The movie is the story of a band called the Oneders (a running joke is that nobody can pronounce it, so they're sometimes referred to as the "oh-need-ers"). They're signed by a small regional label (their name is changed to the Wonders) and tour county fairs and such as their recording of the title song rises on the charts. Soon they're getting screaming girls in the crowd and the chance to make an album.
The owner of the label (Hanks) tells them that their contract requires them to record songs owned by the label, not their own music, and the lead singer quits the band. That's the end of the band, and pretty much the end of the story, though there's one of those epilogues that tells what happens to each member of the band.
It seems like a slight plot, but there are some complications (romance!), and it's all handled very well. The cast, most of whom are still not big stars (except for Charlize Theron), is very good, and as I said at the beginning, it's all very pleasant and worth a look.
7 comments:
It was...OK. It was certainly watchable and kind of fun, but it's hardly the thing you (or anyone) would watch repeatedly. Hanks' name got it the publicity but it was basically a small movie. I always thought he picked Tom Everett Scott for the lead because he came across like a young Tom Hanks.
Jeff
I liked the flick. I like most anything with Steve Zahn anyway.
I thought Liv Tyler was also a big name at the time. I don't recall Theron's character.
One of our family favorites--I was always surprised it wasn't a bigger hit (I felt that way about "Soapdish" too--hey, what do I know?). The songs are great--they really do sound like they could be from 1960s one-hit wonders.
Makes a nice double-feature with the ur-Carole King story GRACE OF MY HEART.
I remember one reviewer's objection was that no one said that in the 1960s, so much as the 1990s..."that thing you do..."
I liked the film and even bought the soundtrack (the song "My World Is Over" reminds me of Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound."). Theron plays Tom Everett Scott's hometown girlfriend. The cameos of Hanks's pals are fun: his wife, Rita Wilson, is a waitress; and his old Bosom Buddies cohort, Peter Scolari, plays the host of the "Hollywood Television Showcase."
Hey, I haven't forgotten the movie. What gives here?
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