I think some of it would have fit but they probably wanted to keep the movie to about an hour and 45 minutes. They certainly didn't cut anything essential.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Broadway jukebox musical along these lines in the next few years. Calling Jennifer Holliday!
I could absolutely see that being a huge success. Remember when John Waters' 'Hairspray' was a cult movie from the 80s that few remembered? (Well, what Waters film isn't considered a cult classic?) And now it's a huge Broadway musical and they remade the film. I could definitey see that happening with 'That Thing.' There seems to be a Broadway market for musicals based on classic pop music right now. Hanks, or someone from his camp, should write up a treatment and strike while the iron is hot.
Don't know how I missed it the first time around, but while listening to The Turtles over the weekend, I realized that Steve Zahn's character was based in part on Al Nichol, The Turtles lead guitarist. As with Zahn's character, Nichol too fell off the face of the earth after the demise of his band, only to resurface years later as the manager of a casino in Nevada.
If I had been in the test audience, they probably would have brought the medics in to hose me down! Lol Like many others in this thread, I love the scene when they first hear their song on the radio. To be that young and innocent again is so tangible watching it. I'd be screaming right along with them even just sitting in the theater. All of the songs used in the movie were pretty typical of that time period, too. I liked the soundtrack so much that I bought that too. So I would also be hard-pressed to stay in my seat and not dance, especially during "C'mon and Dance With Me Tonight." The movie makes me happy, and I don't find the ending to be a downer at all. Jimmy may go on to more fame, but Guy and Faye get together. I think that their being married and his having a career doing what he loves implies he's actually the more successful one. Just the romantic in me I suppose.
The fake soundtrack album was terrific, and they clearly put a lot of time and effort into those faux-'60s songs.
A few things made more sense to me once I saw the Director's Cut. First, a little more about what a jerk Boss Vic Koss was, how they got off on the wrong foot with him. Did he deliberately screw up the sound for their performance? Also, knowing where they got the little radios from. Though it's a little detail. Maybe scratch that, maybe we don't have to know that. I get where they were going re Mr. White's personal life -- he's Brian Epstein -- but did we need to know that? The more I'm thinking about this (I haven't watched it in a while) the more I'm agreeing with Steve, which I didn't expect in this instance.
Just watched the DC for the first time in a long time the other day. The DC does make various elements clearer, but I don't think we needed that clarity. Sure, it's fun to see that Guy gave everyone transistor radios, but like you imply - who cares? When I watched the theatrical, I never wondered where they got their radios. And the Koss stuff is fun but has no real impact on the story. I don't think he intentionally sabotaged their show - having an incompetent act on his show reflected poorly on him as well, so I don't think he'd do anything to harm his own concert. The biggest problem with the DC is just that it makes the movie so damned long. Almost 2.5 hours is insane for a light tale like this!
I just watched "Leon" aka "The Professional" with my children over the weekend. My son loaded the public library loaner Blu-ray and asked which version we should watch. I suggested the tighter paced theatrical release.
Anyone else think this would make a great triple feature? -"That Thing You Do!" -"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" -"A Hard Day's Night" The big question: in what order to watch them???
A reunion of three of the The Wonders onstage last night! That Thing You Do!’s The Wonders reunited onstage at the Roxy last night
I agree that the extended cut drags the film. Even the theatrical cut has footage the EC lacks: Faye counting money while Phil Horace shows up at Villipiano's. That explains his showing their record when he meets Guy. One clip should have been added to the theatrical edit, is Guy buying breakfast for dinging the car. Faye thanks Guy when she leaves but there's no scene it refers back to. And I like how the EC softens Guy's father. In the theatrical cut he yells at Guy that "we're not selling records here." In the EC, he asks Guy how big does the display need to be. I do like the scene with Huey Long. And the opening scene with Tina. The ending in the EC is different and less satisfying: Guy working as a disk jockey, to him being a potential jazz drummer in the theatrical edit. Tom Hanks, was going for a different vision possibly before the edits. Look at T.B. Player in bed with one of the Chantrellines to just having a crush on her in the movie release.
I think the theatrical "softens" Guy's dad anyway - he comes around and becomes a fan of the band like everyone else...
But watch him in the living room when the family (and Giovanni Ribisi) are watching the Hollywood Television Showcase. He has shades on and is pretending to play the drums, but it's clear he doesn't even know the song: "I'm lovin' that thing you do...I'm lovin' it..." Unless that's not an attempt at singing but rather his own declaration that he likes it? I always thought it was quite funny that once Guy replaced Chad in the band, Chad replaced Guy at the store and then we even see him over at their house, like he also replaced Guy in his own family!
I thought that was a way to make fun of Square Old Dad, who can't even get the song right. Anyway, I get your point, but I never watched the theatrical version and thought Guy's dad came across like a jerk. Heck, even when he nagged Guy about turning off the store lights and whatnot, he maintained a gruff charm - it's not like the movie made him seem like a bad person. There's an obvious comedic bent to the character even when he's "antagonistic" - it's not like Hanks made a hard-hitting domestic drama!