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Summary: "...like I wonder what happen to the O-NE-DERS?" Lenny
Review: Those words spoken by Lenny just kill me...Zahn plays the part of Lenny, the smart-talking and wild member of the group. This movie takes place in 1964, just as Vietnam was beginning to re-focus a carefree America. Along comes a "one-time wonder" with a hit song which climbs the Billboard Chart in record time...The chemistry that Zahn, Schaech, Scott, and Embry have, combine to form an exciting and comical band who go from obscurity to nationwide fame in a few weeks' time. Each member of the group handles the group's rising success in a different way. That aspect alone is unique! Tom Hanks plays the manager-part very realistically, but adds a twist of humanity when it comes to dealing with Scott's character. Liv Tyler, who plays Jimmy's girlfriend Faye, does a wonderful job of playing the part of the loyal girlfriend (though Jimmy burns her in the end). Tom Everett Scott does a fantastic job as the main character whose drums bring the Wonders to life through his playing. The plot is simple but could've been more developed. The soundtrack is a must if you purchase the movie. The album notes are fictional but add insights to other characters in the movie. Hanks did a wonderful job directing this movie and writing many of the songs involved in the movie. Overall, this ranks as one of my family's favorite movies...
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Summary: Finally on DVD!!!
Review: You're not likely to find a more sweet, affectionately drawn portrait of a time and era than this film. The last great one before this was "American Graffiti." Tom Hanks takes a very easy-going hand with the direction of this excellent movie, which is one of the film's strong points. It moves at a fast, yet leisurely pace and has a good story to tell about one of the millions of one hit wonder band that crop up, have a hit or two, and then just when they are about to become the hugest group in the world, disappear into oblivion. The group in this movie, therefore is, aptly called the "Wonders." (The original spelling of their name, the "One-ders" has to be changed because people kept pronouncing it "Oh needers".) This movie is a very light, fun musical comedy/drama with a bouncy, authentic-sounding score, highlighted by the excellent title number and some other faux-60s pop hits, and delightful performances from an exuberant cast. Hanks even has a small part as their manager, in a very downplayed, tasteful performance. This movie is wise to never take itself or its plot too seriously, acknowledging throughout, even during the breakup, that the "Wonders" was really a whim more than anything else throughout their shortlived history. Many clever set pieces compare the "Wonders" to parts of Beatle history, the difference being that the Beatles had more than one or two hit singles. All in all, this movie is a fun, vibrantly colorful look at the 60s music industry, that gently and subtly parodies the era while celebrating it simulaneously. P.S. Look for a fabulous cameo by Rita Wilson, Hanks' real-life wife as a cocktail waitress.
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Summary: I Am Spartacus
Review: No matter what you hear, this is one really fun movie. From the start with the frustrations of relationships within a neighborhood rock and roll band, to the development into a number one hit, this movie takes you on the ride from small Erie, PA across the country to Hollywood.Hanks does a tremendous job bringing together some unknowns to develop a great idea. This band, the Oneders - then the Wonders - goes through changes and the movie seems to be like the life of both the early Beatles and the Monkees combined. There is a 60s quality to the movie that gives it a very pleasant charm. Innocence is really shown in the movie, then characters develop and become a little more experienced in life. The life of the bands working on a cross country trip as part of a record label as they track their meteoric rise to the top is especially interesting. There is one scene in the movie that actually can give you the chills, you really get a kick out of the joy the band feels as Liv Tyler and friends run down a busy Erie street, probably State Street, screaming and yelling and jumping up and down when their new song has hit the airwaves for the first time. If there was ever a scene showing immense joy, this is possibly it. Well casted, well produced, the movie is a fun romp through the development of a Wonder. The extras in the DVD are fun as well. This is a must for families and is watchable for any age.
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Summary: Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters?
Review: Hanks' writing and directorial debut is a hit. Four Erie, PA boys dream of stardom as they form a band called the Wonders. Talented as he is concieted lead singer Jimmy (Jonathon Schaech)is supported by his loyal and ever-loving girlfriend Faye (Liv Tyler)as he writes a touching ballad-type song called "That Thing You Do". Fortunately, the bands' drummer Guy "Shades" Patterson (Tom Everett Scott)accidentally picks the beat up a notch at a local band competition, and the crowd goes wild. They soon have a hit on their hands, and are being played on the radio. Enter manager (Hanks), who takes them on a tour for the record label Playtone, and turns them into stars. But Jimmy's growing ego and the bass player's small problem of having to report for Army duty pose a problem for the Wonders, even after their huge success on a variety show (the host is played by Hanks' longtime friend Peter Scolari, who starred with him in the sitcom "Bosom Buddies"). The most amazing thing about this movie is that no matter how many times you hear them play "That Thing You Do", you never get sick of it. Great cast, great script, and Steve Zahn as the bands guitarist is fabulous. DVD extras including the making of the movie (where you learn that the actors had to actually learn to play their instruments), the theatrical trailer, and 2 music videos, one for "That Thing You Do", and the other for "Dance With Me Tomight".
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Summary: The Wonders do wonders!!
Review: You can watch it with any member in your family without feeling embarrassed. This is hard to find unless it's a kiddie movie. Tom Hanks really surprised me. Not only he's a great actor with proven history, he's a fine director as well. The pacing and tempo of this movie goes down smoothly. Whoever the editor was, he deserved credit, too!! All actors gave equally fine performance. This, I believe, is the result of good script, good direction, and good character definition, so that the actors had all that they needed to work on the roles. Oh and the music, there's hardly a bad song. Yes, the 60's music can be kind of corny and sugary but hey, we all need upbeat and sweet music in today's bleaker environment, don't we? I am with a gigging band, my hat's off to the Wonders for picking up instruments with only a 5-week rehearsal. All in all, you shouldn't miss this movie. Better yet, buy the DVD and the soundtrack so whenever you feel blue, let the Wonders do wonders to you!!
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Summary: Refreshing and charming.
Review: This is a delightful movie, probably unlike any you've ever seen. All the characters are so well balanced and adorable, and their story is so well told that it makes you feel it's a true story about real people. It's refreshing, sweet, entertaining and charming. A group of friends puts together a music band and they record a song. The song gets on the radio and quickly climbs the music charts, making them an overnight success. Their unexpected and speedily growing fame puts their relationships, as well as individual integrity and self-respect, to the test. Troubles arise, and with them the characters show their true natures, good and bad, making their musical career as a rock group as brief and ephemeral as lightning. But despite the obstacles the characters face, a few good things derive from them, new relationships are formed, old ones are strengthened, and all the characters make the choices that allow them to successfully follow their dreams after having lived through a life-changing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The score of the film is great and the songs are true to the style and the music of the sixties, which is the period in which the movie takes place. The clothing and sets are accurate and the characters are wonderfully adapted to the fads of the time. The writing, plot and dialogues are superbly well done (by Tom Hanks) and makes each and every character come alive, even those with just a few minutes of screen time. The cast is exquisitely chosen, including Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler and Tom Hanks, and their performances are natural and enjoyable. This movie is a delight to watch time and again; each time you'll discover new details from the richly layered, yet realistic and simple personality of each character. A must-buy for anyone who likes a movie that tells a high-quality story through the eyes of interesting and refreshing characters.
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Summary: An ode to garage bands
Review: Yes, on the surface, That Thing You Do! is somewhat of a feel good movie. More than that however, it is a heartfelt ode to the garage band movement gaining momentum in the early 60s. This is the story that typifies so many of those great bands. The writers really did their research about the period, right down to the music made for the film. This is truly one of Tom Hanks's best films, though it is oft ignored as it is not considered a "drama."
Rating:
Summary: Highly Underrated
Review: I LOVED THIS MOVIE! As a child of the 60s and a musician, I loved this movie from the first few minutes of it. The sets, the clothes, the music, and everything down to the small details is represented here to give a true feel for what the early to mid sixties were like, minus the politics and Vietnam.
Before radio music became a commercially diluted and corporate industry there were "garage-bands" galore and many of the little-remembered names of the genre started out as such. The Wonders in "That Thing You Do!" could easily be a number of bands that were a one-hit-wonder (or two or three) and then just disappeared from the scene. Nevertheless, they all helped shape some of the best music of that era, and Tom Hanks perfectly represents that phenomena in this movie.
If you remember the early 60's fondly, you should truly enjoy this film and it will probably bring back fond memories. The depiction of Erie, PA during this timeframe is probably representative of many small to medium size American towns and certainly brought back great memories for me of better times gone by.
The music rocks, the dialogue is hip, and the love story rounds it out perfectly.
Buy this movie and then by the CD soundtrack; you won't be sorry!
(**TRIVIA: another Tom Hanks produced movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", has a "That Thing You Do!" song played during the wedding reception - do you know which one?**)
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Summary: Count me in. This one's a keeper.
Review: I originally stumbled upon this movie on VH-1's "Movies That Rock". For several weeks it seemed that whenever I sat down and started flipping around the channels, this was playing on VH-1. After watching bits and pieces of it over this time period, I finally happened to tune in one night just as it was beginning. It's a rare movie in that I was able to comfortably watch it with my two children, and even more rare that they asked me to play the cd when we were out and about in the racing mini van. The two scenes that always get me are the scene where they play their first club date with Shades and he accidentally kicks the tempo of Jimmy's masterpiece up to it's correct level. The actors did a great job of portraying a group coming to terms with the fact that they've indeed caught lightning in a bottle. Another great scene is where they are first hearing the song on the radio. Several times I've found myself joining in on their excitement and I have to remind myself that this is just a movie. Well, it may be just a movie, but it's one that never seems to get old, and that has to be worth something.
Rating:
Summary: A great feel-good movie
Review: I first rented this movie not knowing what to expect. I almost immediately bought my own copy. This is the dream of every teenaged boy who grew up in the 60's and 70's: Starting a garage band that rockets to superstardom. Everybody knows the plot by now, so I will dwell on things such as Hanks' ability to write songs that captured quite well the flavor of many different groups from that era. That whole environment of that time was well reproduced - right down to the Saturday morning kids' shows with puppets ("They're marionettes. That's what they are.") The casting was excellent for the characters. (Though couldn't Hanks at least come up with a name for Ethan Embry's character other than merely "the Bass Player?") Guy is totally likable, Faye is beautiful, Jimmy is interested only in Jimmy, and you need to watch the movie several times to catch all of Lenny's quips and jokes. I do disagree with one reviewer's point, though. The song, "That Thing You Do," plays - if memory serves me - four times in the course of the movie. When watching the movie once or twice, you will probably not get tired of it, but if you have an autistic son who watches the film over and over and over...well, it does get a little old after a while. Watch this movie. You won't regret it. AND the soundtrack is available from - Who else? - Playtone Records.
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