User reviews

This movie is funny, well cast, its a real hidden gem

For lack of better words, "Joe Versus the Volcano" is a romantic comedy. But then again, it's not even close to a romantic comedy. It has none of the formulaic standard elements that all romantic comedies seem to have. It has none of the formulaic standard elements of fantasy films. It also doesn't seem to have much of the slow, dry aspects of character dramas. And yet, "Joe Versus the Volcano" is a comedic film about Joe who finds romance, mostly set in a fantasy world.

The highlight of the film is the comedy. It is laugh-out-loud funny in a very intelligent and inventive way. Tom Hanks as Joe is great at subtle comedy and Meg Ryan is great at over-the-top comedy. I enjoyed Hanks' character, an average Joe suffering from hypochondria, and I enjoyed Ryan's characters, weird at times, but ultimately cute and sweet.

Written and directed by the genius playwright John Patrick Shanley, this is his first feature film. It has his trademark dialogue with quick wit, but it's also just plain weird. It's a very simple story which he tells too slowly at times, and the ending gets way too cheesy. But then again, that's probably on purpose, which makes it funny.

If you're looking for a Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movie which is not a romantic comedy, then "Joe Versus the Volcano" is your choice.

Highlights of this underrated film include witty, dark humor, with many laugh out loud moments and performances; moments of unexpected poignancy; and an equally unexpected reflective quality. Starring and supporting acting is brilliant and, at times, even subtle, which contributes to more character development than usual for this kind of movie. The plot wavers about an hour in, becoming too silly for a time. During this same chunk the script includes some unfortunate '90s style stereotyping of native people and cultures, and what is actually quite a shocking and cavalier conclusion to this segment of the movie. The final 10 minutes recaptures the tone and sentiment from the first part of the movie and brings the story to a fitting conclusion and simultaneously doing justice to the characters.

For many people, the fact that I love this movie will throw the integrity of everything else I write about into doubt. "Joe" has unfairly become an industry joke, shorthand for the depths to which Tom Hanks sank before redeeming himself with Academy Awards. This fate is horribly undeserved. "Joe" is an imaginative and gloriously life-affirming movie, a hysterically funny fantasy nearly on a par with the best of Terry Gilliam with a "carpe diem" moral that comes across with a lot more honesty and a lot less preachiness than some other movies I could mention. Every Tom Hanks performance is virtually flawless and this one ranks near the top. Meg Ryan's performances are warm and hilarious. Usually it's men who play more than one role in a movie and then it's more often for ego's sake than art's. Ryan pulls off her multiple characters with remarkable grace. More amazingly, it makes perfect sense for her to play three characters. For the sake of argument, I am willing to concede that there are those who just aren't going to enjoy this movie's unique mixture of whimsy and genuine emotion. But for me, it's a classic, easily one of my favorite movies of the decade.

That pretty much sums up this 1990 film starring Tom Hanks as a miserable man stuck in an uninspiring job. After learning he's going to die in six months, he accepts an offer to live it up for a couple of weeks and sacrifice himself in a volcano on some nondescript Pacific island.

Right off the bat, the movie tips off that it's more fantasy than reality. There's a great message about not selling your life -- your dreams -- for whatever pathetic wage they're offering at the local factory or whatever the case. But the final act fizzles out in Giligan's Island cartooniness.

Meg Ryan co-stars in a three-pronged role.

GRADE: C+

John Patrick Shanley both wrote and directed this quirky comedy that stars Tom Hanks as put-upon worker Joe Banks, who finally quits his depressing dead-end job after being told he has a "brain cloud" by Dr. Ellison(played by Robert Stack) Despondent, Joe ponders suicide but is interrupted by multi-millionaire Mr. Graynamore(played by Lloyd Bridges) who offers Joe a deal: he will live like a king before jumping into the volcano of a Pacific island to appease the tribal chief, with whom he has dealings. Joe agrees, and meets three different women(all played by Meg Ryan) until the last, Patricia, with whom he falls in love, as they make the fateful sailing journey together... Delightful film is decidedly different and odd, but also charming and unpredictable, with two appealing lead performances and many funny scenes. Becomes more of a life-affirming fable than a straight narrative story, explaining credibility issues, with a sweet ending.

