It’s The Paul Leslie Hour with a review of That Thing You Do!, the writing and directorial debut of Tom Hanks.
Now, one question may be… why is Paul reviewing a movie that came out almost 30 years ago?
And Paul… he just may have a question for YOU.
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Yeah. Here’s the question — why are you listening to a review of a film that came out just about 30 years ago?
I think the answer could be because That Thing You Do! reminds you of two eras.
First, the ’90s, because that’s when this movie came out. There was no Netflix. Just Blockbuster. And going to the movies — that’s where it was at. Not streaming. Catching a flick was the real thing.
Second, the ’60s, whether you lived them or not. Some of us were definitely raised on the music of that era, by then given the “oldies” label.
My sister Renée took me to see That Thing You Do! She had taken me to see Forrest Gump two years before, and to drive the point home, she would take me to see You’ve Got Mail two years after this one. I bet Tom Hanks appreciates all of the loyalty from my sister.
Why the movie endures
So what about That Thing You Do! makes it a film that endures?
I think one of the reasons is that it shows naive, youthful enthusiasm so well. There’s nothing like pursuing a dream with the energy of youth. And the movie perfectly captures the feeling of when something you could only dream of becomes a reality.
That Thing You Do! tells the story of a group of young musicians. There’s Jimmy, the lead singer and rhythm guitarist; Lenny, the lead guitarist; Guy, the drummer; and an unnamed bass player. All happening in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1964.
These guys form a pop-rock group, given the name “The Wonders” by Jimmy’s girlfriend, Faye. As is so often the case in the music business, it’s here today — gone later today. But, for a while, this one-hit wonder is white-hot, before fizzling out almost as quickly.
The power of the soundtrack
The other great component of That Thing You Do! is the music. I love the music of the fifties and sixties. I was born in the eighties, and believe it or not, the first band I ever saw was The Platters. That was the first time I left the house by myself.
I still love ’60s music. I even give “Rubber Ball” by Bobby Vee or “Do the Freddie” by Freddie and the Dreamers a spin now and then. Are some of the songs from that era dippy? Yes, but the That Thing You Do! soundtrack is really great.
I mentioned this in the phone group chat dubbed “The Leslie Brothers,” consisting of my three sisters and me. “If ‘The Wonders’ were a real band, I would have wanted to see them,” I wrote. As you can see, we stay in touch to talk about important things.
One song, “All My Only Dreams,” co-written by Scott Rogness and the late Rick Elias, is a phenomenal ballad. As is the insanely catchy title song written by the late Adam Schlesinger.
And while mentioning songwriters, I’ll note that in addition to being the directorial and writing debut of Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! is also his songwriting debut. He wrote one song and co-wrote three more.
There’s so much to enjoy in this movie, other than the quirky humor. There’s a cameo from Chris Isaak as the church music impresario. Rita Wilson shines as Marguerite, a sultry waitress at the jazz club, six years before she’d make her recording debut with AM/FM. Clint Howard perfectly plays the part of a radio disc jockey. Plus, there are lots of insider references and jokes about the record business.
A timeless moral lesson
More than anything, there’s a great moral to the story. Just look at two of the main characters.
Jimmy, the lead singer of “The Wonders,” is very ambitious. He wants to write songs, pitch them to other artists, produce records, and get hits. It’s all business. I’ve encountered many songwriters and recording artists like this. They’re not sentimental at all.
I’ve always been interested in a different kind of singer or songwriter. It’s why I love having writers and artists tell me the story of the first time they heard one of their songs playing on the radio.
Guy Patterson, the drummer of “The Wonders,” is more in line with that kind of musician. He loves music and idolizes great jazz legends. He appreciates every second of the adventure and his bandmates, and he comes to see what a gem Jimmy’s girlfriend, Faye, is. Jimmy doesn’t value anything and feels like everything is owed to him, including Faye.
I’ll let my older sister Renée, who is not old, take this one: “That’s the danger of life. We can get greedy, or just enjoy what we have,” she wrote.
And with that, I’ll just say that I’m writing this review on July 9, 2026. Tom Hanks turns 70 years old today. And, I’m confident he’ll hear this, or read this.
I join many of his fans in wishing him many more years of writing stories, directing, acting — doing all of those things he does.
