movie review - That Thing You Do!
the journal of Michael Werneburg
twenty-eight years and a million words
Toronto, 1997.03.14
This is Tom Hank's much-reported first directorial attempt, and his first screenplay (to my knowledge). It's about an early '60s band which starts out small in the mid-west, grows luke-warm, then dissolves upon success in L.A. Fairly predictable and cliched, but it is rescued by Hank's direction, which is better than his writing. By which I mean he brings a lot out of the actors, who display good chemistry. I mean you can't go wrong with Steve Zawn. Everything about this is competent, and I certainly enjoyed the outcomes for the characters, as told in the coda. This also has a number of cameos from the sixties Jazz scene for some reason.
Recommended. For a quiet period piece.