That Thing You Do! (1996)
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A fictional one-hit wonder rock and roll band navigates the highs and lows of fame in the 1960s.
The story
In 1964, aspiring jazz drummer Guy Patterson works in his family's appliance store in Erie, Pennsylvania. When local musicians Jimmy Mattingly II and Lenny Haise need a drummer for a talent show, Guy joins them. They perform a song titled "That Thing You Do!" which becomes an instant hit. After a successful local run, the band, renamed "The Wonders," is discovered by a promoter and signed to a record deal. As they rise to national prominence and head to Los Angeles for promotion, the band members must navigate the pressures of sudden fame and the complexities of their personal relationships while trying to maintain their musical identity.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1964, Guy Patterson, a jazz drummer in Erie, Pennsylvania, joins a local band and performs 'That Thing You Do!' at a talent show. The song's success leads to a contract with Play-Tone Records and a name change to 'The Wonders.' Under the management of Mr. White, the band tours and gains national fame, eventually reaching the Billboard Hot 100. During their rise, internal tensions grow: Jimmy becomes obsessed with his own music, and Lenny's personal life becomes complicated. After a successful but chaotic appearance on a national television show, the band fractures: Jimmy quits over a contract dispute, and Lenny elopes. Guy remains in Los Angeles, eventually finding a new path in jazz. The film concludes with an epilogue detailing the fates of the members: Jimmy becomes a producer, Lenny manages a casino, the bass player serves in Vietnam, and Guy and Faye marry and settle in California.
- First release year
- 1996
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tom Hanks
- Writers
- Tom Hanks · writer
- Cast and characters
- Tom Everett Scott · Guy Patterson; Liv Tyler · Faye Dolan; Johnathon Schaech · Jimmy Mattingly II; Steve Zahn · Lenny Haise; Ethan Embry · T.B. Player; Tom Hanks · Mr. White
- Genres
- comedy-drama; musical
- Themes
- fame; the music industry; relationships
- Tone and mood
- light; sweet; nostalgic
- Setting
- Erie, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles, 1964
- Premise and plot tags
- period piece; musical; coming-of-age
- Reception
- The film received warm critical reviews and has since garnered a cult following.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 94% · scale: percentage · review count: 62; Metacritic · score: 71 · scale: 100 · review count: 22
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Song · 1996 · Nominated; Golden Globe Award · Best Original Song · 1996 · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film's soundtrack peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200.; The film's opening song, 'Lovin' You Lots and Lots', was written by Tom Hanks.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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