Rating: 
Summary: Just a good time at the movies
Review: This is a formula film about the rise and fall of a small 60s garage band. It touches all the expected bases, but it manages to get the formula right including managing to center the film around a really great title song. It has fun likeable characters from the father who runs the appliance store, to the band members and even the waitress in the bar later in the film. I don't think the story would have been less fun if you focused on anyone in the film. It is a story that likes people in the style of the old Capra films. There are so many nice bits like the running gags about the store lights and the name of the band. But the things that make you fall in love with the film are joyful touches like the first time the band's song is heard on the radio. You can't help but feel happy right along with them. Liv Tyler is a great as the girlfriend and Tom Everett Scott the drummer is terrific as what amounts to a younger alter ego of Tom Hanks. Its almost like watching Hanks mentor himself. That Thing You Do is a film you want to watch when you just want to have a good time. It doesn't have any dark shadowy areas. It is forthright and unpretentious about what it is...fun. The DVD has a sharp picture with bright colors and a good defined soundtrack. There are a couple nice featurettes about the making of the film and a music video of the title song. Its a good title worth owning if you like a film you can watch whenever you need a boost. Enjoy
Rating:
Summary: Today's hottest stars could learn a few lessons from this!
Review: This DVD is awesome. you get 2 video.trailers and behind the secenes.It is Tom Hanks's first movie he directed. The movie is about a band who are trying to make it in the big time. They enter a talent contest and win. Then they cut a record with Chris Issak(in a cameo). After they cut the record,they make it to the radio. Then the records come calling. Eventually the band named "The Wonders" gets Mr.White(Tom Hanks) as their new agent. The Wonder start playing at county fairs. Meanwhile their song "That Thing You Do!" is climbing up the records rapidly. After there somg reaches the #1 spot on thr charts, the band goes off to Hollywood to cut a few records. This band is not without it's problems. They have arguements, one of the members has problems with his girlfriend Faye and other problems. After the band's TV debt, the band starts to fall apapt. The band members go off in different directions. This happens all the time with bands in real life. Today's hot music superstars better enjoy being hot as there music careers can end just as easy "The Wonders" on this DVD!! All of today's hot music superstars should watch this movie!!This movie also helped launch the acting careers of some of today's hottest movies stars! They are Steve Zahn(You've Got Mail,Happy Texas),Tom Everett Scott(An American Werewolf in Paris,The Love Letter),Jonathan Schaelech(Hush),Liv Tyler(Armeggedon),Ethan Embry(Distrubing Behavior)and Charlize Theron(The Legend of Bagger Vance,Reindeer Games,Mighty Joe Young,Trial and Error) to name few stars that made it becasue of this movie!! The DVD sounds awesome and Fox did a great job with this DVD!! Please Fox make all your DVD's sound as great as this DVD!!Kudos to the cast of the movie,Tom Hanks and Fox!! Thank You for finally bringing this movie to DVD!!
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been good.
Review: At the beginning of the film I was having a lot of fun, but afterwards the movie goes nowhere. They repeat the song again and again and again and the dialogue gets lamer and emptier every scene. Finally nothing interesting happens in the film. Tom Hanks is a good actor, he should stay acting. I like the song, though...
Rating: 
Summary: Well-done.
Review: Retro rock 'n' roll story about a garage band from Erie, PA during the first crest of the British Invasion wave. This is Tom Hanks' first outing as a director, and the subject-matter seems an odd choice for him: he couldn't have been much beyond prepubescence in 1964. Indeed, he views the time-period through rose-tinted glasses: it all seems a bit too peppy, too innocent, which may reflect Mr. Hanks' own state of mind at the time but was hardly the mood of the country, burgeoning youth culture or no. On the other hand, Hanks goes to a lot of trouble to get his setting right: all the appliances in the key setting of the appliance store are absolutely perfect (where the heck did he find all those old refrigerators?), as is the clothing, cars, and much else. Not only are the details correct, there are a LOT of details. This expansiveness extends to the rock group itself: the title track is actually pretty good, and fairly representative of the time, with hardly a note that sounds as if it came from the jaded '90's. But it would have been nice to have got a sense of the actual music scene: this movie leads you to believe that this one band is the only group doing this type of music. But on the whole, Hanks has obviously worked very hard to give us a feeling of time and place and music. He has worked so hard, in fact, that he manages to keep us interested in what is essentially nothing but froth.
Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointing
Review: I couldn't wait to get this DVD since I saw the movie 5 times in the theater and have gone through 2 videos. The anamorphic widescreen is a treat as are the trailer clips. However, knowing that a ton of edited scenes wound up on the floor, I was expecting a few of those to be included. While it's true most deleted scenes in most films should be deleted and left to rest, not having the opportunity to check out left-overs was a big disappointment. Still, it's one of the best motion pictures (next to "The Idolmaker") about rock 'n' roll before its midlife crisis. Maybe they'll come out with an Ultimate Deluxe version in the near future.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Movie...Great Music!
Review: Not only is the movie upbeat and fun, but the music is awesome. I will be buying the soundtrack!. Tom Hanks is a master. This movie didn't recieve as much aclaim as it should have!
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining film!
Review: Written and directed by Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! is an infectious and funny film set in the 1960s. Though the film doesn't really have a point of view or it's Hollywood feel to it, it perfectly symbolizes the band's rollercoaster ride from a garage band to America's teen sensations. If you love the Beach Boys, Dave Clark Five, Dick Dale, Ventures, you'll love the infectious snappy soundtrack. The special features is also a great deal when purchasing this film. Go buy it!
Rating: 
Summary: Lame
Review: I'm sorry. I can't help BUT to think of this movie as "The White Five Heartbeats." This movie was SO similar to that spectacular movie that I wonder what Hanks was smoking when he wrote the script. I only caught this one on TV, and...it was okay...but much like "Why Do Fools Fall In Love," and that movie about Little Richard this isn't new material. This is just a ripoff of "The Five Heartbeats," only it doesn't have sexy black men and good, soulful singing. This movie was full of dorks which reminded me of "The Five Horsemen" from that wonderful movie, "The Five Heartbeats." I guess this is another movie that falls under this category: "whites (who wrote most of the reviews if not all of them, and who make up most of the internet community) loved it and blacks, who would rather watch "The Five Heartbeats" for the eighth time than watch this, didn't think much of it. Corny.
Rating:
Summary: A very well-thought out and believable movie!
Review: My impression in watching this movie for the first time a few years ago is how Tom Hanks went to great lenghts to make you feel that this DID happen. (or could have happened). The catchy tune of the same title plays like a classic. Along with the movie, check out the soundtrack and liner notes. (written by none other than Mr. A.M. White of Playtone records!) Interesting tidbits of information again form a very solid back story to this charming and funny movie. Things like musicians last names come from Hanks' other favorite subject.. The space program. Starting with Wonders' members Lenny Haise & James Mattingly (they share last names with famous astronauts.. Fred Haise was part of the doomed Apollo 13 mission) The theme song to "Mr. Downtown", a show about the exploits of one police sergeant named "Shakes" Lovell (probably named after Apollo 13 commander James Lovell) and the song "Voyage Around the Moon", a Ventures-ish surf rocker performed by the Saturn 5's, for a mulit-stage rocket used in the space program. Hanks' gives impressive direction to a great cast. (Steve Zahn who plays Lenny just cracks me up every time) Every one did not only act very well in this movie, but made you really believe they could play. Tom Everett Scott who plays Guy Patterson, can play some mean drums! This is a movie about friendship, individualism and honor.. set in simpler times... a must see!
Rating:
Summary: Ethan Embry (The Bass Player
Review: I think we can all agree this movie was just plain great, however, I would like to make a point. Everyone has given the main characters and Tom Hanks quite a bit of glory for their contributions to this film, but lest we forget THE BASS PLAYER?? Every review I have read seems to sweep Ethan Embry under the carpet, and mysteriously too, might I add! What is so wrong with this guy? Some have gone so far as to dub him "supporting character". Hello! People, he was the bass player for the Wonders! He was as much a part of this film as Tom Everett Scott, and had even more prescence in this film than Mr. Tom Hanks himself! So, I applaud thee, Mr. Embry! The film wouldn't have been as great without you! It's just too bad they didnt give you a real name in the movie. Hmm.. we'll have to work on that one for the sequel.
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