My Cousin Vinny (1992)

×

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Close

As everyone knows, comedy is a very divisive genre, but My Cousin Vinny seems to be one that unites more than it divides audiences because it has such affable charm, there really isn't much not to like here.

Bill Gambini & Stan Rothenstein are driving across country on their way to college, after a shop stop in Alabama they mistakenly get arrested and find themselves on trial for murder. Bill enlists his cousin Vinny Gambini to represent them in court, Vinny is only 6 weeks a lawyer and has never seen the inside of a courtroom. His city ways and mannerisms do nothing but rile the judge {a bang on form Fred Gwynne}, and he finds himself firmly up against it whilst having the lives of the two boys in his hands. Excellently scripted, the film is paced perfectly to allow the good writing to come to the fore, and although the ending is never quite in doubt, it does however bring about an unusual twist that is a shot in the arm for the films denouement.

Yes this film is another in the line of city folk falling foul of rural America's lawmen by being oblivious to their plight, but this film has the bonus of Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei on sparklingly comic form to see it home safe. I have probably watched this several times since its release and its long standing charm never ceases to amaze me, to me it's one of the best comedy films of the 90s, and I say hooray to Marisa Tomei's Oscar win for it was fully deserved, comedy always gets a raw deal come awards time, here the interplay between herself and Pesci is not only funny, it's also cheekily precious, just like the film actually.

×

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Close

×

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Close

×

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Close

×

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Close