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Rating:  - `The South' meets `The Bronx' meets stereotypical heaven...
Truth be told, `My Cousin Vinny' is funny. If we're being completely honest though I have to mention that the laughs start to feel forced and repetitive as the film drags on. Yes, `My Cousin Vinny' is one long stereotype that is funny for a while but then borders on the annoying.
I don't want to rip the movie apart, because it's not the first film to base its comedic foundation on a slew of racial and demographical stereotypes. It's also not the worst film to abuse a code of ethics when depicting racial interaction (this is no where near as degrading as `Crash') yet the problem lies in the fact that instead of using these stereotypes as a way to embellish character and create something relatable it uses them in an almost shameless manner at times.
It borders tacky.
But those moments are not consistent; that is to say that they are not so rampant that the whole film feels like a mistake. The film has its genuine moments and is littered with some rich performances that allow for the stereotypes to give their character flare instead of allowing them to control and bog them down.
The film follows Vinny Gambini, a hot shot lawyer (sort of) who travels from New York to Alabama to defend his cousin who has just been accused of murder. It happens that Billy (Vinny's cousin) and his friend Stan were mistaken for two boys driving a similar car who happened to kill a convenience store employee. Not knowing what to do, and being held in a town that doesn't understand them, they call on Vinny for representation. The problem is that Vinny barely knows what he's doing, or at least he doesn't think he knows, and he serves as a major culture shock for the backwards Alabama town.
The film depiction of Italian-American's as well as southerners is very clichéd and overdone a tad, especially was the court proceedings get underway. There is a fine line between sprinkling some flavor onto a character and completely drenching him in ridiculous clichés. I was actually more put off by the films depiction of the southern folk than anything else. Being an Italian-American myself (at least half) and living in the south I found myself rolling my eyes a bit at the films lack of knowledge of its characters.
Like I said, I don't want to rip the film apart because it is no where near as shameless as some other films out there, but it is a little extreme in some cases.
But the film has a saving grace, and that is Marisa Tomei. She allows her character to breathe a breath of fresh air on the whole picture. Her smart mouthed arm candy to Vinny is utterly priceless. She commands each and every scene and elevates her characters clichéd beginnings. She uses the stereotypes to their full and exploits them for our viewing pleasure, never allowing them to overwhelm her performance. As far as I'm concerned, that Oscar went to the right girl. Joe Pesci is also at the top of his game here. He has played this character many times before, but this time feels fresher (maybe because he's not playing a gangster). I also enjoyed Fred Gwynne to an extent, although his character got under my skin in his forced ignorance.
In the end I can't say that `My Cousin Vinny' is a waste of time or a film to be avoided. It has its moments and those moments make up for the films lack of taste or imagination in other areas. Tomei is a goldmine and Pesci is hilarious here. Just don't expect something too smart here. This is a typical comedy with a few stellar performances that work magic to elevate the clichéd material.
Rating:  - One of my favorite comedies
"My Cousin Vinny" is a real gem, a perfect, funny, smart comedy, a very rare kind that I can watch and enjoy over and over again no matter how many times I've seen it and from what scene I watch it. This is one of my three all time favorite English language comedies along with "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "A Fish Called Wanda". When I think of it, all three share the same concept - playing the differences between the cultures, mentalities, ways of living, talking, doing things, even cooking - Europeans versus Americans, particularly British and Americans or New Yorkers versus Southerners in My Cousin Vinny. They also have in common a flawless, witty script with all pieces falling into right place, all guns firing, all characters developed and interesting. As with Scoundrels and Wanda, performances in "My Cousin Vinny" are simply terrific. Joe Pesci as a lawyer with no legal experience from Brooklyn whose first case just happened to be defending two "youtz" in a first degree murder trial, and Marissa Tomei in the dresses that are so magnificently out of place in the muddy Wahzoo City, Alabama but so deliciously fit her like a glove, make one of the best screen couples ever but I like the supporting characters and small cameos, too. Everyone shines in this delightful comedy. I remember three witnesses for prosecution - grits loving Sam Tipton (Maury Chaykin), the guy with seven bushes (Raynor Scheine), and sweet Mrs. Riley who just may need a thicker pair of glasses. Austin Pendleton as a stuttering public attorney was hilarious. Fred Gwynne, sadly in his last performance as Judge Chamberlain Halle, made his every scene (each of which he shared with Pesci) the double delight. Ten years after the film was released, Film critic and historian Mick LaSalle wrote in his article, "Half of what made Joe Pesci funny in this comedy was the stream of reactions of Gwynne, as the Southern Judge, a Great Dane to Joe Pesci's yapping terrier." The film made me root for Vinny, wishing him victory in his first case, and he won gloriously with the help of a lovely, lovely expert in the general automobile knowledge in this lovely, lovely comedy.
Rating:  - Wife's Favorite
This is one of my wife's all time favorites. It is a classic well worth having in the library for friends that have not seen it and to watch over and over again yourself.
Rating: - ONE OF PESCI'S FINEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What can I say about this movie? I absolutely LOVED IT! It was so entertaining- I own it and I have to watch it at least twice a year. I loved the main characters from the scene when they cruised into town (oh yeah...you blend) to near the end when Tomei thrills us with her expertise about cars on the witness stand. The late Fred Gwynne was dead on as the typical southern judge (once again - the communication process has broken down.) Pesci and Tomei were at their best throughout. I always laugh every time I see this one! It is loaded with laughs and charm!!!! Don't miss it - It will put a big grin on your face that will stay there all day. This movie is a MUST HAVE for your home collection! ONE!!!!!!
Rating: - Vinny Boy
Saw this once on TV and just had to have it! It's hilarious while intriguing. A must have!
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