when i watch this movie when i be a kid i do not understand the premise of hitchcock movie and and dark comedy . now that i be in my mid 20 it make a lot more sense . i think the reason i like this movie so much be that the comedy duo of billy crystal and danny devito make for some interesting comedy and both slapstick ( the frying pan and car scene ) and verbal ( the argument or conversation over murder and write ) . the story revolve around larry donner ( crystal ) and a struggle writer who have his masterpiece steal from him by his wife margaret ( play by a surprisingly radiant kate mulgrew and aka capt . janeway from star trek represent voyager ) . while he shift between writer block and teach creative write class and he meet with student owen lift ( devito ) and an aspiring writer and overgrown mama boy who sadly still act like a kid . he have toy train track and need i say more . think of failure to launch and only matt mcconaughey be short and fat and and bald . owen be stick in his own life and with a demand evil mother ( anne ramsey ) who he can not stand . he seek larry advice on how to get out of it and and when he say to go see a hitchcock film owen get the wrong idea that if he kill larry wife and he will return the favor and kill his mom for him . hilarity ensues while the two try to deal with each other problem . owen go to extremes to kill margaret while larry and who refuse to agree to do his part of the plan and be drive nut by owen mother . throughout the film and larry and owen slowly but surely form a bond of friendship that be rare in dark comedy nowadays . one part of the movie i really love be where owen show larry his coin collection and and let just say it more a sentimental collection than anything . the two main star aside and the late anne ramsey be hilarious a mama and and deadly with that cane of hers . she a lot more comedic verbally and physically in this a opposed to her role a mama fratelli from the goony . so she curse like a sailor and belittle her son at every turn and but thats what make her character so vivid . she make her character the kind of person you love to hate . another treat in this movie be the music of jazz great brandford marsalis and who play larry neighbor and friend lester . there be a great moment in the movie where he play jazz for larry and who be depress and need some good tune to relieve the pain . jazz can do that . in closing and i wish billy crystal and danny devito would do another good movie together and but their kinda get too old for the game i be sad to say . this be one of those rare movie where both star shine in their own subtle way . devito childish comedy and crystal sharp wit make this movie for me . 5 star comedy .