Plot: What’s it about?
Larry (Billy Crystal) wrote a tremendous book that would have made him rich, but his ex-wife stole it and called it her own work. As such, she has since went on to riches and fame, while he is stuck teaching a writing class and trying to get back his touch with his typewriter. It seems as though every time he picks up a newspaper or turns on the television though, there she is with his book, talking about how talented she is for being able to write it, which peeves Larry to no mortal end. At his school one day, Larry explodes and screams how much he wants his ex-wife dead, when Owen (Danny DeVito) overhears his exclamations. You see, Owen also has someone making his life miserable, but for him, it is his very own Mamma (Anne Ramsey). So what does this all mean? Well, Owen suggests that the two trade murders and in the process, get rid of the negative person in their lives and be free from arrest, since both would have alibis that check out. But as they soon discover, plans like this never seem to work out just as planned…
This is one of those flicks I’ve seen a million times, but never had it as part of my home video collection, until now. I like the movie a lot and MGM has issued a solid disc, so I knew the time had come to add this one to the old archive. As you can tell from the synopsis, this is a darker comedy and while it isn’t always hilarious, it never fails to make me laugh often. I think the performances of Anne Ramsey and Danny DeVito are amazing, while Billy Crystal supplies a very good turn also, terrific casting all around here. I think most of the funnier moments involve Ramsey and DeVito’s shared screen time, but there’s a lot of laughs dispersed well through the whole flick. As I said, this isn’t always laugh out stuff, but it is funny and dark comedy fans will be right at home. The film moves at a brisk pace and picks up speed toward the end, although the conclusion is not as impressive as I would like, to be honest. Even so, Throw Momma From The Train is a very good movie and with a nice disc, I can’t help but give this release a strong recommendation.
In one of his finest performances, Danny DeVito brings across his childlike character with ease, never faltering even for a second. I can’t help but laugh when he deals with his mother, as you can see the desperation that consumes him, very impressive work indeed. I’ve loved DeVito’s turns in countless films, but this one stands out with the other top notch ones, though perhaps not his best overall performance. His on screen work is made even more impressive when you consider he also worked behind the camera, as the film’s director. He hasn’t done much of directing in his career, but I think he delivers here, even with acting pressures to contend with at the same time.
Video: How does it look?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen this film, back when it came out on DVD to be exact so I had high hopes that technology would give us the best-looking version of this to date. It delivered. Like most catalog titles, this won’t be a night and day difference than what we’ve seen for the past few decades. It’s the little things, though, that make this one a joy to watch. The 1.85:1 HEVC 4K image has two options: Dolby Vision and HDR, both of which look great. Black levels and contrast work well off one another, detail has been improved, grain removed and so forth. The end result is a great-looking picture that makes a very satisfying viewing experience.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a movie driven by dialogue and as such, the audio is reliant on the front channels and that means not much in terms of surround use. The included DTS HD Master Audio mix is more than decent however, with some surround presence in a few instances and of course, it always has the kick when the material demands it. The vocals come through in clean, crisp form however, with no volume errors in the least.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Disc One (4K)
- Audio Commentary – I love it when we get new audio commentaries for catalog titles. Here we have film critic Joe Ramoni, who’s clearly a fan of this movie, give us his take on the film and some of its history. This was DeVito’s directorial debut and he goes into some of the ins and outs of his cut, working with the studio and so forth. It’s a great track.
Disc Two (Blu-ray)
- Audio Commentary – Same as above.
- Wide Angle Dark Humor – We’re treated to an interview with Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld. He would make his mark as a director a few years later with The Addams Family and hitting it big a decade later with Men in Black.
- Crafting a Dark Comedy – An archival featurette, we get a look at some of the history of the production as well as some insight from the cast and crew.
- Why Do You Hate Your Mother? – If you want a more scientific/medical reason as to why some folks hate their mothers – look no further.
- The Night Was… – Screenwriter Stu Silver regales us with a memorable scene from the film.
- Deleted Scenes – Four total. Nothing mind-blowing here, though.
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
This was Danny DeVito’s feature film directorial debut and it’s a memorable one. I’d have liked to have seen his R-rated cut, but I don’t think that’ll ever happen. As it stands, this one is a walk down memory lane. Kino’s disc sports a new picture, a new audio commentary as well as some legacy features. Fans of the film will love it.
