Director: Tom Hanks

Writer: Tom Hanks (Screenplay)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Steve Zahn, Johnathon Schaech, Ethan Embry, Charlize Theron

Plot: A local Pennsylvania band scores a one hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from its manager.

Tagline – In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do.

Runtime: 1 Hour 48 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict:

Story: That Thing You Do! Starts in a small town in Pennsylvania in 1964, where four young men Jimmy (Schaech), Guy (Scott), Lenny (Zahn) and the Bass Player (Embry) are trying to make a nae for themselves and when they win a talent contest, the band known as ‘The One-Ders’ grab the attention of the state.

When Mr White (Hanks) discovers the band, he rebrands them ‘The Wonders’ and soon their hit ‘That Thing You Do!’ rises up the charts becoming an overnight sensation.

Thoughts on That Thing You Do!

Characters – Mr White is the music manager who takes over control of ‘The Wonders’ he knows how to make them bigger than they are and shows them how to go from small crowds to the main attraction to national success, however he makes sure he keeps them doing the song that made them popular over trying to make them do anything new. Jimmy is the lead singer of the band and along with his girlfriend has always tried to make the band their own style, always trying to find a clever snappy name for them. Guy is bought in last minute to become the drummer and soon becomes the man of mystery in the band, the one that pushes them to up the tempo of the band sound. Faye is Jimmy’s girlfriend that has supported the band from day one, she will follow them on tour.

Performances – Tom Hanks is a busy man on this film taking writing and directing too, he is great as the manager trying to make the band the next big thing, he shows he knows this side of the business with the character too. Johnathon Schaech, Tom Everett Scott, Steve Zahn and Ethan Embry as the band are good they have great chemistry together. Liv Tyler is good with her role slowly turning into the background roll in the film.

Story – The story follows a young band that rise from small-town band to national success with their one hit wonder song that is filled with good feeling. We see how the band can be led down one the path that is best for their quick success over being shown about lasting success in a cut throat 60s music industry, where everyone wanted to become the next Beetles. The story is shown in a pace which shows the band just loving the success that is coming their direction while they have their own issues which must be put aside to keep the band together and we see how they must learn to handle success.

Comedy/Music – The comedy in the film comes from the supporting cast where Lenny get the laughs with his enthusiasm about the band. The music is mostly the same song being played, but it isn’t one that gets annoying though.

Settings – The film uses the settings to show the small humble beginnings the band has to just how big they becomes with each location becoming bigger to mirror their success.

Scene of the Movie – That Thing You Do! The song.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – The Bass Player not actually having a name.

Final Thoughts – This is a good example of how bands can have one song which makes them massive only to see them struggle when it comes to trying to make a name for themselves in a new booming industry.

Overall: Hanks is just as great behind the camera as he is on front of it.

Rating

Director: J.M. Stelly

Writer: J.M. Stelly (Screenplay)

Starring: Brian Krause, Jared Bankens, Lara Grice, Scott Allen Perry, Thomas Francis Murphy, Jeff Pearson, Manon Pages, Dane Rhodes

Plot: Detective Damien Seryph investigates a string of murders that connects to a group trying to bring forth the 4 King Demons of Hell. Damien’s past connects him to those involved and will force him to become “The Demonologist”.

Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Overly Slow

Story: The Demonologist starts as two detectives Damian (Krause) and Billy (Hoefer) stat investigating a string a ritual murders. Meredith (Pages) has been possessed and used by the demon preparing to bring his children back to Earth for the next stage in process of life, with the most loyal follower being Ian Parrish (Bankes).

As the bodies continue to pile up, Damian learns out that it has become personal and he learns about his own past with the fight against demons before the evil will rise.

Thoughts on The Demonologist

Characters – Damian is a police detective, he is about to get engaged with his latest case involving a ritual manner, going through the investigation it becomes personal and he must learn to balance the personal side with the professional side. He must also learn about his past with the work of his family having dealt with the demons before. Ian Parrish is the one leading the ritual murders, he is following the orders of his chosen demon waiting for his chance. Meredith is the vessel for the demon, using her sexy seductive ways to keep her followers doing whatever she needs done. Frank is the partner of Damian’s trying to keep him on the right path when the case becomes too personal, he is the friend that is always there for him.

Performances – Brian Krause leads a cast that do just enough to get by without doing enough to make you want to see more from their character. Jared Bankes does look creepy, though we don’t get enough from his character, while Manon Pages brings the sexy side to the character, without getting to completely dive into her character.

Story – The story here takes an unsuspecting police detective that finds himself getting involved a case which involved ritual murders, only to learn that he was always meant to be involved in this battle. The pace of this story is weak because it does feel like it is dragging along and unless you know the ritual world certain terms will go straight over your head. We do seem to get introduced to a lot of characters and ends up feeling like the pilot episode to a television show giving the character of Damian everything he needs for the first fight with this new light in his career.

Horror – The horror involved in the film deals with possession and the potential rise of a demon from hell that will change Earth.

Settings – The film takes us to a city which has the dark arts going on within it, it could be any city because it has no iconic locations used.

Special Effects – The CGI used in the film does look weak and unconvincing throughout the film.

Scene of the Movie – The final battle.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – The number of characters.

Final Thoughts – This is a weak horror that doesn’t get much help from the pacing of everything going on either, it feels like a pilot episode which cold turn into an interesting show.

Overall: Weak and disappointing.

Rating