I’m following in the footsteps of The Armchair Squid this month reviewing That Thing You Do! Click here to check out his review.
If anyone is interested in my experience of watching That Thing You Do!, click here to see my notes.
This review will consist of me asking myself 10 questions and answering them to the best of my ability.
1. What is this film about?
The movie is about a man and a band that converge briefly in the 1960s and some good music is made. The movie is partly about Guy and how one small opportunity changed his life and brought his love for music to the forefront of his life. It’s also the story of how a band forms, rises to fame, and then falls apart. There’s also a love story.
2. What did I think of the title, poster, and or trailer?
I honestly don’t remember what I thought when I first saw the trailer. I watch the IMDB trailer to see if it would bring it all back, but I don’t think it’s the same. Perhaps I never actually saw the trailer when the movie first came out. In 1996 or 97 when I first saw this film, it’s likely that I would have watched it without having seen a trailer just because of its premise. After watching it again years later, I know I wanted to see this movie for the music, the era, and the story of the band… I honestly didn’t know Guy was the main character until I saw the film.
3. What did I think of the main character(s) and how the actors performed them?
I think this movie was the perfect launching path for some growing talents. While Charlize and Giovanni were merely faces in the crowd, Steve Zahn got to show off his acting and singing talent. Tom Everett Scott is good. You can tell he’s a bit fresh but it works for him. As for Mr. Hanks, it was odd to see him in a supporting role, but of course, it’s an authoritative supporting role, so it suits him well.
4. What did I think of the direction and cinematography?
The film had serious and comedic moments happening back-to-back, so the homage to 60s film and the Beatles’ films was appreciated. It almost felt like a panoramic sitcom without an audience, but I liked it.
5. What did I think of the soundtrack and score?
I love this soundtrack. All the original songs brought together to create the Play-Tone galaxy and more is just fun stuff. Plus, “That Thing You Do!” actually hit the real pop charts after the release of this movie. That’s just cool.
6. What did I like about the story as a whole?
I like that Guy was for lack of a better term, a good guy. He was the glue and the magic that made it all possible. He was a great character to watch.
7. What did I not like about the story?
I liked Faye so much, but I couldn’t get into her and Jimmy. I was just waiting for that to end.
8. Would I recommend this movie to others?
Yes, but not everyone will be into it because of the music, which only makes me sad.
9. If yes, who? What would I rate this movie?
I think anyone who appreciates music and or 1960s period films will appreciate this movie even if they don’t fall in love with it. I really like this movie, but even I admit that it’s a little corny and cliché.
On a scale of 1 to 5 movie reels, I give this film 4 reels.
10. Was there anything in this movie that could be related to me or anything I have written?
Well, as I briefly mentioned earlier, this is my kind of movie. I love music and 50s – 70s period films. If I could go back in time and erase all the racism and war from that era, I think I’d thrive there. I haven’t written anything taking place during that time, and haven’t really incorporated music into my work, but I will one day.
Watch, rent, or buy this movie here.
Mock Squid Soup – Film Society
MOCK! and The Armchair Squid are proud to introduce Mock Squid Soup: A Film Society. Each month, on the second Friday, we shall host a bloghop devoted to movie reviews. We invite others to participate and post their reviews…Don’t be shy; come join the fun! 😀
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords