Those Things You Have to Do (as a Band)

Rating: 9/10 (8 March 2019)

The fun and convincing story of four young guys in a local pop band in early 60s America who make a record, and what happens next...
As they progress in the US pop business, the film paints a picture of the business at that time, including characters ranging from a very doubtful would-be 'manager', whose office is his truck, to Tom Hanks' slick, go-getting record company executive. The soundtrack features very accurate pastiches of 60s pop songs styles, including Motown and pre-Beatles pop ballads. And of course the title song, which we get to hear a number of times as the band promote it on TV and on tour, giving the feel of what it's like to 'live with' a song as you take it on the road and end up playing it for the fiftieth time while that night's audience are hearing it live for the first.
The life of the band as four guys is convincingly portrayed - love lives, struggles with management, artistic compromise, artistic influences and differences between themselves - giving the film a reality, depth and colour.
I won't spoil the ending, but this enjoyable film portrays four young guys (and their best friend girl) having the time of their lives while also facing the struggles that their dreams and choices, and life itself, bring. Well worth seeing.