Whereas Dances With Wolves was an epic cultural tract, That Thing You Do! is a piece of entertaining bubblegum which, like its director, making his feature directorial debut, is high on charm and style.
Comment
05/10/09
That Thing You Do! (1996)
91
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:47
Fresh:43
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 35 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Set in the 1964 and steeped in Americana, this film chronicles the meteoric rise -- and equally quick demise -- of a music group called The Wonders. The talented musicians start out playing in... [More]
Starring: Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry
Director: Tom Hanks
Get This Movie
Reviews for That Thing You Do!
Though Hanks keeps the satirical and critical aspects of this look at show biz fairly light, there's a lot of conviction and savvy behind the steadiness of his gaze.
12/17/07
Top CriticA barely there-tale of rock 'n' roll dreams, driven by the infectious title tune.
12/17/07
First-time writer/director Tom Hanks stays about a half-beat ahead of the cliches with rim shots of boyish enthusiasm and deft comedy. The movie’s also buoyed by the title song, whose Beatles sound is infectious enough to merit a real hit.
12/17/07
Top CriticAn undeniably delightful film. It makes you smile and want to dance, and (for better or worse) it's titular theme song won't leave your head for days.
06/21/07
A sweet, likeable tale of the quick rise to fame and then demise of a small town band. Set in 1964, Hanks' film offers a sanitized, Gump-ish look at a mythical period when boys were boys and girls were girls, with no references to the sex-drug subculture
01/03/07
Top CriticSweet nothing, then, but what would you expect of a rock movie devoted to the drummer?
06/24/06
A simple, rather sweet and uncomplicated, rock and roll fable.
04/09/05
With its exuberant tempo and danceable Beatlesque theme song, That Thing You Do will win the hearts of a broad audience.
06/25/04
Uma história simples, contada de maneira também simples, que acaba agradando por suas boas intenções.
01/01/04
Hanks sacrificed character complexity, but at least some period details are right.
10/29/03
An amusing directorial debut by Hanks
06/19/03
Mr. Hanks's debut feature, written and directed with delightful good cheer, is rock-and-roll nostalgia presented as pure fizz.
05/20/03
Top CriticShort on substance but long on charm, That Thing You Do! is a lively, entertaining fable about a makeshift rock 'n' roll band that enjoys a brief moment of fame in the summer of 1964.
05/20/03
Tom Hanks' writing-directing debut is a sweet valentine to rock 'n' roll.
11/07/02
A romantic romp as sweet and bubbly as a Coke float.
10/15/02
The rise of the Wonders is fun to watch, doesn't require a lot of probing analysis, and should make a great date movie, especially for Boomers.
04/17/02
Though Hanks doesn't serve up much context, he's solid with details, and the Wonders' performances ring truer than most.
11/16/01
Top Critic...a brightly entertaining blend of humor and heartbreak about four fresh-faced guys in a band from Erie, Pa.
05/12/01
Top CriticLatest News for That Thing You Do!
November 09, 2005:
Romero to Bring Another King Story to the Big Screen
Variety reports that genre legend George Romero will direct "From a Buick 8," which will be an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. The horror master... More...
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek DVD Exclusive 
TECHLAND gives us a first look at the extras, including Leonard Nimoy's last day on set!
The New Cult Canon
AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.
New Moon Portraits
TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.
Unsexiest Men Alive
Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds