The Wonders on the verge of stardom, Failure Forthwith!

Rating: 7/10 (25 May 2017)

Ah the fabulous 60's. The days of AM radio and which musical group will produce the number one song in the country on the top 40 survey. Garage bands were commonplace as the Fab Four (The Beatles) set the standard for music in that colorful era beyond Camelot and the Kennedy's. Much like the movie Radio Days, Woody Allen's period piece from the War years, this film acts like a time capsule as we look into the past and get a taste of what it's like to be alive in the 1960's. Tom Hanks does an outstanding job re-creating an era of rock and roll groups aspiring to cut a record and go on to greatness. The music industry was at it's paramount in that period with endless artists taking a grab at the brass ring. Our story originates from Erie, Pennsylvania in 1964 as a jazz drummer/ appliance salesman in his father's store Guy Paterson (Tom Everett Scott) is asked by his friend Jimmy Mattingly (Johnathon Schaech) to join his group because his current drummer broke his arm.The other two members of the band The ONE- DERS are an obnoxious guitar player Lenny (Steve Zahn) and a soon to be Marine base player. The group enters a local talent show as Guy suggests to his bandmates to quicken the pace in their tune. The result; a hit song is born. They win first prize, a gig at a restaurant. At the venue the One-Ders sell their records as a local talent scout takes notice Phil Horace (Chris Ellis). Phil takes that song and puts it on the radio as the group hires him as their manager. Phil books the boys for a Rock & Roll show in Pittsburgh. Phil introduces the group to Mr. White (Tom Hanks) Playtone Records representative and takes over as their new manager. The boys join a cross country tour with the Playtone cavalcade of stars doing mostly State fairs. I was totally blown away with the endless creativity of the fictitious Artists and their music. Besides our main attraction the One-ders, you have this suave debonair Freddy Fredrickson (Robert Torti) singing Mr. Downtown and the lovely vocalist Diane Dane (Chaille Percival). Fifteen original songs were written for this rock and roll fairy tale. Four of the fifteen songs were written by our jack of all trades Tom Hanks who did it all among-st the ranks of Orson Wells, Jerry Lewis and Woody Allen as a five toll producers of films, .The Playtone troupe travels westward state by state. In Ohio the Boys now re-spelled the WONDERS are dressed in red jackets to match the Buckeye colors and in Indiana beige wheat colored blazers are the norm. Wisconsin the Yellow jackets are worn to resemble cheese as Mr. White give his repetitive complimentary remark, "Did I tell you you guys look great in Green!" As the tour progresses Their song rises on the top 40 which Mr. White suggests they get off the tour and head out to Hollywood to bigger things. A cameo in a Beach Movie and radio interview conducted by Clint Howard. Meanwhile there's trouble in paradise as the boys have first class accommodations at luxury hotel with know it all doorman attentive Lamarr (Obba Babatunde) giving advice when needed. Jimmy clashes with Mr. White about writing his own songs while the bass player wanders off to Disney never to return. Guy ends up at a jazz club to meet his Idle Jazz artist Del Paxton (Bill Cobbs) who gives him advise telling Guy to save his money and look out for fast women.Del goes on about the industry and it's pitfalls. Silly Lenny plays cards with some locals and falls for a pretty receptionist. The first of many. Things unravel further as Faye (Liv Tyler) Jimmy's girlfriend who's relationship has been one sided on Faye's part realizes that her beau is self absorbed in his music and has no intentions of Marriage. So many cameo appearances by familiars in the industry. Charlize Theron as Tina, Kevin Pollock as the Pittsburgh MC , old friend from the TV show Bosom Buddies Peter Scolari as the Host of the Hollywood Showcase and Alex Rocco as Sol Siler the pastrami eating Playtone CEO. So ingenious. The movie shows how fragile holding on to success can be in the entertainment industry. Can't wait for the next one hit Wonder!