Throw Momma from the Train is a classic 80s comedy that tells the story of a writer who is suffering from major writer's block, Larry(Billy Crystal), after his ex-wife stole his novel and earned millions based on his idea. He is stuck in a dead end job as a writing teacher at a local college, with a few pupils not really having the talent to write (One of his pupils actually just keeps pushing his idea of a coffee table book called "100 Girls I'd Like To Pork" with a subtle payoff in the end) with one in particular named Owen (Danny DeVito). He is a short, portly man who has no life beyond caring for his Momma (Anne Ramsey earning well-deserved Oscar nomination) who is old, brash and frankly pretty much unbearable. Owen keeps stalking his teacher in order to get a grasp of his material, but when he is told to watch a Hitchcock movie to learn how to write a murder mystery (Watching Strangers from a Train), he decides to murder his teacher's ex-wife, while he gets his teacher to murder his Momma. Of course Larry objects to this proposition but when he is accused of murdering his wife, he has no other choice than to hide out with Owen and learn fast to hate her and follow through with the plan. A nice dark comedy, with some great acting, funny screenplay, twisted cinematography by Barry Sonenfeld and a nice directorial debut by Danny DeVito and totally recommended for anybody who loves comedies, the stars, or anybody who likes to see a Hitchcockian movie. The BluRay picture quality is very nice, nothing like a nice sharp, modern picture, but detailed well enough and a nice grain veneer that accurately reproduces the look of the film. The audio is nothing special, with dialogue audible and accurate and some nice separation of sound effects and the funny twisted score by Thomas Newman but nothing to rattle the floorboards. The extras are fairly small, but some nice featurettes about the making of the film (No sign of DeVito or Crystal!!!!), writing the film and about Owen's psychosis of his obsession with Momma and some short, forgettable deleted scenes and the trailer. I wish there was retrospective interviews with the cast or crew and a commentary by DeVito (Who has provided them for his other films like War of the Roses, Hoffa, Death to Smootchy, and other films he has either starred in or etc.) but other than that, if you can get this for around $5, its a must buy, but at around $10 its only if you must own it or just want to spend money.

Absolutely hilarious from the beginning to the end! Billy Crystal plays a creative writing instructor who has writer's block. He also has an ex-wife who has just published a best seller. His best seller. He is frustrated with the writer's block, furious with his ex-wife for stealing his book and being driven insane by the pathetic stories coming through his creative writers class. Danny DeVitto plays a slow witted man in about his late thirties or early forties living with his mother who is always yelling at him and being generally disgusting. He is aspiring to be a writer and is taking Crystal's college class. When Crystal tries to explain motive to DeVitto by sending him to see a Hitchcock Film, he sets loose an imaginative and resourceful streak in DeVitto, who gets from the Hitchcock film (Strangers on a Train) that Crystal has offered to set up a reciprocal killing - Crystal would kill his mother if DeVitto killed his wife. Without realizing what DeVitto is thinking and without having an opportunity to explain the concept of an alibi, Crystal's life is turned upside down as he is put on the run from the law and the only one he can turn to is DeVitto - who expects him to kill his mother.

I saw this film when it first came out in the '80s; I thought it was a funny film. It is a dark film in some ways(deliberately so); but, it has several great moments. Billy Crystal's author who has to teach; Danny DeVito as the guy dominated by his mother; and the dynamic that puts them together makes for a classic comedy. It is a play on an old Hitchcock movie(which is viewed in the film by DeVito's character, Owen) forms the basis of the relationship between the two. Even after almost 30 years; the movie still holds up. I found this in the 'bargain bin' at Best Buy; it is worth twice that for the entertain value. I can highly recommend this to all.

PERFECT to watch "Throw Momma From The Train"! I remember watching this movie as a kid, and am SO glad to finally own it on blu. It's nice to have a better picture quality and special features that weren't available on VHS! If you liked this movie, get it on blu!

Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito are fantastic in this movie! They are both very believable and hilarious at the same time. This movie is both comedy and mystery mixed, heavy on the comedy. There are also some touching moments. A great movie from start to finish!!