Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

Larry Donner is an author and writing professor who tutors people that want to write books. His life has become a misery when his ex-wife Margaret has published a book he wrote under her name and has become rich over it. Owen Lift, one of Larry's students, offers Larry to kill Margaret, and in return Owen, wants Larry to kill his mother. Larry thinks it's a joke, until he learns Owen has killed his ex-wife. And Larry has now become the prime suspect....Crystal has always been a great screen presence, and Kudos to Devito for taking a back seat and let the other actors take all the best lines and best scenes.It starts off pretty tame, we have Crystal, whining and moaning in every scene, and then Devito, the quiet oddball you know is going to annoy him, so far, so average.But then we get properly introduced to Ramsey, who is just brilliant in her role, and once Crystal has become trapped in Owens house, it never lets up.It's a really dark comedy, but it has such a sweet edge to it, which is evident when Owen talks about his father and especially when he shows Larry his coin collection, which is an incredibly touching scene.But hen Devito doesn't dwell on the sweetness too long, and soon brings Ramsey in to shout a random line (in one particular scene a very random line, which made me rewind several times to see if my hearing was okay).All in all, its a very fun movie, with a slow start, and a fond nod to Hitchcock, with a surprisingly schmaltz free ending.Very underrated

This is a rip off but at least it's a shameless rip off. Director DeVito has Professor Billy Crystal talk Danny DeVito the actor into "going to see a Hitchcock movie" if he wants to learn about motives. DeVito sees the scene in "Strangers on a Train" in which the two stars agree, more or less, to swap murders.The reason DeVito wants to learn about motives and how they function in police procedures is that he wants to murder his foul-mouthed, ugly, domineering mother and get away with it. He can't, of course, because he so obviously hates her. But, as in "Strangers on a Train," he decides to swap murders with Crystal. He'll kill Crystal's hated wife in return for Crystal's killing De Vito's mother.It doesn't work out. One thing after another goes wrong. The things that go wrong are supposed to be funny but most of them aren't. There's an abundance of slapstick, with people running back and forth in a frenzy, people hiding from others, people falling off ships, people hanging by their heels from a train.DeVito is a smart guy and a clever director sometimes. Anyone who directed the black comedy "The War of the Roses" can't be completely clumsy. But he's pretty awkward here, given to obvious shots of himself approaching the camera pop-eyed and wearing black gloves when attempting to snuff Crystal's wife. It's almost embarrassing.Crystal, too, can be extremely amusing as the ordinary guy swept up into some nightmarish scenario, as he was in "Analyze This!" I'd put off watching this because the trailers all featured the same shot. DeVito and Crystal are at the table. DeVito shovels scrambled eggs into their plates, then hits Crystal over the head with the frying pan. BONK! And Crystal falls down. I figured, "If this is the best it's got, I might as well skip it." It's almost the best it's got.

Inspired by the 1951 Alfred Hitchcock thriller 'Strangers on a Train', Danny DeVito's 'Throw Momma From The Train' is one of the finest Dark Comedies to have hit Hollywood ever. A film that entertains big time! 'Throw Momma From The Train' is gripping tale of 2 writers, both who hate their loved ones. One, wants to kill his own Momma, the other, wants to kill his ex-wife. Now, the concept itself catches your attention. The film begins with a bang, and ends the very same. I enjoyed myself throughly in those 88 minutes, and I recommend this film to all Cinema Fans. DeVito's direction rocks! I have to write about the acting, so here it is: Late Anne Ramsey as Momma, is outstanding. She is the soul of the film. DeVito is superb, enacting his part with spontaneous ease. Billy Crystal is good, as always. Kim Greist is fantastic.'Throw Momma From The Train' was a major box office hit during it's release, and has since gained a strong fan-following. Do I have to say anything else? Watch this classic, right away. Two Thumbs Up!

Throw Momma from the Train (1987) *** (out of 4) Dark comedy is a take off Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON A TRAIN. A writer (Billy Crystal) has his idea for a book stolen by his ex-wife who turns it into a major hit. He wishes he could kill her but his student (Danny DeVito) takes his talk serious and kills her in exchange that the writer kills his nagging mother (Anne Ramsey). With the talent involved this film should have been a whole lot better and even though there are countless flaws, in the end I can't help but find the film mildly entertaining, if disappointing. I think the biggest problem with the film is that there's way too much plot for a 88-minute comedy. We have so many double-crosses, plot twists and side plots that you could take them and use them in two or three movies. I think the film would have been a lot better had some of the plot been taken out and replaced with more laughs, which is one thing this comedy could have used more of. What does work is the chemistry between Crystal and DeVito. Both men really dig into their roles and turn in fine performances but they are both letdown by the screenplay. One of the first scenes involves Crystal suffering from writer's block and trying to complete the same line over and over. This scene goes on way too long. What does work is the early banter between the two actors as DeVito's character is constantly showing up at bad times wanting to know if Crystal enjoyed his bad stories. There's a very funny sequence when the two are discussing the so called "plan" that was only in DeVito's mind. Ramsey, who many will remember from THE GOONIES, turns in a nice, foul-mouthed performance and you can't help but love to hate her. Her relationship with DeVito, while mean-spirited, is also quite touching in a few scenes. Again, there's a lot wrong with this film but I think the three leads have enough going to carry the weak screenplay a lot further than it deserves.