Throw Momma From the Train

Starring: Billy Crystal, Danny DeVito
Directed by: Danny DeVito
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
1987

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: A teacher/struggling writer (Billy Crystal) hates his life because his ex-wife stole his book idea and is now rich and famous. His life is complicated when a loser apsiring writer (Danny DeVito) in one of his classes tries to convince him to swap murders- he will kill his ex-wife in return for his overbearing mother to be killed.

Review:

Tim: I am acting pretty harshly against this movie because I don't think its very good. I do have to admit that it has a certain amount of unaccountable charm that makes it likeable even if it isn't very good. The first forty minutes of the film are horrendous, boring, and slow. After that, the film starts to pick up and actually borders on semi-decent. It may only appear to get better however, because it surely can't get much worse.

Danny DeVito does a good job acting as well as directing. The one scene where DeVito shows Crystal his coin collection is pretty humorous, made so only because of the acting talents of DeVito. Crystal is his usual witty self, although throughout the whole film, it almost feels as if he knows he's in a crappy movie, and only doing it to help DeVito out.

Throw Momma From the Train suffers because so much of it just isn't funny. Sure, a few scenes now and again will make you laugh, but on the whole, this is a pretty lousy comedy. The plot is somewhat ridiculous, and the film drags on in certain parts. Perhaps the best part of the film is simply that its only 88 minutes long, so it doesn't subject you to itself for an incredible amount of time.

Besides the most diehard DeVito or Crystal fans, I wouldn't recommend this movie. You'll be pretty disappointed if you watch it (although I understand different tastes, and I am willing to bet someone out there loves this movie...... and I feel bad for them)

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 3.5
___________
Final Rating: -


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Forget Paris, Renaissance Man, Other People's Money, When Harry Met Sally