This movie is a dance between boredom and genius, between philosophy and triviality. The first thirty minutes of this movie are great. I love the opening scene and the scene when Joe quits his job. The pictures during the first thirty minutes are a piece of art (like a hopper painting), the soundtrack fits perfect and the actors are doing a great job. The dinner with his colleague is also well done. The rest of the movie is OK, but nothing special. It started with the promise of a great movie and ended as a weak romance with a ridiculous ending. If there would be just the first thirty minutes, this movie would have deserved 10/10.

I am one of the few who saw this on the big screen TWICE when it opened. This is the movie I would take to the desert island, which miraculously has electricity a big screen and a DVD player. This is one of those rare films where every single character, no matter how minor, has a major impact on the hero and the plot. This film is also rare because the Lion's share of the funny and insightful dialogue belongs to the minor characters and not the protagonists. You have to love a movie where a luggage salesman is a major plot milestone. Ossie Davis is excellent as the wise Limo driver, Lloyd Bridges is hilarious, Tom Hanks is of course everyman, and Meg Ryan, in one of her funniest roles, is actually "every woman". "You know, the first time I saw you I thought that I had seen you before." A witty hero is commonplace and witty cast is truly memorable.

The movie is probably too allegorical for most tastes, but this is a great tale about a character afraid of life, afraid of that next step, who finds his courage and puts his foot forward again.

All in all this is one of the best kinds of movies, Funny and Hopeful.

Joe Bank (Tom Hanks) has a depressing job in the Advertising Dept of American Panascope in Long Island City, New York. They make rectal probes. He suffers under his supervisor Mr. Waturi (Dan Hedaya). He's diagnosed with terminal brain cloud with six months to live. He quits and asks out his co-worker DeDe (Meg Ryan). Wealthy businessman Samuel Graynamore (Lloyd Bridges) needs to placate locals on an island to mine a rare mineral. He hires Joe to jump into the volcano to appease their god. Joe hires limo driver Marshall (Ossie Davis) to help him spend the money. Samuel's flighty daughter Angelica (Meg Ryan) picks him up at the airport in L.A. Angelica's half-sister Patricia (Meg Ray) captains the yacht that brings him to the island.

I like his surrealistic work life. It reminds me of Brazil. The movie does get uneven at times. After getting the credit cards, Joe goes back into the real world. I expected more surrealism. After that, the surrealism returns with Meg Ryan playing another character. It makes shopping in Manhattan out of step.

The 3 Meg Ryan performances are a little jarring at first. I enjoy DeDe as a little wacky and a little darker than her usual fare. Angelica is not as enjoyable. She seems to be trying to hard with her voice. She should pull back a little with the crazy voice and she could replace Ossie Davis on his shopping trips. Patricia is classic Meg and shows their easy chemistry once again. Overall, this may be uneven at times but there are plenty of interesting imaginative concepts.

...yet this eccentric comedy never quite found its niche with the public, and I don't know why. It's beautifully produced and written, wonderfully acted and endlessly weird (how many films can you say that about?). When sad-sack Tom Hanks decides to give up his life for a few days of luxury, we understand because his existence may be a lot like ours: glum office job with lime walls, dirty floors, unpleasant co-workers, bad coffee and fluorescent lights on the fritz. When he's out to sea, floating on his luggage, he sees shapes in the sky at night that light up his face; he may be in a precarious position, stranded on the ocean, but he's the happiest and most alive he's ever been. What a wonderful moment in a movie chock-full of smart, sneaky laugh lines and throwaway bits of business that stay with one, growing beloved in the memory. Screenwriter John Patrick Shanley, also making his directorial debut, has a fine sense of pacing and a keen eye for the absurd beauty in our midst. Only in the final reel does the construction of the plot stumble, however this is due to film studio interference. ***1/2 from ****

A funny and engaging story that probably failed with critics because it was also embedded in a critique of the US Capitalism. Interesting well made sets, engaging acting and script, fun and relatable characters, and an all round embrace of late 20th century frustrations with the human condition. I think of this as an unknown classic, probably secretly loved by many.

The main lesson I learned from Joe Versus the Volcano is that highly talented people can make some pretty bad movies. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan do their best, which is considerable, to put some life into a plot that reminds me of a high school skit (or maybe Saturday Night Live!) There's no character development, and most of the situations are not funny, or even believable. Except for the joy of watching Hanks and Ryan together, this is one to miss.

