Rating: 
Summary: FINALLY!
Review: when i first saw this movie,for some reason i wanted to watch it again as soon as it was over....it's just one of those films where you like it just because it's fun... i've waited for quite some time for it to be on dvd and am glad to know that the wait is over!it will make a very welcome addition to my dvd collection and i highly recommend it to everyone...plus,in addition to the acting and the story,the music is excellent!
Rating:
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.
Rating: 
Summary: Hanks Makes The Magic With The Music!
Review: Tom Hanks wrote and directed this paean to the glory days of rock n' roll, an era in which even the wildest music still reflected a certain innocence, long since gone if not forgotten, before the advent of Metal, Rap and Grunge. It's 1964, and "That Thing You Do!" is about to become a hit record for a small band out of Erie, Pa., who call themselves the "Oneders (pronounced Wonders)," but who are destined to begin their musical odyssey know as the "Oh-NEED-ers." Drummer Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott) works in his father's appliance store, but when the band's drummer breaks his arm right before a gig, Guy is asked to sit in for him. And it winds up being a case of being in the right place at the right time for Guy, like when Ringo joined The Beatles, and the rest-- as they say-- is history. It's a lively, upbeat tale in which luck, talent and chance all play a part. Hanks presents the upside of making it in the music business, including the adrenaline rush of hearing one's own song on the radio for the first time, as well as all the hoopla that surrounds those who happen to be in the spotlight at the moment. But he also shows the downside: The creative differences and in-fighting which plagues just about any band ever formed to some degree at one time or another, the personality conflicts and petty jealousies that are apt to surface at any time, and the reality of dealing with bloated egos, adoring fans and rude, insensitive record label executives who could care less about the talent that is putting the coins in their coffers, as long as they're selling records. For the most part, Hanks keeps it lighthearted and cheerful, which-- along with the original songs (some of which he helped write)-- makes this an entertaining, fun and thoroughly enjoyable movie. He sugar-coats the dark side of it all to a certain extent, which makes the bad things that happen a bit easier to swallow, though it compromises the impact of the events somewhat as they unfold. Then again, he manages to maintain the credibility and integrity of his story, and after all, "this" is the film he wanted to make, and he presents it exactly as intended. Hanks captures a sense of time and place with this film, and also that same sense of reality conveyed by The Beatles' film, "A Hard Day's Night," intentionally avoiding the more stoic reality of the more recent "Almost Famous." All three films are fairly true to life, but with varying degrees of honesty. It's a matter of whether to "imply," as Hanks has done, or to be explicit, as Cameron Crowe chose to do with his film. With this film Hanks proves that he is equally as adept behind the camera as he is in front of it; he knows exactly where he wants to take his audience and when, and he does it quite successfully. He also extracts some nice performances from his actors, especially Scott, Johnathon Schaech (Jimmy, the lead singer), Steve Zahn (Lenny, on guitar) and Liv Tyler as Faye Dolan, Jimmy's girlfriend, who takes the brunt of the blunt edge of Jimmy's sudden notoriety. Hanks also turns in a notable performance himself, as Mr. White, the representative of one of the labels interested in the Oneders. The supporting cast includes Ethan Embry (The Bass Player), Charlize Theron (Tina), Obba Babatunde (Lamarr), Giovanni Ribisi (Chad), Chris Ellis (Phil), Alex Rocco (Sol), Bill Cobbs (Del Paxton), Peter Scolari (Tony), Rita Wilson (Marguerite), Chris Isaak (Uncle Bob) and Kevin Pollak (Boss Koss). What "Happy Days" was to television, "That Thing You Do!" is to movies; a film that evokes that perceived sense of innocence of a time when life at least seemed simpler. For the more distance you put between the present and the "Good old days," the better they get. In reality, they may not have been better, but Hanks preserves that illusion by giving us a picture of the way we'd at least like to think things were. And it's more than a pleasant diversion; this is a feel-good film you'll be able to enjoy time and again, because it takes you to a place you'd like to be-- a place you've been to before at one time or another, in one way or another, if only in your mind. And that Hanks can take you there so readily is not only a credit to his talent, but another fine example of the pure magic of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: Doing that thing
Review: This isn't a film that will help you learn anything about life, or about yourself. It's not a deep film about emotions. It's not even a film that makes you laugh, even though it's a comedy. But it is a film that makes you happy. I constantly found myself sitting with a big smile on my face while watching it. There's really not much more to be said about 'That thing you do'. It's a film that probably won't go to film history, but it gives it's share of happiness to the world.
