rev_f_joevolcano

JOE vs THE VOLCANO
tom hanks / meg ryan

as reviewed by Jack Crompton at Amazon.com, November 17, 2006

Ahh.... a real journey!

Based on my experience, this is either a movie that you love and think is hilarious or you think it is one of the worse films ever made. Well, I've seen it many times and just love it, as it never fails to make me laugh no matter how many times I see it. It’s not only funny, but there is all kinds of rather profound and deep stuff hidden in the seams of this quirky film. Many details probably go over the head of the majority of viewers and it can take several repeat viewings to appreciate them. (Oh well. 'BRAIN CLOUD'!) It's like the movie exists in it's own particular space of understanding, and you have to be within that same sphere to 'get it'.

A real life example: One time at a family gathering I brought a video of this movie over, excited to share it with all of my family after dinner. Well, before it got 30 minutes into the film, one by one they all excused themselves from the room! Nobody else laughed! Not even once! (Except for me of course, who was rolling on the floor). Go figure!?

One of my favorite moments is in the opening scenes with Mr. Waturi as he repeatedly asks of whoever the unfortunate associate on the other end of the phone, "I know he can get the job, but can he DO the job?" Haven't we all had a moronic boss like that, repeating himself ad nauseum, talking incessantly on the phone to make himself feel important? He's absolutely perfect in that role. "I'm not arguing that with you!!!", he screams repeatedly. God, this is funny stuff. He's actually an archetype of a very real modern day phenomena: imbeciles in places of authority, placed there solely on their mindless conformity and large egos.

In fact, most all the characters in this movie are unabashed character exagerrations, and delivers a great cast: Meg Ryan plays (very convincingly) the parts of the three main female roles wonderfully. Tom Hanks plays his usual lovable self as 'Joe Banks', a soul longing for meaning and authenticity but struggling with a pragmatic death wish. Lloyd Bridges plays the coniving, deal-making billionaire Greyamore, as he swaggers about with his duck headed walking stick, smashing it into walls to make his point. Just beautiful!

The previously mentioned myopic Mr. Waturi is an absolute masterful piece of work, and that demented luggage salesman, whoever he is, is an absolute classic among all movie characters! The look in this guy's beady, slightly cross-eyed face as he say's, "Ah, a real.... Journey!" (hands rubbing in anticipation of the pending outrageous commission) is worth the price of admission alone.

Not only is the movie funny, but there are lots of layers to it. Therein lies it's real brilliance. It's very revealing of human nature, of the dichotomy of the 'artificial' and the 'real' and also has moments that are quite stirring in their profundity. One such moment is when Joe is close to death after the shipwreck on the ocean. In his weakness he is awakened to a spiritual realization of the preciousness and enormity of life.

This really is an 'odd duck' of a movie, as it doesn't really know if it's a satire, a comedy, an offbeat drama, or what. But that's precisely why I think it's great and why it works. Unique. Highly recommended for repeat viewings. And don’t be surprised if you start memorizing the dialogue. You won’t be alone.

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