Recounts a fable of a pop rock band formed a year after the Beatles took America by storm in early 1964. Jazz aficionado Guy Patterson, unhappily toiling in the family appliance store, is recruited into the band the Oneders (later renamed the Wonders) after regular drummer Chad breaks his arm. After Guy injects a four/four rock beat into lead singer Jimmy's ballad, the song's undeniable pop power flings the Wonders into a brief whirlwind of success, telling the tale of many American bands who attempted to grab the brass ring of rock and roll in the wake of the British Invasion.Written by
Rick Gregory <rag.apa@email.apa.org>
The character names Haise and Mattingly are references to Apollo 13 (1995), which also starred Tom Hanks. See more »
Goofs
During the talent show the bass player's suit is green. At one shot towards the end, after they finish playing, his suit is blue. Then it turns green again. See more »
Quotes
Mr. White:
OK, the first thing that needs to change is the name. It's confusing. From now on, you are The Wonders.
Lenny:
As like, I wonder what happened to the O-Ne-Ders?
Mr. White:
Exactly.
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When re-released on DVD in 2007, the film came with the original theatrical cut, and an extended cut of the film. The extended cut included the following changes:
1) Extended scenes showing Guy Patterson's relationship with Tina in Erie, PA.
2) Extended scenes of the band rehearsing.
3) Jimmy coaxes Guy's uncle to record the song "All My Only Dreams" as a B-side to "That Thing You Do."
4) The band's experience at the Orpheum Theatre in Pittsburgh.
5) The Bass Player's romantic affair with a member of The Chantrellines.
6) After the band has unofficially split, Guy meets up again with one of his idols, Del Paxton. Del and a number of fellow Jazz members are also in the studio, working on some new music. Guy contacts a local Jazz DJ who had interviewed The Wonders. The DJ tells Guy that he can get him a job if he could interview Del and his friends.
This makes the ending differ from the theatrical cut, where Guy was unsure just what he would do while staying in California. The Extended Cut now has Guy secure with a job.
I just finished watching this again tonight and am still impressed by the little details that Hanks gets right such as the period guitars and amps (loved seeing those blond Fender Bassman amps), awful PA systems and other musical trappings of the period. The music is infectious (I liked the song they played in Wisconsin that Lenny sang - can't think of the title) and there's a lot in there that I still remember about having a garage band back in that era. There's just so much right about this movie that I'd recommend it to anyone. Another impressive score for do-it-all Hanks.
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I just finished watching this again tonight and am still impressed by the little details that Hanks gets right such as the period guitars and amps (loved seeing those blond Fender Bassman amps), awful PA systems and other musical trappings of the period. The music is infectious (I liked the song they played in Wisconsin that Lenny sang - can't think of the title) and there's a lot in there that I still remember about having a garage band back in that era. There's just so much right about this movie that I'd recommend it to anyone. Another impressive score for do-it-all Hanks.