Joe Banks (Hanks) is a hypochondriac working in a dreary, joyless factory office. Every doctor he has seen has told him there is nothing wrong with him, but he knows different. Finally, a Dr. Ellison (Robert Stack) tells him he has a fatal, incurable "brain cloud". There are no symptoms, but he will be dead within a few months. Joe quits his job and asks fellow employee DeDe (Ryan in the first of multiple roles) out, but she declines when she learns he doesn't have long to live.
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Joe receives an unexpected job offer from rich businessman Samuel Graynamore (Lloyd Bridges). Graynamore wants to mine a rare mineral on a Pacific island, but the natives want something very unusual in return: a human sacrifice. It seems that someone has to jump into a volcano on the island every hundred years to placate its spirit. Graynamore offers Joe an unlimited expense account and a chance to do something memorable with his life. Joe accepts.
When he flies to Los Angeles, he is met by Angelica (Ryan again), one of Graynamore's daughters. She takes him to the yacht that will transport him to the island. The vessel is captained by Patricia (Ryan once more), another Graynamore daughter. On the voyage, Joe and Patricia are attracted to each other. Then lightning strikes, sinking the ship. Only Joe and Patricia survive, on a raft constructed from Joe's premium luggage trunks. They manage to drift to the island.
Then Patricia learns what Joe is there for. Unable to talk him out of it, she decides to join him. She is just as stubborn as he is, so Joe finally accepts her decision, and they both jump in. However, the volcano spits them out and erupts, sinking the island. Joe and Patricia end up in the ocean. Fortunately, the trusty trunks are nearby. Joe is happy at first, then remembers his fate. When Patricia hears the name of Joe's doctor, she recognizes it as that of her father's personal physician. Joe was tricked; he's not going to die of a "brain cloud".
Best part of story, including ending:
The first two thirds of the movie are magical. The part on the island stinks like week-old fish.
Best scene in story:
Joe on the raft on the way to the island; at night, he thanks God for his life.
Opinion about the main character:
Tom Hanks has the knack for playing a likable average Joe.
Hanks is Joe, who is told that he has a brain clot. This gives him only a few monthes to live, supposedly. So when this old man asks him to jump into a volcano, Joe volunteers. On the way to the island, he meets the old mans daughter who will sail the boat to the island. They fall in love and so they both jump into the volcano. The volcano spits them out and they live happily ever after.
The review of this Movie prepared by kaity loder
