FAQ

Owen wants Momma dead because she bullies, insults and abuses him and doesn't support him in his ambition to be a writer and frequently accuses Owen of writing a letter to a social worker demanding that Momma gets taken away and put in a retirement home. Owen went to see the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Strangers on a Train" suggested to him by Larry to help him with his murder mystery story. But, Owen misunderstood Larry's advice and thought Larry wanted him to kill Margaret and in return for the dark deed, Owen wanted Larry to kill Momma.

What's quite clear is that Mrs Lift is suffering from a form of dementia that causes her to act out. Whether her abuse was a factor in the past while Owen was growing up is unknown but people who suffer from dementia act out against caregivers and family frequently.

Larry Donner is a struggling author who has writer's block and a writing professor who teaches a writing class. Larry is angered when he sees his snobbish ex wife Margaret on The Oprah Winfrey Show and learns she stole his novel "Hot Fire" and wrongly published the novel which she is the author. Larry begins getting stalked by Owen Lift (One of his pupils) who constantly hassles him about a murder mystery novel he wrote called "Murder At My Friend Harrys" which Harry dislikes because the murder in the story is not motivated. Larry gives Owen advice on motives and alibis so Owen can improve on writing the story and that he should reflect on his own experiences for inspiration. However, Owen misunderstands Larry's advice and Owen calls Larry and informs Larry that he killed Margaret because he thought it is what Larry wanted and Owen wants a reluctant Larry to kill his mother in return.

Owen Lift is a aspiring murder mystery writer who lives with his horrible abusive senile mother who mocks, insults and abuses him and frequently accuses Owen of writing to social services demanding that Momma Lift gets put in a retirement home and is a pupil of struggling author and writing professor Larry Donner. Owen stalks and hassles Larry demanding Larry to tell him why Larry doesn't like his murder mystery story "Murder At My Friend Harrys" because the murder in the story has no motivation which irritates Larry. Larry explains to Owen why he doesn't like Owen story and gives Owen advice on motives and alibis and that Owen should reflect on his own experiences. However, Owen misunderstands Larry's advice and after watching "Strangers on a Train" at a cinema, Owen breaks into Margaret's house and makes a failed attempt to murder her and follows her onto a boat that is transporting Margaret to Mowi and Owen makes another attempt to kill her. Owen phones Larry and tells him that he killed Margaret and in return he wants Larry to kill Momma.

Larry explains to Owen that the murder in the story was unmotivated and that the murderer murdering without reason is not strong enough for a novel.

Momma Lift is Owen Lift's horrible, abusive and paranoid senile mother and widow. Momma Lift's husband Ned died years earlier. Momma Lift frequently bullies, mocks, insults and abuses Owen and complains about Owen using his typewriter to write his story "Murder At My Friend Harrys" for class which she accuses Owen of writing to social services demanding that Momma gets put in a retirement home and Momma Lift doesn't support Owen's ambition to be a writer. Owen fantasizes murdering Momma Lift by poisoning her Pepsi and her stabbing her through the head with a pair of scissors. Owen brings Larry Donner to their house as Owen wants Larry to kill Momma Lift in return of Owen killing Larry's ex wife Margaret. When Owen introduces Larry to Momma as "Cousin Paddy", Owen whacks Larry in the head with a frying pan when Momma tells Owen that he doesn't have a cousin called Paddy. A reluctant Larry agrees to kill Momma, but can't bring himself to do it and Momma Lift soon proves to be one tough woman to kill.

Owen kills Larry's snobbish ex wife Margaret and Larry kills Owen's horrible, abusive and senile mother Momma Lift.

Owen Lift (Danny DeVito) a man in his 40s whom lives with his abusive mother (Anne Ramsey) attends a creative writing class at university. Larry's teacher, Professor Larry Donner (Billy Crystal) a writing professor and struggling author dislikes the short story, a murder mystery which Owen has written for class titled "Murder At My Friend Harry's", because the murder in the story has no motive and Larry gives Owen advice on motives and alibis to help Owen with improving writing the murder mystery story. After going to see the classic Alfred Hitchcock film "Strangers on a Train" at a cinema, Owen follows Larry's snobbish Ex wife Margaret (Kate Mulgrew) who cruelly stole Larry's book "Hot Fire" which she published which is the author and received acclaim and has gotten rich over it and Owen calls Larry on the telephone and informs Larry that he murdered Margaret and that Owen misunderstood Larry's advice and had thought Larry wanted him to kill Margaret and that in return Owen wants Larry to murder his horrible and abusive senile mother because she makes his life a misery and that he cannot bring himself to kill her. As Detective DeBenedetto (Bruce Kirby) begins investigating Margaret's disappearance and is out looking for Larry for questioning. Larry hiding in Owen's house and evading the authorities, reluctantly agrees to kill Owen's mother as Larry killing Momma Lift in return for Owen killing Margaret was the deal and Momma Lift soon proves to be one tough woman to kill and Larry is pressured by Owen to fulfil his part of the deal.