The latest entry in a series in which writers discuss the comfort films they watch most often revisits Tom Hanks' 1996 music comedy, set in the 1960s. The writer says the film remains their go-to feelgood movie.

The writer recalls the film's closing performance scene, in which Steve Zahn's character asks his bandmate, "How did we get here?" The writer says the moment has stayed with them for about 30 years, and that the band's reaction when it first hears its song on the radio is one of the most joyful moments they have seen on screen.

A Film Made at the Height of Hanks' Career

In 1996, Hanks was at the peak of his Hollywood career. He had won back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Actor, and two of the year's top-grossing films of 1995 were Toy Story and Apollo 13. Hanks wrote, directed and co-starred in That Thing You Do!, a film the writer describes as a modest, gentle tribute to 1960s pop music.

The story follows the Wonders, a fictional pop band. The group initially spells its name as the Oneders, inspired by the Beatles, but changes it after repeatedly being introduced as the "oh-need-ers." Their fortunes change when Guy Patterson, played by Tom Everett Scott, sits in as drummer and spontaneously speeds up the tempo of the title song. Local restaurateurs and promoters take notice, followed by a record producer, Mr White, played by Hanks.

A Story Shaped by Its Music

The song, written by the late Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, plays throughout the film. The writer says the track drives the plot and is one of the film's main strengths. The 108-minute film moves quickly, and the band's record climbs the charts as opportunities arrive at speed. Creative disputes, strained relationships and personal career choices, however, threaten to end the group's run as quickly as it began.

Wistfulness Over a Tidy Ending

The writer argues that the film offers a sense of wish-fulfillment without ignoring hard realities. It does not provide the fully happy ending the writer would instinctively expect from a feelgood film. Instead, the story leans toward wistfulness. When the band falls apart, the impact is real, but the writer notes that it is less severe than in many films about the music business.

The writer also points to the film's kindness. They say there are no real villains. Jimmy, the brooding talent, has a point in his self-righteousness. Tina, played by Charlize Theron, is uninterested but not cruel. Even Sol Siler, played by Alex Rocco, who cares little for the music, is credited with making the band's success possible as head of the record label.

The writer also praises the group's camaraderie, the energy of Faye, played by Liv Tyler, and Hanks' performance. According to the writer, Hanks delivers both humor and poignancy without overshadowing the rest of the cast.

Changing Perspective Over Time

The writer first saw the film at age 11, when Hanks seemed old to them. Watching it now, they say he looks young, as he was around 40 when he made the film, close to the writer's current age. They also say the ending once upset them more than it does today. Where they once wished a character had made different choices to keep the band together, they now read the film as Hanks quietly suggesting that between fame and happiness, one should choose happiness.

The writer closes with a message of thanks to Hanks, saying the film has brought them joy and hoping it will do the same for future generations.

That Thing You Do! is available to stream on Pluto in the United States, can be rented digitally in the United Kingdom, and is available on Disney+ in Australia.