That Thing You Do!
Published August 22, 2020
Film info
- Title That Thing You Do!
- Director Tom Hanks
- Year 1996
- Run time 1hr 48m
- Genres Comedy, Romance, Drama
- Tagline In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do
Wily band manager Mr White helps a small town band achieve big time success when they release a Beatles-style song in 1964. Pennsylvania band the Oneders become a sensation after their drummer breaks his arm, and is replaced by jazz enthusiast, Guy Patterson, who injects something a bit different into their music.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 0:55 | Wait a minute, Frigidaire is a real thing? I thought it was just in that poem. |
| 4:30 | Chordvettes! |
| 6:44 | “Guys, Chad fell down.” CUTE. |
| 12:28 | Loving the super-scientific method of spinning the meter by hand based on perceived loudness of crowd. |
| 14:18 | I can’t believe that’s Charlise! She looks different every film anyway, but that’s insane. |
| 21:01 | “Wasn’t that our fan?” |
| 23:42 | I can’t believe they’re sticking with the Oneders. |
| 25:07 | Very curious about this old-style drumstick-holding position. |
| 29:16 | I agree with his reluctance, not about the contract particularly, but about signing something in the back of a camper van. |
| 30:53 | Am I stupid for not knowing earbuds were a thing back then? |
| 38:29 | TOM! I was just wondering where he was. |
| 40:27 | “As in, I wonder what happened to the Oneders?” |
| 44:47 | They look like the Jersey Boys! |
| 46:56 | This song is so freaking catchy. |
| 55:11 | No, I like the red better than the gold. |
| 1:00:59 | I dunno if he’s up to no good but I’m loving Tom Hanks in this. |
| 1:14:12 | “You are my biggest fan.” Dude that’s genius. So funny. |
| 1:15:43 | Just realised that’s Rita Wilson and now I’m dead. |
| 1:18:43 | Bass solo in a movie is epic. |
| 1:20:58 | Bryan Cranston is in this too? Who isn’t? |
| 1:22:55 | They are the actual Beatles though, is this a secret Beatles film? |
| 1:25:42 | Loving that the dad has chilled. |
| 1:31:46 | So hard for someone that actually cares. |
| 1:40:00 | “When was the last time you were decently kissed?” Now, there’s a question. |
Thoughts
Not sure why it’s taken us so long to watch this film, seeing as it has Tom Hanks in and is therefore almost guaranteed to be good, and it’s about music. But, at last, we have watched it and loved it!
Fun story, band hijinks, and lots and lots of famous faces to spot. Plus that song is really catchy and is completely stuck in my head now. The only thing I didn’t like is it felt like it didn’t really come to an end. All this build up and then it sort of just stopped. But equally, there was so much story that could still be told, it would never have fit into a two hour movie.
But overall, a great movie and one that has inspired me to pick a 60s album to listen to this week. Good times!
Rating: 4 / 5