A cautionary pop fable following the meteoritic rise of "The Wonders," a fictitious foursome during the early days of pop-rock fandom. When jazz drummer Guy Patterson fills in for a session with a friend's band, a hit single is born and the smalltown boys find themselves riding a rollercoaster of success, guided by the opportunistic hand of a smooth-talking record label agent. Fun, cheerful, and innocent. Hanks' directorial debut. Academy Award Nominations: Best Original Song ("That Thing You Do").
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 neighborhood joints. That changes after they meet a shrewd record executive, who advises the boys on how to dress, act and sing. Soon their song, "That Thing You Do," hits #1, and the group is on top of the world. Unfortunately, the song is The Wonders's only hit. And that's just one reason why the group's collapse happens so quickly...
Theatrical Release: October 4, 1996
Shown at the 1996 Toronto Film Festival.
Co-produced by Clinica estetico, in association with Clavius Base.
Color by DeLuxe.
Additional cast: Charlize Theron (Tina) and Chris Ellis (Horace)
DVD Features:
2-Disc Set
Keep Case
Director's Cut
Full Frame - 1.33
Disc 1: THAT THING YOU DO! - Director's Cut
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
Dolby Digital DTS 5.1 Surround - English
Dolby Digital Surround - French, Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary: Tom Everett Scott, Jonathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Liv Tyler - Stars
Disc 2: Extras
Additional Release Material:
Music Video: Josh Clayton - "Feel Alright"
Featurette:
1. Making THAT THING YOU DO!
2. THE STORY OF THE WONDER
3. THAT THING YOU DO! REUNION
4. THE WONDERS - BIG IN JAPAN
5. HBO First Look: The Making of THAT THING YOU DO!
Trailers:
1. Theatrical Trailer
2. TV Spots
Cameo
Jonathan Demme: American sirector/producer, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Costume Designer
Colleen Altwood:
Director of Photography
Tak Fujimoto:
Production Designer
Victor Kempster: Production Designer, MIAMI VICE (2006)
Review 1:
"...Lovingly crafted....Sly irony..." -- Rating: A-
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.49 11/01/1996
Review 2:
"...Tom Hanks understands likable....Everett Scott is appropriately handsome and charming....Hanks and company allow us to dream..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F1 10/04/1996
Review 3:
4 stars out of 5 -- "A real feelgood movie..."
Source: Ultimate DVD
p.111 08/01/2007
Review 4:
"...An immensely likable, sweet-natured tale....The quartet of band members is credibly and winsomely played with standout work from the handsome Scott..."
Source: Variety
09/23/1996
Review 5:
"...It remembers with great warmth a time and a place..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.31 10/04/1996
Review 6:
"...A brightly entertaining blend of humor and heartbreak..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.141-2 10/17/1996