makes a snide commentary about these
Beach Party movies featuring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.
All in all, That Thing You Do! is a simplistic Horatio Alger music picture, but if the flaws can be ignored, it's
actually entertaining.