A Celebration of Music, Love, and Friendship: "That Thing You Do!"

This is part of a recurring series in which I review some of my all-time favorite movies.

That Thing You Do! is the type of movie that makes you want to hug a stranger. Here is a film of radiant joy and warmth, an absolutely irresistible delight that lifts the spirit and soothes the soul. That Thing You Do! was written and directed by the great Tom Hanks, who also stars in the film, and it is a testament to Hanks' tremendous charisma and talent. Set in 1964 and released in 1996, That Thing You Do! still feels as fresh as a summertime breeze. I love this movie.

In many ways, the film is a love letter to The Beatles, and to music in general. The plot centers on a wildly popular 1960's rock-and-roll band named The Wonders, a group of young and attractive music aficionados who start a band and experience rags-to-riches success. The four men who comprise The Wonders (Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Johnathon Schaech, Tom Everett Scott) are greeted with euphoria by an adoring public, and they quickly become international sex symbols. That Thing You Do! chronicles the The Wonders' rapid ascendance from obscurity to fame, a rise that features a fair share of tumult along the way. But at its core, That Thing You Do! is about the intersection of music, love, and friendship. And That Thing You Do! is remarkably adept and moving in the way it handles the aforementioned themes.

The movie is perfectly cast. Steve Zahn, Tom Everett Scott, Ethan Embree, and Johnathon Scaech all bring youthful ebullience and innocence to the starring roles. They are wonderful. Tom Hanks is fantastic, as always, as the band's manager. Liv Tyler and Charlize Theron are superb as the love interests. In bad movies, the role of love interest can be a thankless one, but That Thing You Do! gives Tyler and Theron characters that feel real. Tom Hanks' screenplay is a funny and charming gem, and his direction is vibrant and enchanting.

The real star of That Thing You Do!, however, is the music. The soundtrack is simply magnificent, each song a toe-tapping pleasure. It is impossible to finish watching the movie without humming the catchy title track, "That Thing You Do". The soundtrack serves as a joyous ode to the magic of music, and the ability of music to ease your worries and bring happiness.

That Thing You Do! isn't especially groundbreaking, but it is richly satisfying every step of the way. This movie is entertainment at its finest. Tom Hanks never got the credit he deserved for making a movie so full of life, so full of enchantment.