Rating:
Summary: A Feel Good Movie for the Entire Family
Review: Set in the 1960's, an engaging story about a small town band that gets a chance at the bigtime. Original music written by Chris Issac and Tom Hanks. Costuming and set design were true to the era. Tom Hanks directs and also appears. I found myself identifying with the characters and hoping for their success. After finishing watching the movie, I watched it again.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Debut Directing by Hanks
Review: This movie was very well directed by Hanks, considering this is his first job directing I think its superb. Hanks gets the details of 1964 right down to the vaccum cleaners sold in the Patterson's Appliances. The costumes are also right down to the detail as well. Very good job by Hanks on this film I commend him 100%. Great Film, possibily the most realistic portrayal of circa 1964 I have ever seen.
Rating: 
Summary: FUN
Review: This is a fun movie. The people in it are fun. The music is fun. Tom Hanks is fun. He seems to relish his role here (since he wrote it)... taking a break from the more serious dramatic roles that have shaped his more recent career. The film concerns a group of teenagers who form a band and become wildly popular and start to tour. It also concerns the trappings of fame, losing your first love and losing the starry-eyed innocence of being young. But never quite giving up hope. Tom Everett Scott is good here as the drummer, Guy, and you will feel genuine happiness for him and the character played by Liv Tyler when they finally get together at the end.
Rating:
Summary: "I am ... Spartacus"
Review: I don't like movies on cable (commercials and edits), but every time I've ever found this on I end up watching it till the end. As a musician, this is one of the F E W ( and I mean F E W ) examples of 100% convincing on-stage performing in a movie and we have Mr. Hanks to thank for that. And the title track is the definition of "catchy" !
Rating:
Summary: What a Great Movie!
Review: That Thing You Do! is a movie that only gets better every timeyou see it. This story of a young bad from Eerie, PA tells a commontale, that of the one-hit wonder. This film does an excellent job ofshowing a normal garage band hit it big with the success of a hit songin 1964. The band is then put on the road, signed by the Playtonelabel, and gets heavy airplay thanks to their manager, the incredibleTom Hanks. With this being the writing and directing debut ofHanks, it is one incredible piece of work. This film has a rapid firestory line. It includes many events of the bands rise to fame in ashort amount of time, but also shows what can ultimatly happen to anoverworked band. This film does well by the superb acting jobs by allof the band members, most notably Jimmy (Jonathan Schaech) and theincredible performance by Tom Everett Scott as Guy "Shades"Paterson. This film is also noteworthy due to the fact that it israted PG. So many movies feel that they need to be rated R to get adecent point across. Not this film. It can show the real life of aband in a way that includes very little adult language and no violenceor sexuality. This is one refreshing film that goes at its own paceand takes the viewer to new places. A great film for Tom Hanks on hisdebut. It was overlooked in theaters but it deserves a home in everyvideo collection.
Rating:
Summary: I, for one, CAN take Hanks doin 'That Thing You Do'
Review: And if you're a Hanks fan (and who isn't anymore), you probably can too. Some may think 4 stars is too lofty an accolade for so bubble-gummy a film. Well, realize, that in my estimation, what makes a film great is how close it comes to fulfilling its purpose and that that purpose be of benefit to the viewer. That Thing You Do comes close to perfection on both counts, even though it is no Schindler's List. And who wants every movie to be a 'Schindler's List'? We need a That Thing You Do almost as much, and I commend and admire Hanks for making his debut directorial effort not a Braveheart or Dances With Wolves. Whether he felt the pressure to be profound or not, Hanks' diverges to the road less travelled by actors-turning-directors/actors. He wants us to have fun. And not mindless 'Weekend At Bernies' fun, but "look at the charm of this era and its music" fun. While none of its departments probably got nominated (or even should have been) for Oscars, each aspect, from art direction to make-up to costumes, flows together under Hanks' vision well to sweep us up into the exuberance of a dream coming true (wonderfully personified in the scene where the band hears their song on the radio for the first time). The cast is particularly well assembled (Tom Everett Scott pulling somewhat of an O'Donnell in that he still hasn't, for me, lived up to the promise he showed here) with now notables Steve Zahn (Out of Sight) and Giovanni Ribisi (Saving Private Ryan) establishing their now familiar funny and eclectic (respectively) styles. If you like oldies and get a bit nostalgic for the era of the 50's and 60's, That Thing You Do should be on your list of 'Thing's to do. The odd thing is that the soundtrack showcases exclusively original tunes. Have you ever seen a movie about this era that doesn't grab as many of the popular oldies as they can for its soundtrack? What's really amazing is that almost all of them sound like hits!
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