That Thing You Do! (1996)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: A light, sweet, and thoroughly entertaining debut for director Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! makes up in charm what it lacks in complexity.
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Cast
as Jimmy
as Faye Dolan
as Lenny
as Bass Player
as Tina
as Mr. White
as Lamarr
as Chad
as Phil Horace
as Sol Siler
as Del Paxton
as Troy Chesterfield
as Marguerite
as Uncle Bob
as Freddy Fredrickson
as Boss Vic Koss
as Diane Dane
as Mr. Patterson
as Mrs. Patterson
as Darlene Patterson
as Villapiano
as Dentist
as Kitty
as Heckler
as KJZZ Disc Jockey
as Chrissy Thompkins
as Talent Show M.C.
as Koss's Secretary
as Polaroid T.V. Host
as Wisconsin Cop
as Shades Fan
as Major Motion Picture Director
as Major Motion Picture A.D.
as Rick
as Anita
as Goofball
as KMPC D.J.
as Play-Tone Photographer
as Play-Tone Reporter
as Play-Tone Reporter
as Play-Tone Reporter
as Play-Tone Tour Manager
as Disc Master Engineer
as Marine Sergeant
as Hollywood Showcase Announcer
as Hollywood Showcase Director
as Hollywood Showcase Script Supervisor
as Hollywood Showcase Floor Manager
as Virgil `Gus' Grissom
as Plate Spinner
as Male Page
as Bored Girl in Dress Shop
as Pageant Helper
as Pageant Helper
as Sales Lady
as Beautician
as Diner Waitress
as Ambassador Waitress
as Bobby Washington
as Scott `Wolfman' Pell
as Chantrelline
as Chantrelline
as Chantrelline
as Folk Girl
as Folk Girl
as Folk Girl
as Folk Girl
as Legends of Brass Member
as Legends of Brass Member
as Legends of Brass Member
as Legends of Brass Member
as Legends of Brass Member
as Legends of Brass Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Play-Tone Band Member
as Saturn 5 Member
as Saturn 5 Member
as Saturn 5 Member
as Saturn 5 Member
as Saturn 5 Member
as Blue Spot Trio Member
as Blue Spot Trio Member
as Blue Spot Trio Member
as Wisconsin Dancer
as Wisconsin Dancer
as Wisconsin Dancer
as Wisconsin Dancer
as Wisconsin Dancer
as Wisconsin Dancer
as Guy Patterson
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Critic Reviews for That Thing You Do!
All Critics (56) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (4) | DVD (9)
The chief wonder of this rock 'n' roll cast is Tom Everett Scott, whose easy charisma, dreamy smile and undersurface intelligence should shoot him up the acting charts like a bullet.
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.
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.
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
Sweet nothing, then, but what would you expect of a rock movie devoted to the drummer?
Mr. Hanks's debut feature, written and directed with delightful good cheer, is rock-and-roll nostalgia presented as pure fizz.
Audience Reviews for That Thing You Do!
Do you remember the 60's? The hope, the possibilities, the dreams, the excitement? Do you remember not being anywhere near all of that, only listening to it on the radio, watching it on teevee? Hanks' prepared love letter to those of us in that category involves following the rise and fall of a little garage band that nearly makes it, allowing us to relive our vicarious days of youth. It manages cute, but then that was always its highest goal.
Super Reviewer
Finger-snapping, head-bopping fun! Tom Everett Scott is effortlessly cool with his ugly-sexy mug, and Liv Tyler is luminous and effervescent. Steve Zahn looks suave and uncharacteristically the most grown up of the bunch. The O-nedders. Hyuk.
Super Reviewer
Too much adlibbing.
Super Reviewer
That Thing You Do! Quotes
| Faye Dolan: | Shame on me for kissing you with my eyes closed so tight. |