Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)

When a hypochondriac learns that he is dying, he accepts an offer to throw himself in a volcano at a tropical island, and along the way there, learns to truly live.

Director:

John Patrick Shanley

Writer:

John Patrick Shanley

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Lloyd Bridges

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Joe
Meg Ryan	...	DeDe / Angelica / Patricia
Lloyd Bridges	...	Graynamore
Robert Stack	...	Dr. Ellison
Abe Vigoda	...	Chief of the Waponis
Dan Hedaya	...	Mr. Waturi
Barry McGovern	...	Luggage Salesman
Amanda Plummer	...	Dagmar
Ossie Davis	...	Marshall
Jayne Haynes	...	Nurse
David Burton	...	Mike
Jon Conrad Pochron	...	Tony (as Jon Pochran)
Jim Hudson	...	Fred - Guard
Antoni Gatti	...	Italian Tailor
Darrell Zwerling	...	Underwear Salesman

Storyline

Joe versus the Volcano is a fable which opens with somewhat surrealistic scenes of the dehumanization of Joe Bank's job and work environment (at a company whose product rather literally screws people) with imagery that seems to have been inspired by the classic film Metropolis. Joe is diagnosed with an incurable disease, quits his dehumanizing job, and accepts an offer to briefly "live like a king, die like a man" - but to fulfill his agreement he must willingly jump into a live volcano on the island of Waponi Woo in order to appease the volcano god. En route to the island, Joe meets a series of interesting characters in NYC and LA, then boards a yacht, captained by Patricia Graynamore. During the voyage Joe and Patricia survive disaster, fall in love, and finally arrive at the island where they face their destiny.

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Plot Keywords:

island | volcano | yacht | love | tropical | 

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Taglines:

An Average Joe. An Adventurous Comedy.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Joe Contra o Vulcão

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$39,404,261 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song the Mexican restaurant band plays is a Spanish language version of "On the Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady.

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Goofs

In the morning when the daisy gets stepped on, everyone's shadows are to their right. Later that afternoon, when Joe fixes the daisy, his shadow is also to his right, and from the same camera angle. In the afternoon Joe's shadow would have been of a different angle.

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Quotes

Joe Banks: So I'm not sick? Except for this terminal disease?

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Connections

Referenced in Psych: Psy vs. Psy (2007)

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Soundtracks

"On the Street Where You Live"
Written by Lerner and Loewe
Performed and Arranged by Peter Gordon
used in the Mexican restaurant; sung in Spanish by the mariachi band

User Reviews

One of the most overlooked movies ever

In complete seriousness, I can say "Joe Versus The Volcano" is one of the best movies ever to come out of Hollywood. Sadly, it's also one of the most overlooked movies ever made. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan both are absolutely fantastic in this movie that really is an allegory about life. The movie has a fantastic script, is directed beautifully and stands up to the test of time. Hanks is at his comedic best as the soul-sick Joe, and Ryan is fantastic in her three roles. Why this movie didn't do better (despite a lack of promotion) is beyond me. It is one seems like one of those word-of-mouth movies that just keep getting bigger. I saw it three times in the theater, watched it numerous times on video and purchased the DVD the day it came out. But it's OK, I know a hidden gem when I see it.