Schmeiß' die Mama aus dem Zug (1987)

Schmeiß’ die Mama aus dem Zug: Directed by Danny DeVito. With Danny DeVito, Billy Crystal, Kim Greist, Anne Ramsey. A bitter ex-husband wants his former spouse dead. A put-upon momma’s boy wants his mother dead. Who will pull it off?

“Very funny comedy version of Strangers on a Train. Billy Crystal plays a teacher named Larry struggling with writeru0026#39;s block after his ex-wife stole his idea and turned it into a successful novel. Danny DeVito is one of Billyu0026#39;s students named Owen, a middle-aged man living with his overbearing mother and daydreaming of killing her. After seeing the aforementioned Alfred Hitchcock movie Strangers on a Train, Owen gets the idea that he and Larry should swap murders. So he takes it upon himself to try and kill Larryu0026#39;s ex.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUp to this point the movie is excellent and paced very well. The scenes of DeVito in Hawaii calling Billy to let him know of his plan, each time from a different payphone with a different backdrop even though the calls take place seconds apart, are hilarious. Then the movie becomes about Billy freaking out and doing his routine for awhile. No offense to Billy, heu0026#39;s good in this really, but when the focus isnu0026#39;t on DeVito the movie just isnu0026#39;t as entertaining. So after a strong start it stalls a little, then the last twenty minutes or so feels a tad rushed. It felt like the climax should have been stretched out a bit more. Still, fun movie with lots of laughs. Both stars are in top form with a fine supporting cast backing them up. Some of the students in Billyu0026#39;s writing class are scene stealers. It should go without saying that Anne Ramseyu0026#39;s performance is probably the filmu0026#39;s highlight. Every one of her scenes is terrific. This is definitely a movie youu0026#39;ll want to see if you have any interest in the actors involved or if you liked the Hitchcock film and want to see a movie that pays homage to it in a humorous way.”