ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 5, 1996 TAG: 9610080039
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
"That Thing You Do" feels like a movie that's been around for a long, long time.
That doesn't mean it's not fresh; sometimes, it is. But it has the dimensions of an American myth - about becoming famous in a heartbeat.
It's the story of the (one-hit) "Wonders," a rock 'n' roll band that, with lots of help of some powerful marketing, shoots to the top of the charts, gets signed to a record label and has its moment of glory on national television.
While first-time director Tom Hanks isn't terribly successful as he feels his way toward some larger points about television and the way the medium altered human relationships, he does a great job of capturing the exhilaration of having one's dream come true. Even if that dream seems to last just a few seconds.
For Guy, the band's drummer (Tom Everett Scott) it's enough of a dream come true to get out of his dad's appliance store in Erie, Pa., and have the chance to play with a band. He and high-school buddies Lenny (Steve Zahn), Jimmy (Johnathon Schaech) and The Bass Player (Ethan Embry), are playing their big hit "That Thing You Do" at a local pizza joint when a legman for Play-Tone records discovers them.
Soon enough, Mr. White (Hanks) comes along with contracts, promises and image advice that quickly turns the band into a "teen sensation" in the truest late '50s, early '60s sense. The "Wonders" become part of Play-Tone's "Galaxy of Stars," playing their song at state fairs and learning how to bow from the waist.
The song scrambles up the charts, dragging the little band from Pennsylvania along for the ride. And you know the rest.
It is to Hanks' credit that he could spin such an entertaining yarn out of such familiar stuff. There is no way to surprise with a story like this one, except in single moments.
And he does. It's worth the price of a ticket to see the scene in which Jimmy's girlfriend Faye (Liv Tyler) hears the band's song being played on the radio for the first time and spreads the news all the way down Main Street. If you can remember what it felt like to hear your favorite song come on the radio when you first discovered rock 'n' roll, then you get the picture. But multiply by ten.
Moments like those make "That Thing You Do" well worth seeing, and Hanks - as if he needed the job security - well worth watching as a director.
That Thing You Do HHH
A 20th Century Fod release playing at Tanglewood Cinema and Cinema USA Crossroads, 110 ,minutes. PG because little kids will be bored.
That Thing You Do ***
Rated PG because little kids will be bored, a 20th Century Fox release showing at Tanglewood Cinema and Cinema USA Crossroads, 110 ,minutes.
Grace of My Heart ***
A Gramercy release playing at the Grandin. 110 minutes. Rated R for strong language, drug use, subject matter, brief nudity.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Steve Zahn, Jonathon Scaech, Tom Everett, Liv Tyler andby CNBEthan Embry react when they learn their band's signature song is
rising to the top of the charts. color. Type first letter of feature OR type help for list of commands FIND S-DB DB OPT SS WRD QUIT QUIT Save options? YES NO GROUP YOU'VE SELECTED: QUIT YES login: c