Great Film: Joe Versus the Volcano
One of my all time favorites
I am one of the few who saw this on the big screen TWICE when it
opened. This is the movie I would take to the desert island, which
miraculously has electricity a big screen and a DVD player. This is one
of those rare films where every single character, no matter how minor,
has a major impact on the hero and the plot. This film is also rare
because the Lion's share of the funny and insightful dialogue belongs
to the minor characters and not the protagonists. You have to love a
movie where a luggage salesman is a major plot milestone. Ossie Davis
is excellent as the wise Limo driver, Lloyd Bridges is hilarious, Tom
Hanks is of course everyman, and Meg Ryan, in one of her funniest
roles, is actually "every woman". "You know, the first time I saw you I
thought that I had seen you before." A witty hero is commonplace and
witty cast is truly memorable.
The movie is probably too allegorical for most tastes, but this is a
great tale about a character afraid of life, afraid of that next step,
who finds his courage and puts his foot forward again.
All in all this is one of the best kinds of movies, Funny and Hopeful.
Cast
- Mr. Frank Waturi played by Dan Hedaya
- Joe Banks played by Tom Hanks
- DeDe / Angelica Graynamore / Patricia Graynamore played by Meg Ryan
- Dagmar played by Amanda Plummer
- Samuel Harvey Graynamore played by Lloyd Bridges
- Kenneth Hindmick / Dr. Ellison played by Robert Stack
- Waponi Chief played by Abe Vigoda
