Joe vs Volcano

Joe Banks is a depressed layman from Staten Island , working as a clerk in a dismal factory at the unpleasant, demanding boss Frank Waturi. A bleak, lethargic, and chronically ill Banks regularly visits doctors who cannot detect the cause of their poor health. Finally, Dr. Ellison diagnoses an incurable disease called “brain dimming,” which has no symptoms, but kills Joe in five or six months. Allison says Joe's disease is psychosomatic, triggered by his experience in a previous firefighter job. Joe boils at work, expressing all dissatisfaction with his boss and the company, which has held back for two years, quits and invites Didi's former colleague on a date, but when he informs her of a deadly diagnosis, she gets upset and leaves.

The next day, a wealthy industrialist named Samuel Greinamor unexpectedly puts forward Joe's proposal. Greinamore needs Bubar, the mineral necessary for the production of superconductors . On its tiny Pacific island of Vaponi Wu there is its sediment. The natives of Vaponi Wu will be allowed to mine the mineral only if it solves the problem for them. They believe that the god of the volcano on their island should be pacified by voluntary human sacrifice once a century, but not one of the natives wants to give his life. Greinamor offers any money so Joe can enjoy his last days if he jumps into the volcano within 20 days. Joe agrees, realizing that he has nothing to lose.

Carrying credit cards with an unlimited limit from Greinamore, Joe spends day and night in New York , where he asks for advice on all matters from the wise chauffeur Marshall. He also buys four first-class hand-made waterproof suitcases from a fanatical luggage seller.

Then, Joe flies to Los Angeles , where he is met by one of Greinamore’s daughters, Angelica, a freaking socialite who calls herself “flibbertigibbet.” The next morning, Angelica takes Joe to the trawl yacht owned by her father. The captain is her half-sister Patricia. Patricia reluctantly agreed to take Joe to Vaponi Wu after Greynamor promised to give her the yacht in return.

After an awkward meeting, Joe and Patricia begin to get closer. Then they fall into the typhoon . Patricia loses consciousness and falls overboard. After Joe jumps to save her, lightning strikes, and the yacht sinks with the entire crew. Joe is able to build a raft by tying together his floating waterproof suitcases. Patricia has not regained consciousness for several days. Joe gives her a small supply of fresh water while he begins to rave with thirst . He experiences revelation and thanks God for his life. When Patricia finally woke up, she was deeply moved by Joe's self-sacrifice. They then discover that they have drifted to their destination.

The natives of Vaponi Wu have a big celebration for them. Their leader asks for the last time if anyone else would agree to sacrifice themselves, but there are no willing ones, and Joe goes to the volcano. Patricia tries to stop him, declaring his love for him. He admits that he also loves her, but now is the wrong time. Patricia persuades Joe that the leader married them. After this, Patricia refuses to part with Joe. When he is unable to dissuade her, they jump together, but the volcano erupts at that very moment, blowing them into the ocean. The island is sinking, but Joe and Patricia are splashing in their reliable suitcases. Delighted with his miraculous salvation, Joe tells Patricia about his fatal darkening of the brain. She recognizes Dr. Ellison as her father’s personal physician and understands that Joe was deliberately misled. In fact, he does not die, and they can live together happily ever after.

• Meg Ryan - Didi / Angelica / Patricia
• Tom Hanks - Joe
• Lloyd Bridges - Greynamore
• Carol Kane - Hairdresser
• Ossi Davis - Marshall
• Dan Hedaya - Mr. Waturi
• Amanda Plummer - Dagmar
• Robert Stack - Dr. Allison

The soundtrack, written by Georges Deleuru , was released in very limited quantities as promotional material. In 1990, in the year the film was released, only 3,000 copies were released. Varèse Sarabande reissued the CD in 2002 ^{[1] [2]} . Shanley wrote two songs for the film, “Marooned Without You” and “The Cowboy Song,” the first used as a theme, and the second performed by Hanks on the ukulele . At the beginning of the film, a version of the famous song “ Sixteen Tons ” by Merle Travis performed by Eric Burdon was used . After Joe leaves the doctor’s office, an edited version of Ray Charles ’s version of Ol 'Man River is played. " Mas Que Nada " Sergio Mendes accompanies Joe while he travels around New York. The Spanish version of “ On the Street Where You Live ” is sung during a meeting with Didi. Elvis Presley's “ Blue Moon ” version plays when Joe spends his last night before sailing. In rafting you can hear “ Good Lovin ' ” by The Rascals , “ Come Go with Me ” Del Vikings and Ink Spots version “ I Cover the Waterfront ”. The music of the Vaponi Wu tribe includes the tunes “ When Johnny Comes Marching Home ” and “ Hawa Nagila ”.

The film received mixed reviews in general, but positive reviews from some critics, including Roger Ebert , who called the film "new, fresh and not shy about taking risks" ^{[3] [4]} . “ Hanks and Ryan are the right actors, they fill the logic of this strange world and play by its rules” ^[5] . He later brought the film to Ebertfest 2012 and wondered: “Why did I give 3.5 stars instead of 4” ^[6] .

Vincent Canby wrote: “Since the time of the Howard the Duck, there has not been a high-budget comedy with such flat feet as Joe against the volcano. Many gifted people have contributed to its creation, but one cannot but see gloomy testimonies on the screen” ^[7] . Fifteen years later, Time critic Richard Shikel listed him as one of his “forbidden pleasures”; admitting: "There are people who think about this movie ... maybe this is the worst high budget movie these days, but if you put aside the routine comic expectations that marketing encourages, you might be thrilled with the movie completely one of a kind " ^[8] .

As of August 2018, Joe vs. the Volcano has a 62% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 29 reviews ^[9] .

The film was first released on video in late 1990, and then was released on the Warner Home Video DVD in April 2002.

The Blu-ray version was released as part of the Warner Archive collection on June 20, 2017 and received positive reviews for its quality ^[10] .

In 2012, the Lambs Players Theater in San Diego presented the world premiere of the musical based on the film. Director Robert Smith, screenplay, music, and lyrics by Scott Hafso and Darcy Phillips ^[11] .

• Roger Ebert. Joe Versus the Volcano Chicago Sun-Times (March 9, 1990). Date of treatment February 25, 2013.