That Thing You Do! (1996) Review

Title: That Thing You Do!
Year: 1996
Director: Tom Hanks
Country: US
Language: English

There are many films that depict the rise-and-fall of fictional bands (see: Almost Famous) and the majority of them have a cliche, predictable and by-the-numbers narratives. That Thing You Do! doesn't reveal anything narrative in its story or direction, but Tom Hanks' directorial debut is charming in its own way.

In this film, a local Pennsylvania band scores a one-hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from their manager (Tom Hanks). 

That Thing You Do! is full of youthful energy. Its colors are vibrant and the music is reminiscent of the "Flower Power" Beatles era. The actors play their roles with great exuberance; my favorite scene has the band members running down the street, overwhelmed with joy, as they hear their song on the radio for the first time. 

Nearly 30 years later, That Thing You Do! serves as great nostalgia - for the nineties. The aesthetic tries to be sixties, but the film looks like other teen/young adult pictures of the nineties. The pastel colors and general energy of the characters feels familiar and brings me back to my childhood. 

This affectionate exploration of growing pains has a resonating emotional maturity that will hit at every range of emotion. Hanks has directed a very underrated 90's gem that ought to charm generations to come.