History Film / TheCommitments

-->'''Jimmy:''' Well, Terry, it's like I always say; we skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels on the floor, I was feeling kind of seasick but the crowd called out for more.

** When the band gets together for the first time, there's a short montage set to "Destination Anywhere" as they are shown getting to know each other by hanging out in a pub together and then having a band meeting in a train.

** When Jimmy has the whole band formed, there's a montage set to "Destination Anywhere" as they are shown getting to know each other by hanging out in a pub together and then having a band meeting in a train.

* AmbiguousSituation: Did Joey Fagan really play with the greats in America, as he claims? He may or may not be visible on an album cover, his mother confirms his story but it's not clear if she really knows, and he claims he's going on tour with Joe Tex, who is long dead. He also claims that he knows Wilson Pickett and that he'll try to get Pickett to watch a Commitments show; Pickett's limo does come around belatedly, but it's not clear what Jimmy said to him or if he spoke to him at all.

* HopelessAuditionees: A montage (set to "Too Many Fish in the Sea") shows these appearing at Jimmy's door as he's trying to recruit his band. Jimmy asks each one who his/her influences are, then promptly slams the door in his/her face upon receiving their responses: "Barry Manilow," "Sinead O'Connor," "Wings...Bachman-Turner Overdrive?" "U2?" An apparent Boy George wannabe doesn't even get to name his influence. The only one brought in from this round is Dean, the saxophonist, because he says he's influenced by "[[Music/BruceSpringsteen Clarence Clemons]] and the guy from {{Music/Madness|Band}}."

* HiredForTheirLooks: In-universe Imelda was chosen as a back-up singer for this reason, although she turns out to be pretty talented like the other girls (justified because her actress Creator/AngelineBall was hired for her singing ability). In the film, Bernie is the first of the women to be approached to join the band, though in the hope that she will bring in Imelda who is a friend of hers; in the novel, Imelda is approached first and she recruits the other two, and all three are considered "foxy chicks" by the group's male members.

* HiredForTheirLooks: In-universe Imelda was chosen as a back-up singer for this reason, although she turns out to be pretty talented like the other girls (justified because her actress Creator/AngelineBall was hired for her singing ability).

* GenderBlenderName: Bernie, though as the novel confirms, this is short for Bernadette.

* AndTheAdventureContinues: While the film has a WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue, the book ends with Jimmy, Outspan, Derek and Mickah getting together to form a new group a couple of weeks later, unperturbed by the breakup of the Commitments. However, in ''The Snapper'' Jimmy has started to try his luck as a DJ.

-->Jimmy: Well, Terry, it's like I always say; we skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels on the floor, I was feeling kind of seasick but the crowd called out for more.
-->Jimmy (as Terry Wogan): That's very profound, Jimmy! What does it mean?
-->Jimmy: I'm fucked if I know, Terry.

* HopelessAuditionees: A montage (set to "Too Many Fish in the Sea") shows these appearing at Jimmy's door as he's trying to recruit his band. Jimmy asks each one who his/her influences are, then promptly slams the door in his/her face upon receiving their responses: "Barry Manilow," "Sinead O'Connor," "Wings...Bachman-Turner Overdrive?" "U2?" An apparent Boy George wannabe doesn't even get to name his influence. The only one brought in from this round is Dean, the saxophonist, because he says he's influenced by "[[Music/BruceSpringsteen Clarence Clemons]] and the guy from {{Music/Madness}}."
* IncrediblyLamePun: When the band are traveling in a chip van, some passers-by ask if they have any rock salmon. They reply "Sorry, we only have soul!" [[DontExplainTheJoke Get it... sole/soul...]]

-->'''Outspan''': You're mad, Jimmy! He's a savage!
-->'''Jimmy''': I know that, but he's ''our'' savage.

* DoingItForTheArt: [[invoked]] While Jimmy gives this impression, he ''does'' want the group to be successful. Joey Fagan is in it purely for his love of soul music.

* CelebrityParadox: The video store where the group watch a film of James Brown, has a promotion on this movie's director, Alan Parker films.

* PintSizedPowerhouse: Mickah. (That's him in the white tank top above.)

* SpellMyNameWithAThe: Necessary because, as Jimmy explains, "All the best Sixties bands started with a 'The'."
* SpiritualSequel: The book was part of an actual trilogy with ''Film/TheSnapper'' and ''The Van'' (and much later, ''The Deportees'' and ''The Guts''). Due to rights issues, the films only form a very loose trilogy with names in the latter two films changed and the only common link being Colm Meaney as the father of the main family.
* ThePowerOfRock: Well, the Power of Soul in this case.

* BedmateReveal: To the strains of the theme from ''Shaft,'' no less.

* CelebrityParadox: The video store where the group watch a film of James Brown, has a promotion on Alan Parker films.

* EightiesHair: Though the film was released in 1991, 80s styles hadn't faded just yet. A prime example is Dean's fabulous pompadour-mullet.

* AndTheAdventureContinues: While the film has a WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue, the book ends with Jimmy, Outspan, Derek and Mickah getting together to form a new group a couple of weeks later, unperturbed by the breakup of the Commitments. However, in ''The Snapper'' Jimmy has started to try his luck as a DJ.
* BedmateReveal: To the strains of the theme from ''Shaft,'' no less.

** Downplayed with Deco in the movie. Despite being a FatBastard, he has fangirls due to him being the frontman of the band. However the women who him personally (Bernie, Imelda, and Natalie) hate him and find him disgusting.