Such a frustrating disappointment

hyped garbage

Beautiful, moving film.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Larry Donner (Billy Crystal) is an author suffering from writer's block. He hates his ex-wife Margaret (Kate Mulgrew) who stole his book, and published the best seller as her own. Owen Lift (Danny DeVito) is one of Larry's clueless writing students. He hates his hateful mother (Anne Ramsey). Owen keeps stalking Larry about his writing about murder. When Larry suggests Owen watch Alfred Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train', Owen assumes that Larry is saying that he will kill Owen's mother if Owen kills Larry's ex-wife. Then Owen goes to Hawaii to kill Margaret. The problem is that Larry has no alibi, the cops are on his case, and Owen expects Larry to kill his mother.This is a great dark comedy. Danny DeVito is terrific as the idiot. Billy Crystal is neurotic and angry. They have great chemistry together. Anne Ramsey is the best ugly bully. It's Danny DeVito's big screen directorial debut. He does a good job letting the actors room to work. It is well worth a watch.

Danny DeVito took a turn directing this dark comedy, and also plays Owen, a put-upon middle-aged man dominated by his overbearing momma(played indelibly by Anne Ramsey) who attends the writing class of Larry(played by Billy Crystal) a frustrated writer with a horrid ex-wife who stole his novel and got rich as a result. Owen gets the idea to swap murders with Larry(directly referencing "Strangers On A Train") which he doesn't take seriously, until his ex-wife is reported dead, and now wants Larry to kill his momma, though momma proves quite hard to kill... Though undeniably funny at times(Anne Ramsey in particular is superb) this film's ending undermines it, and was in desperate need of a rewrite itself...or is that the final joke of the picture? One of those films that is less than the sum of its parts.

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!

Had it with the one who raised you since when you were young? You just want her gone from your life? That woman is your mother. You should respect her, you should honor her, whether she's in sick or well. But that in times, it can be aggravating. Especially when she becomes very overbearing. That's how Owen(Danny DeVito) had to deal with in "Throw Momma Fron The Train". His Momma(Anne Ramsey, 1929-88), is one of the worst. He trying his best to be a writer, and she is everything but grateful. Calls him a "clumsy poop", a "larda$$", and "fat" and "stupid". For his friend, Larry Donner(Billy Crystal) he has his own woman problems, his ex-wife. She trying to discredit him. So what did Owen do? Push her overboard. What does he do? Help return the favor, get rid of Mrs. Lift! In the kitchen scene, I liked it where Owen called Larry, "Cousin Patty". And Momma said, "You don't have a Cousin Patty!" and Owen shouts "You Lied To Me!" and El Cabongs Larry with the frying pan. Then comes the fun part when they where on the train and try to kill Momma Lift. That is thwarted, and she kicks Larry off the train. Well, everything back to normal, the ex-wife lives, but Momma kicked the bucket on her own. Maybe she should have seen the errors of her domineering ways. A fun movie it is, and the cast is great. A classic! 5 stars!