THAT THING--DON'T DO IT!

By RICHARD CORLISS

Moviegoers have been singing Tom Hanks' tune for most of the '90s. A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Toy Story--each movie has been a surprise hit, proof of Hanks' intelligence, craft and lopsided likability. Now Hollywood wonders, What can the guy do wrong?

This. Hanks' feature-film debut as writer-director, That Thing You Do!, tries to infuse his personality in a story set in a time of innocence: small towns, state fairs, the modest dreams of being in a band and kissing the lead singer's pretty girlfriend. But the transplant doesn't take, because Hanks hasn't given his 1964 fable of would-be Beatles (or Byrds or Searchers) the solid bass line of story sense.

The Wonders come together without cohering and fall apart without reason. We know the movie thinks the drummer (the criminally cute, severely Hanksian Tom Everett Scott) is the band's soul, destined to get that kiss from Liv Tyler. But we don't learn what inspired the Wonders' leader (Johnathon Schaech) to compose the title song--kind of crucial to know, since it's played 11 times in the film. Other band members are mere ciphers (Ethan Embry) or shtick (Steve Zahn). As their manager, Hanks is villainous or fatherly, depending on the script's errant needs. Why he would create this franchise, then collude in its ruin, is a perplexing caprice.

There's evocative atmosphere in the period detail and perky faux-'60s tunes. A pity these are wasted in a movie that, like many a pop tune, has a cute idea but a simpleminded lyric. --R.C.