Joe Versus the Volcano

Released 1990
Stars Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Lloyd Bridges, Dan Hedaya, Ossie Davis, Abe Vigoda, Robert Stack, Amanda Plummer
Directed by John Patrick Shanley

Gradually through during the opening scenes of "Joe Versus the Volcano," my heart begin to quicken, until finally I realized a wondrous thing: I had not seen this movie before. Most movies, I have seen before. Most movies, you have seen before. Most movies are constructed out of bits and pieces of other movies, like little engines built from cinematic Erector sets. But not "Joe Versus the Volcano." It is not an entirely successful movie, but it is new and fresh and not shy of taking chances. And the dialogue in it is actually worth listening to, because it is written with wit and romance.

Summary by Roger Ebert

John Patrick Shanley made a name for himself by scripting Moonstruck, the award- winning 1987 romantic comedy starring Cher and Nicolas Cage. Joe Versus the Volcano, a provocatively-titled, modern day fable, is his fourth script and first opportunity in the director's chair. It's a curious blend of satire, comedy, melodrama, and romance, that, if nothing else, is memorable for its uniqueness. Most of the time, it's easy to compare a new movie to something already available, but not in this case. No one is going to accuse Joe of being derivative, and, with so many movies fitting into easily-defined niches, that's a refreshing characteristic.

Summary by James Berardinelli

What a difference a decade makes. My wife and I saw "Joe Versus the Volcano" in the theater in 1990, and we hated it. Of course, we were in our early 20's, and what do you know at that age? A decade later I caught it on TNT, and I loved it! It's so fresh and fun, it's exhilarating. Until the ending this film rocked. It alternated between hilarity and whimsy, but it faltered once they reached the island. That didn't matter, though because overall this is a great film. --Bill Alward, October 5, 2001