Like many others who have commented, this movie speaks to me on many different levels. Whenever my life gets out of control, this is the movie I plug in. Joe is a character we can all identify with, and everyone has a bit of DeeDee, Anjelica and Patricia in them as well. I just wish Warner Bros. would release this on DVD (and the soundtrack, while they're at it). By far the best Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie. I just can't believe the low "grade" of this movie on IMD after reading mostly positive comments. And the few who hate it should give it another chance, and pay no attention to the silly previews that exist on some older videotapes.

Without apology or regret, I've loved this film since its release. A seemingly silly film that offers some lessons on the deeper meanings of life. Wildly imaginative it offers a not so subtle affirmation of living life to It's fullest rather than living it vicariously indirectly or through others. Meg Ryan's Patricia is luminous and, as with their other two films, she and Tom Hanks share a marvelous chemistry. The music is very sentimental but the endung song perfectly describes one's feelings when one truly met their soulmate, an event that occurs far less often than most realize, but wheb it happens it's quite magical and can seem almost miraculous, rather like this film's ending. The film certainly doesn't merit its low reputation.

Most people didn't "get" this film. But each of us has a different sense of humour and depth. JVTV is a subtle, witty film with morals, not like the bash 'em and blow 'em up Hollywood films of late. Meg Ryan shows her versatility as three separate, wonderfully funny characters and Tom Hanks (think of his character in The Money Pit but amusingly depressed) as Joe Banks trapped in a dead end job and is told he has a terminal illness. He is offered the chance to "live like a king, die like a man" by jumping into a volcano as part of a business deal where Joe gets to spend as much money as he likes before the big deed. Along the way Joe meets many characters who awaken him to the fact that life is worth living. This film is loaded with wonderful observations, a great score and songs, and standout performances. JVTV is one of those rare films you can easily watch again and again, and always makes me smile every time I see it.

Two of my favorite actors in this "different/strange" movie. Watched this movie for the first time in 2020 and enjoyed it.

Joe Versus the Volcano is a bizarre little romantic comedy that is about as unexpected as you can imagine. By now, early 2008, we have come to expect great things from him, and even here, in this outlandish little black sheep of a film, he shows us that early Hanks charm for which he is so known and loved. The scene when he is dancing by himself on top of the makeshift raft is a classic, for sure! Meg Ryan, on the other hand, another hugely talented actor, mostly shows here why she doesn't do accents.

She also, of course, has charm and presence, but she is very much overshadowed by Tom's. The important thing here is that they both exist in a terrible world ruled by the 40 Hour Work Week, presided over by the Terrible Boss and the cripplingly depressing atmosphere. Joe (Hanks), for example, believes that the fluorescent lights in his depressing office are slowly driving him crazy.

He goes to see a doctor, who tells him that he has something called a "brain cloud," which will kill him in six months but won't affect him physically until then. Of course, this diagnosis is the perfect reason to quit his job and tell off his boss, so Hanks gets a "telling-off" scene that is so good that you may wonder why Julia Roberts was ever allowed to do it in just about ever movie she ever made after Pretty Woman. Why didn't it become a staple in Hanks' films?

At any rate, Joe decides to leave his stifling job and live his life to the fullest, which of course leads in the most bizarre direction possible, to him being "hired" to become sacrifice himself to the volcano gods. The movie is, of course, at its most zanily creative with this idea, and yet the natives inhabiting the island are one of the only gags that just don't work. Lloyd Bridges is classic as the natives' chief, but a group of religious native islanders that worship orange soda? Come on Mr. Shanley, you can't use even the horrendous January Man as an excuse for THAT one...

Nevertheless, the movie is a curious romp into the imagination, and still has the presence of mind to make suggestions about life, reminding us once again of that all important rule of never giving in to the intolerable seriousness of it all...

Review:

I always had a sense that this movie existed, sort of in the same way I know there are other islands in the Pacific Ocean that aren't Hawaii. But with those islands, I still like to lump 'em with Hawaii. In my mind, "Joe Versus the Volcano" has been lumped with Turner and Hooch" (1989) and "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993);pretty much the Tom Hanks movies that bridge his mainly comedic work of the '80s to his more serious roles of the '90s.

And so, what do I think about a unique film like "Joe Versus the Volcano." Well, I'll start by saying it is a pretty unique film, a rare example of early '90s American expressionism. It looks like no other Tom Hanks film I have ever seen, including "Forest Gump" (1994) and "Cast Away" (2000) and its plot is also singularly odd in the Tom Hanks filmography, including "Splash" (1984) and "The Man with One Red Shoe" (1985).

