I forget whose weblog it was in (I did a lot of quick surfing), but someone was going on about how good Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were together in Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. Well yeah, they were alright (though hardly together for more than a few minutes in Sleepless), but they were much more fun together in Joe vs. the Volcano.

Usually when I hear people talk about Joe, they're picking on it. And while yeah, the film has it's flaws, I think it's a heckuvalot of fun and I like it a lot.

I did a quick google search and of course there's a fan page, of sorts. And a page that focuses on the music of the film (and they've also got the screenplay online).

And I read Roger Ebert's review, while I was at it. And he's right:

Gradually through during the opening scenes of "Joe Versus the Volcano," my heart begin to quicken, until finally I realized a wondrous thing: I had not seen this movie before. Most movies, I have seen before. Most movies, you have seen before. Most movies are constructed out of bits and pieces of other movies, like little engines built from cinematic Erector sets. But not "Joe Versus the Volcano." It is not an entirely successful movie, but it is new and fresh and not shy of taking chances. And the dialogue in it is actually worth listening to, because it is written with wit and romance.

Now I'm wondering if I've got the movie on tape someplace 'cuz I'm in the mood to watch it again.

(Hmm. Just noticed that Ebert calls The January Man-- which was written by the same guy-- "astonishingly bad." Well, I own that "astonishingly bad" movie on tape. But then how could I not own any movie that features Kevin Kline *and* Alan Rickman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio?)

I've secretly felt guilty for liking Joe vs. the Volcano ever since I saw it in the theater when if first came out, so I'm always glad to hear something other than pans of the movie. On the other hand, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio makes my teeth hurt, so you can't win 'em all.

JOE vs. the volcano kicks ass!