Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)

Director:

John Patrick Shanley

Writer (WGA):

John Patrick Shanley (written by)

Release Date:

9 March 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

An Average Joe. An Adventurous Comedy.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Boredom | Fall From Height | Love | Dying Man's Last Fling | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Joe Banks
Meg Ryan	...	DeDe / Angelica Graynamore / Patricia Graynamore
Lloyd Bridges	...	Samuel Harvey Graynamore
Robert Stack	...	Kenneth Hindmick / Dr. Ellison
Abe Vigoda	...	Waponi Chief
Dan Hedaya	...	Mr. Frank Waturi
Barry McGovern	...	Luggage Salesman
Amanda Plummer	...	Dagmar
Ossie Davis	...	Marshall
Jayne Haynes	...	Nurse
David Burton	...	Mike
Carol Kane	...	Cassandra the Hairdresser (as Lisa Le Blanc)
Jim Hudson	...	Fred the Guard
Antoni Gatti	...	Italian Tailor
Darrell Zwerling	...	Underwear Salesman

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Spain:13 | Germany:6 (re-rating) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1994) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The company logo is seen in the entrance to the factory, in the crumbling wall in Joe's house, in the shape of the lightning bolt that sinks the boat, in the way up to the volcano, and, in the film's trailer (included on the DVD) is the lightning bolt that travels up the film's title and strikes the top.

Goofs:

Continuity: When DeDe walks into Joe's apartment at the end of their date, she places her handbag on the floor a few steps across from the door. When she comes back in to get the bag because she forgot it after she leaves, she reaches for the bag just inside the door.

Quotes:

Joe Banks: I tell you one thing, though. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we're gonna take this luggage with us!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Bob Saget/TLC (#20.19)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Marooned Without You

My All Time Favorite

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.