Joe (Tom Hanks) is an Advertising Librarian for a medical supplies company in New York. His office is a hellish place that makes the bathroom setting in "Saw" (2004) look like a spa at club med. It is an office filled with flickering florescent lights and a man who endlessly repeats the same phrases again and again. One day Joe feels sickly and decides to go to the doctor who promptly informs him he has a brain cloud. As to what a brain cloud is exactly, we never find out, but we are informed it will kill Joe within six months.

The next morning a spastic businessman, Samuel Graynamore (played hilariously by Lloyd Bridges) comes knocking at Joe's door. He has a proposition for Joe. There's a little known volcanic island in the pacific that has a special element Graynamore needs to make superconductors. The tribe on the island will allow Graynamore to take as much of the element as he pleases if he can find them a willing participant to jump into the island's volcano to appease the volcano gods. Graynamore believes Joe is his man and Joe, seeing he has nothing to lose, agrees to do it.

The majority of the film follows Joe as he travels to the island. He buys a new wardrobe of clothes, hires limousines and travels luxuriously by air and by sea, all on Graynamore's dime. Along the way Joe meets Graynamore's daughters Angelica and Patricia (both played by Meg Ryan) and learns the value of truly living.

I appreciated some parts of this movie very much. For instance, a scene in which Joe beholds a giant moon at sea and begins to pray is very powerful. But on the whole, "Joe Versus the Volcano" is uneven. If writer-director John Patrick Shanley had presented a more consistent vision I would have liked this film a better. The surrealistic edge to "Joe" is great, but too often it flips over into scenes that look realistic and lack stylization. It makes for a choppy film going experience.

I also wasn't impressed by the romance between Joe and Patricia. It seems to me the sister Angelica was frivolous to the plot and Patricia, who becomes Joe's love interest, could have easily subsumed her role. When Patricia confesses her love to Joe it seems rushed and undeveloped. I didn't buy it.

"Joes Versus the Volcano" is ultimately an oddity and if you're a Tom Hanks fan its worth checking out. But when I consider what this film is versus what it could have been, I wish what it could have been had won.

Rating:

On a scale of one to Casablanca, this film is a "Superman Returns" (2006)

Rationalization:

What it is versus what it could have been says it all. I really wanted "Superman Returns" to be awesome, but let's face it, "Superman Returns" is a disappointment. If you give Lois Lane a husband and a kid, you really can't root for Superman to get the girl in the end without also making him into a super-dick. And no hand to hand face-off with Lex Luthor? That's just a shame. There's one scene where Luthor's goons kick the crap out of Superman and that sets up tension that should have been released by Superman's vengeance. But no. No vengeance. Apparently it didn't get personal for Superman even though it was clearly personal. Some people would say superman is not a vengeful creature, but he is. Remember in the Max Fleischer cartoons how Superman could just pick up a villain and throw him in jail without due process? In my mind, that is real vengeance and real power. But no. In "Superman Returns" he just chose to be boring.

This is my favorite film for a number of reasons. One reason is that it includes _homages_ to many classic films. For instance, the very first shot of the factory immediately brings to mind Chaplin's _Modern Times_ and Lang's _Metropolis_. The first minutes of the film, until Joe is called into the doctor's office, are filmed almost in black and white. The tones are all grey, black, or taupe, with some glaring whites. Then the door to the doctor's office opens to show warm leather, paneling, and firelight, and it's a sudden reminder of _The Wizard of Oz_, when Dorothy opens the door into Oz and the movie changes from black and white to color.

I also look for the "crooked path," which shows up four times at different parts of the movie. When Joe says, "We've come a long way on a crooked path," we know exactly what he's referring to!

I could go on with these details for pages, but I don't want to leave out the main reason this is my favorite film. It is one of the most life-affirming movies I have ever seen. When I had received devastatingly bad news about my health, this is the movie I watched, and it helped get me over the hump and start integrating the condition into my life.

Movies like this are one of the reasons for having movies at all, and I will continue watching it, as I return again and again to favorite books, for the rest of my life.

This movie starts heavy, and brightens up a lot. Meg Ryan nails all three of her roles, it's written well, and it's acted well. A good time all around.