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That Thing You Do! Stars: Tom Everett Scott, Jonathan Schaech, Steve Zahn Liv Tyler, Ethan Embry and Tom Hanks Director: Tom Hanks BBFC Certificate: PG Opened: 24th January 1997 Running Time: 110 mins |
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Tom Hanks is not the kind of man who needs to prove anything to anyone. If his excellent critical and box-office record (despite the odd guff, such as Bonfire of the Vanities) are not enough to provide enough evidence of that, then his award-laden mantelpiece should be able to persuade you. However, despite being one of the few A-list Hollywood stars who is able to act without being painfully full of himself, he has taken on not one but two challenges (writer and director) with this new romantic comedy . Say goodbye to Tom Hanks, Oscar-winning actor, and say hello to Tom Hanks, all-round Hollywood genius.
Set in a 'Fab Four' frenzied 1964, That Thing You Do! tells the story of the meteoric rise to fame of Pennsylvania four-piece 'The Wonders', whose titular tune rocks the town and eventually the Billboard charts for one Summer of fun in the dying years of pre-Vietnam America. As the record rapidly races up the Top 100, money, women, the army and 'artistic differences' slowly tear the band apart as fame and fortune replace small-town innocence. The only problem with this, effectively a squeaky-clean Hollywood-isation of The Commitments, is the predictable story-line. However Hanks' screenplay, which is laced with a surprising number of good gags (and the odd film-buff's 'in joke'), means that the weak story really does not matter. Thankfully, this is a romantic comedy which (for once) relies heavily on the latter aspect of the genre name, only bringing in the romance occasionally, making it all the less painful and all the more effective. In terms of direction, Hanks' first feature film effort is entirely passable. While there are no touches of genius to be found here, he shows a real knack for story-telling. The movie's sets are marvellous, with Hanks fondly and perfectly recreating the 60s American 'look', from the colourful high-streets to the garish bright shades of the TV studio backgrounds. He also realises that the film he is making is no masterful epic, but merely a satisfying slice of sixties life. All of the performances (mostly from relative unknowns, with the biggest 'star' being Liv Tyler) are ideal and Tom Hanks (as record company 'Play-Tone' executive and band manager) is great, as ever. His role is not a huge one and he has left out all but a slight suggestion of the ruthlessness of such a character that many other films would have played on. That would not have been in keeping with the rest of the film. It is not provocative, it is not controversial, it is not hard-hitting. It is just extremely good light-weight entertainment. I am also happy to say that this is no ego-trip for Hanks, with none of the 'I love myself' undertones of Barbara Streisand's The Mirror Has Two Faces. I usually run a mile from romantic comedies (as I would with any genre that seems to have Melanie Griffith and Meg Ryan as top stars), but this is different. The jokes come thick and fast, and when the gooey romance scenes do rear their heads, they provide exactly what any audience member with a heart-beat would want. The scenes may be corny, but the processed Hollywood cheese is spread thinly between the gags, making That Thing You Do! a hugely enjoyable celluloid snack. Nothing more, nothing less. It is guaranteed to have you swinging in your seats, rolling in the aisles, and singing that song all the way home. Reviewed by: Tom Whitaker
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