What does a flibbertigibbet, bubaru, a set of artificial testicles, a luggage salesman, a brain cloud, and a volcano hungry for human sacrifices have in common? They’re all part of the vastly underrated and misunderstood existential comedy from 1990, Joe Versus the Volcano. A film much beloved by Pete Wright and Andy Nelson, join them as they chat about it this week on The Next Reel. They’ll talk about what the film is really all about and why it may have not connected with audiences when it came out. They’ll hash through the plot and all its fine points, discussing the amazing writer/director John Patrick Shanley, as well as all the wonderful performances led by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. They’ll talk about Bo Welch’s amazing production design and Georges Delerue’s beautiful score (along with all the stellar songs used throughout). And they’ll discuss the problems the script and film have, particularly in the 3rd act. Despite those problems, it’s a standout film with a message about not sleeping through life but standing up and taking a leap of faith. Andy and Pete love it and challenge you to revisit it with a fresh mindset this week. Listen in—you may walk away with a new favorite movie!
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