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| DIRECTED BY |
| John Patrick Shanley |
| STARRING |
| Tom Hanks |
| Meg Ryan |
| Dan Hedaya |
| Lloyd Bridges |
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Certain seriocomedies, like Martin Scorsese�s �After Hours,� work extremely well because they don�t focus so much on the comedic aspect as the dramatic aspect. In doing so, these films establish an appropriate enough blend of comedy and drama so that the audience can come away with the thought that they just watched an intelligent film with humor that doesn�t detract from the point of the story. The problem with �Joe Versus the Volcano� is that writer/director John Patrick Shanley tries way too hard to achieve humor with his story � so much that what may have been interesting study of a man�s �reawakening� becomes superceded by ridiculousness.
I really did enjoy the film�s opening sequence, effectively showing the despicable state of Joe�s life; Tom Hanks has never looked so unappealing as he does in the first half of this film. Ironically enough, the depressing squalor of Joe�s office environment actually turns out to be the most interesting setting of the film. Those who�re looking for a romantic comedy, however, will soon come to realize that it�s difficult to classify �Joe Versus the Volcano� as a romantic comedy since the romancing doesn�t really begin until halfway through the film.
And even when a film is extremely uneven, the performances just might be able to keep it afloat. Surprisingly enough, however, not even Tom Hanks (and certainly not Meg Ryan) can do that job here. Who could really believe how stoically Hanks reacted after hearing the news that he�s a terminally ill patient? And who could really bare listening to Meg Ryan�s �Los Angeles� accent for more than a few seconds?
There are a few funny moments nonetheless, although they�re mostly kitschy � Joe�s emphatic speech to the moon (which I think Shanley meant to be dramatic) is really a laugh, as well as his fishing discovery of a hammerhead shark. And the film doesn�t end without displaying one truly memorable cinematic moment � Tom Hanks� radio jig atop of a massive trunk while stranded in the sea, somewhat foreshadowing his future �Cast Away� role.
