That Thing You Do!

Here is a quote from Liv Tyler’s character from “That Thing You Do!”

Faye: I have wasted thousands and thousands of kisses on you – kisses that I thought were special because of your lips and your smile and all your color and life. I used to think that was the real you, when you smiled. But now I know you don’t mean any of it. You just save it for all your songs. Shame on me for kissing you with my eyes closed so tight.

If you’ve ever been in a relationship with someone and you’ve felt small and unimportant and under appreciated, you get the heart of this movie quote.

What feels like eons ago I watched “That Thing You Do!”. I had the preconceived notion that it was all about a band in the ’50’s who got discovered and made a one hit wonder. As music is a passion of me only surpassed by writing, I knew I had to check it out. And I was right. The story WAS about this sad tale of One Hit Wonders. But it was so much more. This was a love story.

The main character, played by Thomas Everett Scott, is a guy named Guy Patterson. But the character who stole the show for me was Faye. She was supportive and caring. She listened to her lead singer boyfriend Jimmy’s hopes and dreams. She was the muse for the songs he wrote. She unselfishly dropped her whole life to follow him on the road to support his dreams and that of the band’s. Guy, the drummer, watched all this happen and became her best friend.

She did everything right, but in the end it wasn’t enough. Despite the fact that Jimmy was the most important thing to her, she wasn’t valued the same way. That realization hurt…and her quote said it all.

Why did I share this quote? Because it happens all the time! We make wrong choices. We fall in love with people who don’t appreciate us. We lose ourselves and our identities in something or someone, then realize it’s all for nothing. It hurts. But recognizing it? Addressing it then finding a way to move on? That’s the beauty and resiliency of the human heart! It’s also the way to finding that happy ending…if only you have the courage to reach out and grab it.

As Guy watched Faye, he saw a gem in the woman his bonehead of a lead singer was willing to throw away. And Faye got her happily ever after with a man who would always value her.

Guy Patterson: When was the last time you were decently kissed? I mean, truly, truly, good and kissed?

And then he kissed her.