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Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Dan Hedaya ... see more see more... , Abe Vigoda , Ossie Davis , Barry McGovern , Amanda Plummer , Carol Kane , Jayne Haynes , Jim Hudson , Nathan Lane , Jim Ryan , Lala Sloatman , Jennifer Stewart , Paul Thorpe , Darrell Zwerling , Tony Salome , Jon Conrad Pochron , Marion Dougherty , David Burton

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 Bank... read more read more...s, 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 (Robert Stack). Dr. Ellison tells Joe that he has something called "a brain cloud" that is rapidly spreading throughout his brain. He will feel great, but he'll be dead within five months. Instead of being depressed at this bleak prognosis, Joe suddenly feels free. He quits his job, asks DeDe out, and is contacted by a rich millionaire named Graynamore (Lloyd Bridges). Graynamore owns an island named Waponi Woo, whose natives need to be placated. The natives require a sacrifice to their island volcano, the Big Woo, so that the island won't sink beneath the Pacific. Graynamore offers unlimited wealth to Tom in exchange for Tom's becoming the object of human sacrifice. Joe has nothing to lose, so he accepts the offer. As he heads out to the island, Joe meets Graynamore's daughters -- Angelica, a Los Angeles socialite, and Patricia, Angelica's blonde half-sister (both roles played by Ryan). Joe arrives at the island, and as he stands at the lips of the Big Woo he has to decide whether he really wants to leap into the maw of the fiery volcano. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

45% liked it

48,400 ratings

Critics

56% liked it

25 critics

PG, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: John Patrick Shanley

Release Date: March 9, 1990

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DVD Release Date: April 2, 2002

Stats: 1,687 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,687)

  • movieguru12
    September 19, 2011
    movieguru12
    Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks prove once again that they have incredible movie chemistry. Meg Ryan plays 3 astonishingly different women, Dee dee, the shy women, who works with Joe Banks (Hanks), Angelica, the messed up woman living off of daddy's money and the independent and confidant... read more, Patricia. Tom Hanks plays Joe, a man you fears everything in life. This is one of those movies that you'll want to watch again and again for many years to come (:
  • FilmFanatik
    December 20, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    One of the few romantic comedies I can watch.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    One of the most crazy ideas, but executed so gracefully. Tom Hanks is the most lovable guy out there and Meg Ryan the most lovable girl out there, naturally this movie shows that. Within minutes you want these characters to be happy and in love, something I rarely find myself wan... read moreting without cause.
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    Fun film but I'm not understanding the 'Cult' following this film claims to have, does it really exist?
  • stormyweather980
    September 8, 2009
    stormyweather980
    "Joe Versus the Volcano" is a strange movie, but it is great. Joe Banks (Tom Hanks) isn't satisfied with his job or his life and on top of that his doctor tells him that he has a rare disease called a brain cloud and only has about 6 months left to live. A man pays him to sacrifi... read morece himself for an island. There's a tale about a small island in the Pacific Ocean that will sink if someone doesn't jump into the island's volcano after so long. The inhabitants on the island enjoy drinking tons of orange soda, and none of them are willing to jump into the volcano. Joe agrees to do it because he hasn't been satisfied with his life thus far and he wants to go out of this world like a man. The person who will sail him to the island is Meg Ryan.
    "Joe Versus the Volcano" was one of the first great Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movies. I think this movie has a deeper meaning to it than most people might notice after they watch it. It has elements of many different kinds of movies such as a romantic comedy, drama, and adventure. In a way I thought the movie had a message about if you're tired of waiting for something good to turn up in your life, don't give up altogether, you'll find it one day. I recommend "Joe Versus the Volcano" to anybody who likes great movies. It's hard to see why this movie hasn't ever got the credit it deserves because it's a great movie. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. Definitely one of the more underrated movies ever, the best Hanks/Ryan movie in my book, and their most overlooked.
  • danperry17
    February 11, 2008
    danperry17
    What an odd movie. It's patently ridiculous, yet somehow charming. There are some really interesting scenes, and its building up of big clichés just to cut them down again is definitely not a typical move. You find yourself investing a good 15 minutes at a time into a scene that ... read moredoesn't really mean anything or go anywhere. Or maybe it does, you're never quite sure. It's weird, but I can't say that I didn't enjoy it. Perhaps it was supposed to be something else and fell short due to production problems, or maybe a little movie got a ton of money and studio power behind it and wobbled out of control... I don't know how to explain it. The message is simple and valuable, though: don't just accept your situation, try to change it. Meg Ryan inspires Joe (Tom Hanks) to do so three times, as three different characters, which is also interesting and a credit to her actual acting talent. Why does she keep making such dumb movies nowadays? Not to say that this one's great, but does anyone remember Courage Under Fire? When Harry Met Sally?? I think she should fire her agent... I digress.

    Watch this movie - just expect nothing and you'll be fine.
  • thmtsang
    February 2, 2008
    thmtsang
    Comedy about a man who is terminally ill and decides to jump in a volcano.
  • moonrivers
    July 22, 2007
    moonrivers
    a chick flick in comedic dressing...but okay
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 20, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A quirky movie plot; it doesn't seem very real. I couldn't get too involved in the story.
  • Deano78
    June 18, 2007
    Deano78
    Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks pair up for the first time in this silly comedy. It has its share of laughs and feel good moments though.

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Critic Reviews

Scott Nash
June 29, 2010
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs

An overlooked gem. Full Review

Ken Hanke
October 31, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

A more fascinating mess you'll never find.

Jake Euker
March 10, 2004
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

The unredeemable result of Hollywood's total capitulation to the Spielberg/Lucas aesthetic of the 80s.

Fred Topel
September 26, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com

Excellent satire!

Alex Sandell
July 16, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Somehow I can't hate this. Then again, I can't really like it, either.

Rumsey Taylor
November 26, 2002
Rumsey Taylor, Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Joe's unfortunate prognosis and ensuing plight may be completely imagined, though his motivations and lessons are realistically applicable. Joe Versus the Volcano is a work meant to transcend, and it ... Full Review

Andrew Howe
September 5, 2002
Andrew Howe, eFilmCritic.com

An appealing film that defies simple categorisation. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 31, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A wild, weird, and wonderful adult fairy tale about a man who travels halfway around the world to discover why his life is still worth living. Full Review

Jeffrey Westhoff
July 26, 2002
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Tom Hanks kneeling before the moon is one of the most moving moments in cinema. This is one of my favorite films.

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Joe Versus the Volcano Trivia

  • What movie is about a hypochondriac who learns that he is dying, and accepts an offer to throw himself into a volcano?  Answer »
  • You've got mail is not the first time Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have worked together. Instead, it was this movie.  Answer »
  • What was the first movie to star Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan ?  Answer »
  • The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, Joe versus the Volcano, Vertigo, Mullholand Drive: What do these movies all have in common?  Answer »
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