THAT THING YOU DO! is a cheery but tongue in cheek take on the early 1960’s era of rock and roll. It chronicles the brief success of a provincial band that rides one big hit song up the charts to Hollywood (in the “beach movie” era) and national fame. The cycle is classic in movie musicals early euphoria, escalating money and conflict, old friendships now in danger, gold digging temptresses, selling out to commercial pressures, disillusion and return to roots.
It all adds up to a morality tale Be careful what you wish for you may get it. The era, the music-biz equivalent of Leave It to Beaver time, is basically spoofed but with some nostalgic warmth. And the young performers (especially Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler and Johnathon Schaech) show considerable charm.
Thing is Tom Hanks’s first effort as writer director. It’s slick, knowledgeable and slyly funny, in the Hanks manner. Hanks also writes some of the bouncy all new music and plays a key supporting role as a cool, quietly cynical record company rep. Overall, a graceful entertainment, reflecting more innocent times, with some satirical bite. Satisfactory for youth and adults.
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