...fares best in its oddball yet engrossing first half...

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 16, 2023

Joe Versus the Volcano stands on its own, fantastical oddities are kept grounded by the inimitable duo of Hanks & Ryan. The film proudly wears its heart on its sleeve, proclaiming that this world is beautiful. It’s a terrible shame when that is forgotten

| Jul 25, 2023

A script of bad sentimental lunacy. [Full review in Spanish]

| Oct 27, 2022

I now get why Roger Ebert was so obsessed with this film.

| Jun 15, 2022

In many ways, Joe was ahead of its time.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jan 15, 2022

An epic comedy of goofiness triumphant and nuttiness unbound.

| Aug 25, 2021

After it's over, one thing is perfectly clear. Joe Versus the Volcano, for all its wacky gags, delightfully bizarre look and ill-fated attempts at insight, is only one thing: Mediocre.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 18, 2021

A silly fable about love as the end product of seizing the moment and getting out of your comfort zone, it's a scenario as superficial as Shanley's Moonstruck was substantial.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 8, 2020

It would be easy for Joe to embrace arch insincerity, to be a fulminating rant in fairytale clothing. Instead, it asserts that it's OK to be afraid, that emotional strength isn't always easy and that you can find what you thought forever lost.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Apr 13, 2020

It speaks to the commercial and critical success of Shanley's 1987 hit 'Moonstruck' that he was handed, by a major studio, the resources to make a movie as unapologetically weird as this one.

| Jun 23, 2017

Playwright John Patrick Shanley made his movie directing debut with this defiantly strange, totally under-appreciated, yet completely wonderful romantic comedy.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Apr 9, 2017

Like Woody Allen's filmmaking evolution played out in reverse: it starts as smart, existential black comedy and ends in broad, zany caricature.

| Feb 9, 2015

Cult classic with smoking, kissing, stereotypes.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 19, 2012

| Original Score: F | Sep 7, 2011

An overlooked gem.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jun 29, 2010

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 29, 2008

This fascinating-but-flawed parable is the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedy for people who don't like Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedies.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 1, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jun 29, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 6, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 6, 2005