Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

Directed by Danny DeVito. Starring Billy Crystal, Danny DeVito, Kim Greist, Anne Ramsey, Kate Mulgrew, Rob Reiner, Brandon Marsalis, Bruce Kirby. [PG-13]

DeVito’s first theatrical feature directing job is a slight but sometimes hysterical black comedy where he also co-stars as Owen, a man-child under the repressive thumb of his extremely overbearing mother (Ramsey). He takes a community college writing class taught by novelist Larry Donner (Crystal) and overhears the teach grumble murderous thoughts about his ex-wife (Mulgrew), giving Owen a bright idea—a murder swap plot borrowed from Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, Larry’s ex for Owen’s ma. Delightful performances from the two leads (to say nothing for unforgettable Ramsey, a mother that no son but Owen could love) and Barry Sonnenfeld’s wild camera work make up for weaknesses in the overly busy script. Though it’s best remembered for its fatal fantasies and slapstick violence, the best scenes are often the quieter ones, like Crystal analyzing his students’ unimpressive work and DeVito sharing his coin collection, where the worth of each coin is based on memory rather than money.

71/100