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That Thing You Do!
That Thing You Do!
A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager. But behind the scenes, the group’s sudden fame tests their strength, their maturity and responsibility, and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible.
rating
6.876
runtime
108 min

Release

1996-10-04

Cast

Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
as Mr. White
Tom Everett Scott
Tom Everett Scott
as Guy Patterson
Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler
as Faye Dolan
Johnathon Schaech
Johnathon Schaech
as Jimmy Mattingly
Steve Zahn
Steve Zahn
as Lenny Haise
Ethan Embry
Ethan Embry
as T.B. Player
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
as Tina
Obba Babatundé
Obba Babatundé
as Lamarr
Giovanni Ribisi
Giovanni Ribisi
as Chad
Chris Ellis
Chris Ellis
as Phil Horace
Alex Rocco
Alex Rocco
as Sol Siler
Bill Cobbs
Bill Cobbs
as Del Paxton
Peter Scolari
Peter Scolari
as Troy Chesterfield
Rita Wilson
Rita Wilson
as Margueritte
Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak
as Uncle Bob
Kevin Pollak
Kevin Pollak
as Boss Vic Koss
Robert Torti
Robert Torti
as Freddy Fredrickson
Chaille Percival
Chaille Percival
as Diane Dane
Holmes Osborne
Holmes Osborne
as Mr. Patterson
Claudia Stedelin
Claudia Stedelin
as Mrs. Patterson
Dawn Maxey
Dawn Maxey
as Darlene Patterson
Jack Milo
Jack Milo
as Villapiano
Keith Neubert
Keith Neubert
as Dentist
Lee Everett
Lee Everett
as Kitty
Sean Whalen
Sean Whalen
as Heckler
Clint Howard
Clint Howard
as KJZZ Disk Jockey
Sarah Koskoff
Sarah Koskoff
as Chrissy Thomkins
Mark Brettschneider
Mark Brettschneider
as Talent Show Emcee
Kathleen Kinmont
Kathleen Kinmont
as Koss' Secretary
Warren Berlinger
Warren Berlinger
as Polaroid T.V. Host
Clive Rosengren
Clive Rosengren
as Wisconsin Cop
Brittney Powell
Brittney Powell
as Shades Fan
Jonathan Demme
Jonathan Demme
as Major Motion Picture Director
Erika Greene
Erika Greene
as Major Motion Picture Assistant Director
Dave Oliver
Dave Oliver
as Rick
Tracy Reiner
Tracy Reiner
as Anita
Barry Sobel
Barry Sobel
as Goofball
Paul Feig
Paul Feig
as KMPC DJ
Gedde Watanabe
Gedde Watanabe
as Play-Tone Photographer
Michael P. Byrne
Michael P. Byrne
as Play-Tone Reporter
Dick Corman
Dick Corman
as Play-Tone Reporter
Diane McGee
Diane McGee
as Play-Tone Reporter
Randy Fechter
Randy Fechter
as Play-Tone Tour Manager
Mars Callahan
Mars Callahan
as Ernie the Disc Master Engineer
Benjamin John Parrillo
Benjamin John Parrillo
as Marine Sergeant
Robert Ridgely
Robert Ridgely
as Hollywood Showcase Announcer
Marc McClure
Marc McClure
as Hollywood Showcase Director
Karen Praxel
Karen Praxel
as Hollywood Showcase Script Supervisor
Paulie DiCocco
Paulie DiCocco
as Hollywood Showcase Floor Manager
Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston
as Virgil "Gus" Grissom
Charlie Frye
Charlie Frye
as Plate Spinner
Colin Hanks
Colin Hanks
as Male Page
Elizabeth Hanks
Elizabeth Hanks
as Bored Girl in Dress Shop
Renée Lippin
Renée Lippin
as Beautician
Robert Wisdom
Robert Wisdom
as Bobby Washington
Heather Hewitt
Heather Hewitt
as Sales Lady
Elina Madison
Elina Madison
as Go-Go Dancer (uncredited)

Director

REVIEWS
NA

FilipeManuelNeto

**Tom Hanks gave life and affection to this project, which easily reminds us of the golden years of rock-and-roll.** The film is a very nice story that revolves around the world of ephemeral "rock and roll" stars. In 1964, a group of youngsters from Pennsylvania suddenly emerge from obscurity when their garage band, the Wonders, achieve fame and success on the back of a single song, "That Thing You Do". Believing in a potential that might not exist, the scouts of the music world waste no time and the boys get a contract with a major label, which is waiting expectantly for equally good songs. However, sudden fame will test the strength of the group, the maturity and responsibility of that guys and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible. Tom Hanks is more than a protagonist, he is the engine that pulls the film and makes it possible. He had achieved fame at the expense of good comedies like “Big” or “Money Pit”, but he had his consecration in films like “Sleepless in Seattle”, “Philadelphia”, “Forrest Gump” and “Apollo 13”. In addition, he already had two Oscars on his shelf, so he had the means to leverage a project he liked, and there is no doubt that he liked this one, and it was the lever that made it go forward. And contrary to what often happens in these situations, he didn't want the lead role: it's in a reasonably more modest role that we see him, a role where he doesn't fail to stand out. The main role is assured by the band's boys, played by Tom Everett Scott, Johnatton Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry and Giovanni Ribisi. All quite young, still at the beginning of their respective careers, all capable of relatively slick and honest work, especially Scott, who is given a little more visibility. We also have to highlight the pleasant participation of Liv Tyler and Charlize Theron. The film is quite light, lively and cheerful, even in the most tense moments, and in which it takes paths that could make it denser, more dramatic and profound, which it always avoids. That was a conscious choice, I'm sure, and that's debatable. Where the film stands out is in its attention to historical details, in the care with which it seeks to recreate the era and environments through the choice of suitable props, good costumes and make-up, as well as a set of excellent sets. And being such a musical film, the soundtrack is unavoidable and vibrant, with songs that stay in the ear and where the main melody, created especially for the film emulating the aesthetics and taste of the time, deserves a very special highlight.