1964 as simple as can be and about to be overtaken by effects of the British Invasion

Rating: 7/10 (5 August 2018)

Having just watched "A Hard Days Night", and realizing the separation of good music and fine film making, I went on line to have "That Thing You Do" delivered home to share with my daughter the wide spread cultural effect of the Beatles on America. Having been born in '62, my implanted memories are antedoctal at best only having individual discoveries through the blue and red best of albums.
We start off fast with a quick change of tempo from our drummer and "The Oneders" are off to the world of one-hit wonders! It's the expected arc of a band story, so not much there, but the little vignettes of each next stage launch reminds you of director Tom Hanks previous movie Apollo 13, launching into space, they great unknown.
The higher end of teh music world was so closely tied to TV and film that, now, "The Wonders" made it to West Coast and all its fun in the sun Hollywood charade. All teh while our band mates solidify their stance in what they are after. Our talented songwriter/guitarist, Jimmy, is clamoring for artistic merit, Our other guitarist/clown, Lenny, is there for the party, our bassist is constantly sidetracked by his military ambitions, while our obvious hero from teh start, drummer/jazz enthusiast and older member Guy, is trying to make the most of it all while remaining positive while it slowly begins to fall apart. Once we understand the importance of Jimmys' tag along girlfriend Faye, its obvious that the movie has as much to do about the love of their music and what they all bring as a five person unit, as it does about the story line in itself.
Tom Everett Scotts' Guy exudes the young directors charm and resemblance and the serious Johnothan Schaech brings to Jimmy are equally important. It may have been Fountain Of Waynes' Adam Schellengers' song (title track) but you wouldn't think twice about that until reading the trivia section of IMBD. Liv Tylers' Faye is more band glue that girlfriend/fan and their last band manager Mr White (Hanks) knows it. At least enough to put the whisper in the ear to set up our ending.