that thing you do!

the year: 1996

the genre: comedy


the cast: Tom Everett Scott (Guy "Skitch" "Shades" Patterson); Liv Tyler (Faye Dolan); Johnathon Schaech (Jimmy Mattingly); Steve Zahn (Lenny Haise); Ethan Embry (T.B. Player); Tom Hanks (Mr. White); Charlize Theron (Tina); Rita Wilson (Marguerite); Chris Isaak (Uncle Bob)


the plot: Jazz aficionado Guy Patterson, unhappily toiling in the family appliance store, is recruited into the band the Oneders (later renamed the Wonders) after regular drummer Chad breaks his arm. After Guy injects a four/four rock beat into lead singer Jimmy's ballad, the song's undeniable pop power flings the Wonders into a brief whirlwind of success, telling the tale of many American bands who attempted to grab the brass ring of rock and roll in the wake of the British Invasion.



count: how many suit colors the "guys look great in".



don't miss: Capn' Geech and the Shrimpshack Shooters.



watch for: the nod to Apollo 13 - when the Oneders are playing at Boss Vic Koss' show in Pittsburgh one of the other band names on the theater marquee is "Marilyn Lovell & The Geminis".



did you know: Tom Hanks wrote and directed the film.



listen for: "Hey, that's o-NEH-ders!"



extra bonus points: if you can name two other band names under consideration, according to Jimmy's notebook.


also listen for: "I play a lot of cards. Obviously." and "Oh, I'm not here with these fellas. I've got a pig in competition over at the livestock pavilion, and I am going to win that blue ribbon!" I love Lenny.

sahara

the year: 2005

the genre: action/adventure


the cast: Matthew McConaughey (Dirk Pitt); Steve Zahn (Al Giordino); Penelope Cruz (Eva Rojas); William H. Macy (Admiral Jim Sandecker); Rainn Wilson (Rudi Gunn); Lamber Wilson (Yves Massarde)


the plot: Explorer Dirk Pitt goes on the adventure of a lifetime of seeking out a lost Civil War battleship known as the "Ship of Death" in the deserts of West Africa while helping a UN doctor being hounded by a ruthless dictator.


count: how many times Al loses his hat.


watch for: the disappearing/reappearing light stick while Eva is in the well.


don't miss: the "Panama".


listen for: "Hi! How are ya?"


did you know: the fact that Al Giordino had some of the Admiral's cigars was an inside joke from the novels; he always seemed to have some no matter how carefully Admiral Sandecker kept them under lock and key.


extra bonus points: if you know who else (more than one) was considered for the role of Dirk Pitt.


also listen for: "Next time, YOU go!"


did you also know: the cast had camel-riding lessons during which they would have to ride the camel at full gallop for 90 minutes alongside a moving train.