MovieChat Forums > Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) Discussion > The whole movie doesnt make sense...

The whole movie doesnt make sense...

posted 18 years ago by aquascenes83
19 replies | jump to latest

I like this movie for its comedy and original story. Any move with Tom Hanks is awesome and great. I've just watched this movie again and realized something very odd. OK...if lloyd bridges character owns joe's doctor and the doc doesnt seen anyone but lloyd...how did Joe hear about this doctor and why did he go to him? I know lloyd bridge's character needed a man to jump into a volcano but how did he select joe? Did he hear about him, or just pick some bum off the street? Also how could he pay his own doctor to make up a "brain-cloud" story and lie to joe about it? It all just doesnt make sense. How Joe found the doctor, How Lloyd set up joe to jump into the volcano...just doesnt make sense.

[–] TVholic 18 years ago

Joe was probably referred by his own doctor. Doctors make referrals all the time. All Graynamore needed to do was to get his doctor to ask other doctors to tell him about any seriously depressed hypochondriacs, then pick from the candidates. I'm sure Joe's doctor was tired of trying to tell him there's nothing wrong with him other than fatigue and depression.

[–] freudified_n_funkified 17 years ago

We can try and logic our way into this so it makes sense:

It would stand to reason that Joe has health benefits through his company. He words for Graynamore who has already pre-selected Joe from among his employees. It would be quite simple for Graynamore to get Joe to see the specific doctor by way of a change in his health plan or a referral from another doctor on that plan. With the kind of money Graynamore seems to have it would grease all the right wheels to get Joe right where he needs him.

The movie is of course kind of a fairy tale so that kind of logical approach to the details can be skimmed across. It's a fantasy and requires a lot of suspension of disbelief anyway if you're going to enjoy what it's really about. And that's not the specifics of Joe's health care.

[–] aquascenes83 17 years ago

Sorry...never knew or heard that Joe worked for Graynamore's company. Does it ever say that in the movie? That explains a lot if he does.

[–] freudified_n_funkified 17 years ago

That's never actually specified, now that I think about it, but I always just kind of assumed it all these years. I feel kind of dumb now, but it does kind of stand to reason, I guess.

[–] garyvdh 17 years ago

It makes sense because of the symbolism/imagery...

the crooked pathway appears at the company and the Island. Leading us to connect the two in our minds.

Graynamore is like the God-figure who toys with man and makes him do his own wishes... but the over-riding existentialism of the movie wins out when Joe breaks out of the cycle of misuse and abuse because of love.

At the end, he does not fulfill the wishes of the God-figure because fate/the natural order intervenes and spits him out!

The volcano spitting him out reminds us of the whale spitting out Jonah onto the dry land, except in this case Joe is spit out into the sea... Jonah then did the will of God reluctantly, Joe has already done the will of his "God-figure" voluntarily.

[–] ttaylor3 17 years ago

The crooked pathway also appears on the wall of his apartment.

[–] freudified_n_funkified 17 years ago

And the lightning bolt that takes out the ship. It's all over the place.

[–] atg_commish 9 years ago

But he needed a depressed hypochondriac who used to be heroic (an ex-firefighter) who wouldn't back out because of fear.

[–] abbey-normal 17 years ago

I have no response to that.

"This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I'm talkin' to whoever's out there..."

[–] Mad_Monkey 17 years ago

Yeah, I have thought about that too, how did he wind up at that particular doctor's office. Joe does explain that he has no money because he spent it all on doctors. So it's safe to assume that is not his primary physician and he does a lot of explaining about his past and stuff.
It's a minor plot hole to say the least.. but I really enjoyed the movie.

There is no problem between us that can't be solved by your departure

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jashobeam5 15 years ago

I thought the very dingy waiting room in the doctor's office was on site at the factory. Some big companies used to have them. It would have been easy for Joe to ask to see a doctor there in the building and be given to the doctor with the fake diagnosis espeically if you figure in the factory being owned by the same guy who wanted him to jump into the volcano. It would also explain the coworker looking like the half sisters. She could be another daughter, also neglected by the father.

[–] skohl632001 15 years ago

Sorry but you're REALLY overthinking it.

[–] Beaubelle 15 years ago

Maybe they are all overthinking it, but I like the way their minds work. Makes this fun movie even more fun!

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] blaircam 13 years ago

I am not sure about Waturi talking on the phone to Graynamore:
1. He calls him Harry
2. He is speaking quite aggressively to someone like Graynamore (who may be his boss if some earlier posters are right. I am sceptical that they are as Graynamore is into superconductors and Joe works in surgical supplies but it is possible)
3. What would he have been wrong about earlier if he had said that if he had been talking about Joe?

"They who... give up... liberty to obtain... safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[–] rocknrollprincess616 12 years ago

Yeah, but a guy with Graynamore's money doesn't just put it all into Superconductors, if you get my drift?

And if you didn't, I mean that he possibly has more than a few investments tying up some of that fat cash to bring in the extra revenue. One of which could easily be a medical supplies manufacturer. ;)

[–] blaircam 11 years ago

I understand the notion of diversification.
I still don't think he was talking to Graynamore.

"They who... give up... liberty to obtain... safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[–] mikekrit62 9 years ago

Graynamore tells Joe the reason he came to see him was because he knew about Joe's exploits as a firefighter.

GRAYNAMORE: I'm trying to see the hero in there.

JOE: What do you mean?

GRAYNAMORE: You dragged two kids down a six-story burning staircase. That was brave. But then you went back up for the third. That was heroic. Come on, you're a hero.

As he said, he was looking for a hero. He had Joe checked out, found out what a miserable existence he was leading and always complaining of illness. It would have been easy for him to get one of Joe's doctors to refer him to Dr. Ellison, who then gave him the "diagnosis" that a hypochondriac like Joe would accept without question. How could he get Ellison to tell Joe this? Money...

Graynamore was likely pulling the same stunt with several other possible candidates, and Joe was the first to accept his offer.