YMMV / That Thing You Do!

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• Alternative Character Interpretation: Despite otherwise being a Benevolent Boss, Mr. White seems to deliberately yank Jimmy's chain by first putting off and then setting a date to record an album, but not telling him it would be a cover album until they were in the studio. Then he comes down as the hard-nosed record manager by saying he is contractually obligated to do it rather than trying to persuade him. It's possible he was giving Jimmy a Secret Test of Character—play by Play-Tone's rules, and he'll make it past summer with the label, or fail and be the One-Hit Wonder White expects him to be. As another possibility, he was so fed up with Jimmy by then he did the thing most calculated to offend Jimmy's artistic sensibilities so he'd quit of his own accord.
• Awesome Music: The titular song "That Thing You Do" sounds exactly like something that would become a hit during the midcentury setting: it's got a jaunty tune, catchy lyrics, and fills the in-universe dance floor. For extra awesomeness, both downtempo and uptempo versions sound great.
• Hilarious in Hindsight:
  • This isn't the last time that Tom Hanks would play the manager of a music act.
  • The movie features both a cameo from Bryan Cranston and a character named Mr White. Cranston later went on to play a character named Mr White.
• Moment of Awesome: Everyone in the band (including Mr. White) letting them know what they think of Jimmy after he callously breaks up with Faye.
  Jimmy: I should have dumped you in Pittsburgh! (turns to the band) Which one of you butts said we were engaged?
  Mr. White: The same person who said you had class, Jimmy. (walks away)
  Jimmy: (looks at Guy) Take those stupid sunglasses off.
  Guy: Why couldn't you have dumped her in Pittsburgh?
• One-Scene Wonder: Margueritte, the waitress in the jazz club, played by Rita Wilson (Tom Hanks' wife).
  Marguerite: (smiling at a star-struck Guy) Look at you. You're no good to me now.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Tina, Guy’s vain girlfriend, is played by Charlize Theron in one of her earliest screen roles.
  • Bryan Cranston makes a cameo as astronaut Gus Grissom, also a guest on The Hollywood Television Showcase. He would later play another Apollo astronaut in another Tom Hanks production.

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