Danny De Vito made his directorial debut in 1987 with this cheerful black comedy, influenced by the films of Alfred Hitchcock, in particular STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, in which two men swap murders.
Larry (Billy Crystal) is a writer cum lecturer who has writer’s block, partly down to the fact that his wife took the credit for his work and is now reaping the benefits. Owen (Danny De Vito) is a wimpish momma’s boy who still lives with his overbearing mother (Anne Ramsey, THE GOONIES) and fantasises about killing her. When Larry suggests to Owen to help his writing that he watch the aforementioned Hitchcock film, Owen misinterprets it – and goes after Larry’s wife….
A cheerful film that is ripe for revisiting, THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN is De Vito and Crystal at their comedic best.