STARS : Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Dan Hedaya, Amanda Plumber.

Once upon a time there was a guy named Joe (Hanks)… he has a very boring job and he is absolutely miserable, feeling ‘puffy’ and ‘blotchy’ and then he discovers, he has a terminal ‘brain cloud’ and only 6 months to live. His doctor (Stack) tells him to use his remaining time well.

Taking heed of this advice, Joe quits his job to spend his last days enjoying life. And he is visited by eccentric Jillionaire Graynamore (Bridges), who wants Joe to retrieve a valuable mineral from a Volcano, but the only way to get the mineral is to go into the Volcano on the tiny South Pacific island of Waponi Woo (meaning small island with big volcano). Before he leaves he spends up big, with Graynamore’s money, flies to LA and says goodbye to America and sets sail for the South Pacific.

Patricia (Ryan) is sailing the boat, who is also Graynamore’s daughter, along with her crew. On the way they run into a typhoon, a lightening bolt strikes the boat and it sinks and only Patricia and Joe are left, sailing on a raft made from expensive luggage that Joe bought. They end up on the island and Joe must face what he is supposed to do and that is to jump into the volcano. But will Patricia let him do it, now that she is in love with him?

Meg Ryan has several roles in this film, besides Patricia. She is Dee Dee (at Joe’s work) and Anjelica (Patricia’s melancholic half sister) and she plays all characters in very distinctive styles.

Hard to believe but Hanks made this film just 3 years before his Oscar winning role in Philadelphia, man has he come a long way.

I have to say I did not enjoy the film, mainly, due to the poor acting and terrible storyline and though it’s listed as a comedy it really doesn’t succeed. The beginning of the film had potential as an arthouse film, with its bleak view of America’s working class and ‘16 tonnes’ chiming in the background. But I believe that it lost the rails once the lead character headed to LA.

THE EXTRAS

* Cast & Crew: A list of the various cast & crew. Ryan and Hanks are the only ones able to be selected. This presents a filmography for both.

* Behind the Scenes (4:20 mins): Interviews with Hanks, Ryan and various cast members, includes scenes from the film.

* Music Video (3:52 mins) : 16 Tonnes by Eric Burdon of The Animals.

* Theatrical Trailer (2:10 mins)

CONCLUSION

Whilst Tom and Meg are their normal highly likable selves, the film sadly gave them nothing to work with and as a result the film really suffers.

With thanks to Warner Bros., Joe Vs The Volcano is scheduled for release on July 10.