Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Tom Hanks writes, directs & co-stars in this 1996 comedy-drama which stars Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler and Steve Zahn. This takes place in in 1964 where we meet teen, Guy (Scott) who dreams of becoming a musician. He and his friends record a song, "That Thing You Do!" which becomes a hit and he and his friends skyrocket to fame as band, The Wonders. In the process, their lives start to change. Hanks plays Mr. White, a record manager that takes them under his wing, Tyler plays Faye, Guy's friend and Zahn plays their other friend, Lenny. Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson and Charlize Theron also appear. This is a good film with a great cast and good luck getting the song out of your head because it plays quite a bit, but still catchy. I recommend this.

Inspired by the success of The Beatles, a group of friends try to make it big on the music scene in the mid-1960s in this film written and directed by Tom Hanks. The Academy Award nominated title song is very catchy (and probably should have won the Oscar over 'Evita') and some of the band's other tunes are decent, yet the biggest sell-point here is all the parallels to The Beatles, including a similar involvement in the motion picture industry; the film is very cleverly done in this regard. There are less hurdles than one might expect though as the band rise upwards. Their first manager (who meets them in a rundown van) seems a little fishy, but turns out to have a heart of gold, and same goes twice over for their second manager, played by Hanks himself, who lectures them about treating their girlfriends right and so forth. In short, everyone is a little too pure at heart for the film to have any real edge; there is no producer trying to sell them short as in 'The Harder They Come' and all the messages about not letting fame get to their heads are fairly simplistic. Still, there is much to enjoy in the music and genuine 1960s ambiance that Hanks manages to recreate as writer-director, plus a running gag involving their misspelled band name is funny each time. This is an undeniably pleasant look at the music industry of yesteryear even if it lack a bit as a drama.

Ah the fabulous 60's. The days of AM radio and which musical group will produce the number one song in the country on the top 40 survey. Garage bands were commonplace as the Fab Four (The Beatles) set the standard for music in that colorful era beyond Camelot and the Kennedy's. Much like the movie Radio Days, Woody Allen's period piece from the War years, this film acts like a time capsule as we look into the past and get a taste of what it's like to be alive in the 1960's. Tom Hanks does an outstanding job re-creating an era of rock and roll groups aspiring to cut a record and go on to greatness. The music industry was at it's paramount in that period with endless artists taking a grab at the brass ring. Our story originates from Erie, Pennsylvania in 1964 as a jazz drummer/ appliance salesman in his father's store Guy Paterson (Tom Everett Scott) is asked by his friend Jimmy Mattingly (Johnathon Schaech) to join his group because his current drummer broke his arm.The other two members of the band The ONE- DERS are an obnoxious guitar player Lenny (Steve Zahn) and a soon to be Marine base player. The group enters a local talent show as Guy suggests to his bandmates to quicken the pace in their tune. The result; a hit song is born. They win first prize, a gig at a restaurant. At the venue the One-Ders sell their records as a local talent scout takes notice Phil Horace (Chris Ellis). Phil takes that song and puts it on the radio as the group hires him as their manager. Phil books the boys for a Rock & Roll show in Pittsburgh. Phil introduces the group to Mr. White (Tom Hanks) Playtone Records representative and takes over as their new manager. The boys join a cross country tour with the Playtone cavalcade of stars doing mostly State fairs. I was totally blown away with the endless creativity of the fictitious Artists and their music. Besides our main attraction the One-ders, you have this suave debonair Freddy Fredrickson (Robert Torti) singing Mr. Downtown and the lovely vocalist Diane Dane (Chaille Percival). Fifteen original songs were written for this rock and roll fairy tale. Four of the fifteen songs were written by our jack of all trades Tom Hanks who did it all among-st the ranks of Orson Wells, Jerry Lewis and Woody Allen as a five toll producers of films, .The Playtone troupe travels westward state by state. In Ohio the Boys now re-spelled the WONDERS are dressed in red jackets to match the Buckeye colors and in Indiana beige wheat colored blazers are the norm. Wisconsin the Yellow jackets are worn to resemble cheese as Mr. White give his repetitive complimentary remark, "Did I tell you you guys look great in Green!" As the tour progresses Their song rises on the top 40 which Mr. White suggests they get off the tour and head out to Hollywood to bigger things. A cameo in a Beach Movie and radio interview conducted by Clint Howard. Meanwhile there's trouble in paradise as the boys have first class accommodations at luxury hotel with know it all doorman attentive Lamarr (Obba Babatunde) giving advice when needed. Jimmy clashes with Mr. White about writing his own songs while the bass player wanders off to Disney never to return. Guy ends up at a jazz club to meet his Idle Jazz artist Del Paxton (Bill Cobbs) who gives him advise telling Guy to save his money and look out for fast women.Del goes on about the industry and it's pitfalls. Silly Lenny plays cards with some locals and falls for a pretty receptionist. The first of many. Things unravel further as Faye (Liv Tyler) Jimmy's girlfriend who's relationship has been one sided on Faye's part realizes that her beau is self absorbed in his music and has no intentions of Marriage. So many cameo appearances by familiars in the industry. Charlize Theron as Tina, Kevin Pollock as the Pittsburgh MC , old friend from the TV show Bosom Buddies Peter Scolari as the Host of the Hollywood Showcase and Alex Rocco as Sol Siler the pastrami eating Playtone CEO. So ingenious. The movie shows how fragile holding on to success can be in the entertainment industry. Can't wait for the next one hit Wonder!

That Thing You Do! is the first motion picture directed by Tom Hanks (who also stars in the movie) and tells the story of the band The Wonders, who during the 60's had a one-hit wonder single, That Thing You Do!The story follows four friends from Erie, Pennsylvania who form a rock'n'roll band together called "The Oneders", who are later known as the "The Wonders". We follow along as they rise to success, promoting their new single all over the country and achieve national fame. As a director, Tom Hanks captures perfectly the style of the 60's and you're instantly transported back in that world. The clothes, the cars, the people, everything looks great to the last detail.The main character, Guy Patterson, is the drummer of the band and it's eerie (no pun intended) how much he channels a young Tom Hanks. In fact, at first, Hanks didn't even want him in the movie because he felt he looked too much like him, but his wife convinced him otherwise. The rest of the supporting cast includes Liv Tyler, as the girlfriend of the band's lead singer, Steve Zahn as the guitar player and Tom Hanks as the band's manager, Mr. White.This is a nice feel-good movie, perfect for a Sunday evening when you just feel like lying on the couch and enjoy a great movie. It doesn't stand out with too much, it's short and sweet. With this directorial debut, Hanks proves he's doing a great job as a director, shame he didn't more movies.