Danny DeVito directs himself, Billy Crystal and Anne Ramsey in this pitch black comedy where a struggling author is forced into a murder scheme by one of his creative writing students.

A childhood favourite. So dark and so sprightly. This really is just a delivery system for Crystal and DeVito to do what they do both best in the same room. You wish they made a dozen or so together. Anne Ramsey is fantastic as the horrific momma. Pacing wise it is a little wobbly. You know in your heart of hearts they ain’t gonna kill momma even if she deserves it. So it spins its wheels until a forced big finale. The journey is worth it. Stick TMFTT under the file: They Don’t Make Em Like This Anymore. Enjoy DeVito the director starting to fully embrace his love of close-ups and match cuts and skewed angles.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Strangers On a Train (1951)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/ and my own Substack https://substack.com/@edinburghlaughterbulletin