Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
Average Rating: 5.2/10
Reviews Counted: 26
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 11
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 2
liked it
Average Rating: 2.7/5
User Ratings: 49,014
My Rating
Movie Info
Academy Award-winning screenwriter John Patrick Shanley's first foray into the director's chair is a quirky romantic fantasy, featuring Bo Welch's signature production design. Tom Hanks plays Joe Banks, a man who hates his job, thinks the overhead fluorescent lights are making him sick, and quakes at the presence of his boorish boss Frank Watori (Dan Hedaya). He is attracted to the office secretary DeDe (Meg Ryan) but is afraid to speak to her. Then his life changes when he visits Dr. Ellison
Mar 9, 1990 Wide
Apr 2, 2002
Warner Home Video
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Cast
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Tom Hanks
Joe Banks -
Meg Ryan
Angelica, DeDe, Patrici... -
Lloyd Bridges
Samuel Harvey Graynamor... -
Robert Stack
Dr. Ellison -
Dan Hedaya
Mr. Frank Watori -
Abe Vigoda
Chief of the Waponis -
Ossie Davis
Marshall the Chauffeur -
Barry McGovern
Luggage Salesman -
Amanda Plummer
Dagmar -
Carol Kane
Hairdresser -
Jayne Haynes
Nurse -
Jim Hudson
Fred (Guard) -
Nathan Lane
Ben the Waponi Advance ... -
Jim Ryan
Bellman -
Lala Sloatman
Waitress -
Jennifer Stewart
Statue of Liberty -
Paul Thorpe
The (Waponi) God Woo -
Darrell Zwerling
Underwear Salesman -
Tony Salome
Clerk (at The Rectal Pr... -
-
-
David Burton
Mike
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All Critics (32) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (12) | DVD (13)
Cult classic with smoking, kissing, stereotypes.
An overlooked gem.
This fascinating-but-flawed parable is the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedy for people who don't like Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedies.
A more fascinating mess you'll never find.
The unredeemable result of Hollywood's total capitulation to the Spielberg/Lucas aesthetic of the 80s.
Excellent satire!
Somehow I can't hate this. Then again, I can't really like it, either.
Audience Reviews for Joe Versus the Volcano
Super Reviewer
Not so bad as it's said to be. The movie is probably too allegorical for most tastes, but this is a good tale about a character afraid of life, afraid of that next step, who finds his courage and puts his foot forward again.
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.
Super Reviewer
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- Joe Banks: I have no interest in myself. When I think about myself, I get bored out of my mind.
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- Patricia: My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement.
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- Patricia: I wonder where we'll end up?
- Joe Banks: Away from the things of man, my love. Away from the things of man.
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- Hairdresser: SHAZAM!
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- Mr. Frank Watori: I'm NOT arguing that with you!
Discussion Forum
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