You know, a huge takeaway I get from this movie is to appreciate what's in front of you. The "antagonists" of this movie, if there are any, never seem to care about the fact that there's lively music happening that's causing so many people to smile and dance. Even staring right in the face of a good time, watch how Jimmy and Tina just couldn't care less about the joy that's happening around them. They're too stuck in their own heads and in their own ideas of what "should" be happening that even among all the cheering and dancing, they're just SCOWLING the entire time, which looks pretty insensitive to anyone on the outside. You can tell from the beginning that Jimmy's gonna be a problem and Tina's gonna dump Guy for a richer man.
I've always loved Steve Zahn acting. He's so good at it; funny and fresh, without being annoying. Completely underrated. Ethan Embry did a great job too. It is a shame that Liv Tyler's character was so lame and flat (the longer version of the film is a bit better for her though).
This song not winning an Oscar for Best Song pretty much makes Best Song awards irrelevant. Give me another song that is literally the basis for an entire movie, is as catchy as any pop song ever and you can literally hear like 14x in the movie and never tire of it.
One small detail that I haven't seen anyone really talk about is when it gets to the end of the bridge Jimmy stops trying to go against the tempo and instead just sings in a way where you can clearly hear the frustration in his voice with the rasp of his vocals. The funny part is his frustration actually makes the song sound even cooler.
I love the different reactions immediately after Guy starts the tempo faster. Jimmy is obviously irked because that's not what he wrote/rehearsed, T.B. Player is completely like a deer caught in headlights and only gets into the grove in the final chorus (lol), and Lenny (the member whose there for the fun) absolutely loves the vibe and encourages Jimmy to immediately go ahead and even compliments Guy's drumming later. Just love it.
Yeah; but the movie's sound track let song guy's like me enjoy those songs and like very much to hear them. There is not much better soundtracks around for us back in the days!
At 0:35, the first fan of the Oneders dancing to their big breakout song when even the band is still unsure of themselves, but she knew right away. Also, 90% sure she’s the same girl who moves to the front of the stage in the shot at 0:56.
I love imagining how earth shattering it would've been had this tune actually come out in 1964 . . . Definitely would've given those boys from Liverpool a serious run for their money!!
It's that Irish band, The O'Neders! Actually, the first time I saw this scene, it reminded me of The Beatles song Please Please Me. Like That Thing You Do, Please Please Me was originally supposed to be a slow song. It was then I realised Tom Hanks is a Beatles fan.
