That Thing You Do! (1996)

A local Pennsylvania band scores a one hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from its manager.

Director:

Tom Hanks

Writer:

Tom Hanks

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler, Charlize Theron

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Everett Scott	...	Guy Patterson
Liv Tyler	...	Faye Dolan
Johnathon Schaech	...	Jimmy
Steve Zahn	...	Lenny
Ethan Embry	...	The Bass Player
Tom Hanks	...	Mr. White
Charlize Theron	...	Tina
Obba Babatundé	...	Lamarr
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Chad
Chris Ellis	...	Horace
Alex Rocco	...	Sol Siler
Bill Cobbs	...	Del Paxton
Peter Scolari	...	Troy Chesterfield
Rita Wilson	...	Margueritte
Chris Isaak	...	Uncle Bob

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

band | pennsylvania | drummer | appliance store | written and directed by cast member | 

---

Taglines:

In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

That Thing You Do!

Filming Locations:

Orpheum Theater - 842 South Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,208,595, 6 October 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,809,813, 24 January 1997

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$34,585,416, 26 January 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clavius Base, Clinica Estetico, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 149 min (Director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the Oneders are playing at Boss Vic Koss' show in Pittsburgh, one of the other band names on the theater marquee is "Marilyn Lovell & The Geminis". This is a tribute to the wife of Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (1995)) and the NASA space program.

---

Goofs

(At 1:50:30; Director's Cut) When Guy is running in late to the group's rehearsal for their first appearance on TV, the steady-cams operator's legs are reflected in the water fountain (right after Guy picks up his sun glasses off the floor).

---

Quotes

[after Faye has just broken up with Jimmy]
Jimmy: Shoulda dumped you in Pittsburgh!
[He gets up]
Jimmy: Which one of you butts said we were engaged?
Mr. White: The same person who said you had class, Jimmy.

---

Crazy Credits

Stories of what the band did after their breakup and a picture of the band after all the credits.

---

Alternate Versions

In the 2007 two disc version there is an extended version not shown in theaters. Before "The Wonders" appear on national television, Guy arrives back at the hotel in a drunken state and finds an excited Mr. White with the good news about being on television the next day. Waiting for Mr. White is his male friend "Lloyd" played by Howie Long.

---

Connections

Referenced in Cook & Banks (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Lovin' You Lots and Lots
Written by Tom Hanks

User Reviews

sweet, nostalgic story of a rock band

My guess is that Tom Hanks is a really nice guy. He certainly seems like it when he's interviewed, and since he wrote and directed this movie, and it's really nice, too, that seems to be more evidence.

This is a very small movie. It has no pretensions, but just tells a simple story about a small-town band that makes good. It paints a nostalgic picture of the 60's -- I grew up in a small town during that time, and life wasn't so idyllic in my town -- but it isn't trying for gritty realism. The cast is attractive and more than adequate (some are quite good, including Hanks as the band's manager), and the story is observant enough to be an enjoyable confection. It's very nice family movie (my kids liked it, and so did I).