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My Cousin Vinny | Year: 1992 Classification: Comedy Directed: - Jonathan Lynn Actors/Actresses: - Joe Pesci - Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito - Fred Gwynne - Ralph Macchio Herman Munster Meets Leo Getz..for Nonstop Fun! This review refers to the 20th cent Fox Video Premiere Series VHS edition of "My Cousin Vinny"... Okay, Okay..so they're different roles then Munster and Getz, but just as funny as ever! Joe Pesci and Fred Gwynne go toe to toe in this uproarious courtroom comedy,where the East(Brooklyn, NY that is) meets the South. While headed for L.A., without a care in the world, two pals(Raplph Macchio/Mitchell Whitfield)get pulled over in Alalbama. Nothing to worry about "probably just a tail light", right? Not! They are arrested and charged with a brutal murder.Two New Yorkers in an Alabama jail cell, they haven't got a prayer. But wait..enter a cousin, Vinny, who is a lawyer. Whew, what luck.<BR>Vinny Gambini(Pesci) and his girl Lisa(Marisa Tomei),arrive with their Brooklyn accents, in their run down car, and leather outfits, like fish out of water to save the day. There's just a little problem..Vinny has never tried a case in his life, this is his first. The Judge(Gwynne) has it in for Vinny from the start. He doesn't like his clothes, can't understand his accent("What's a Yout?"), and the fact the Vinny doesn't know courtroom preceedure is no big help either.The prosecuter(Lane Smith) has a pretty air tight case. But Vinny comes from a long line of some great arguers. Can he argue his way out of this one, clean up his act, and gather the evidence needed in time to save his cousin from frying? The laughs are non stop as Vinny Gabmini takes on Alabama!(or could it be the other way around?) Pesci is at his comedic best. He was awarded "Funniest Actor" from the American Comedy Awards in 1993. Marisa Tomei took home Best Supporting Actress Oscar that year for her role as the leather clad, biological clock ticking, expert auto mechanic girlfriend. She also recieved "Best Breakthrough" at the MTV awards.I don't know how Gwynne managed to keep a straight face through his wonderful performance as the stern judge.Lane Smith, Ralph Macchio, and Mitchell Whitfield turn in strong performances as well. The VHS has a nice clear picture and the sound and soundtrack are great in the Hi-Fi Stereo.It would be nice if it was offered in widescreen for VHS users, but you'll love it in any format.<BR>Parents...It's rated "R" for language...lots of it! Get the Popcorn AND the Grits ready and have fun......Laurie The Funniest Movie I Have Ever Seen Joe Pesci wonderfully plays fresh out-of-Law School lawyer Vincent Gambini. He is asked to come to Alabama, and defend his cousin and a friend accused of murder. He is wonderfully humorous while trying to prove their innocence. He faces obstacles from Fred Gwynne's Judge Chamberlain Haller, which was wonderfully acted. As well as competition from Lane Smith's Prosecuting Attorney Jim Trotter III, also wonderfully acted. Marisa Tomei is excellent as Vinny's fiance, Mona Lisa Vito. That part won Tomei a Best Supporting Actress Award. This is a great film, thanks to great casting and a great storyline. I highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to laugh nonstop for two hours. Very funny courtroom comedy with Joe Pesci and Fred Gwynne "My Cousin Vinny" is not a well known film but is worth watching out for. A very funny Joe Pesci has the time of his life in the lead role of "Vinny" with excellent support from Marisa Tomei in an Oscar winning performance as his girl friend. This film is a complete change for Pesci after his usual tough guy gangster roles in films such as "Good Fellas" and "Casino". Fred Gwynne was outstanding as Judge Haller in a well written role. The story revolves around two boys, Bill Gambini (Ralph Macchio) and Stan Rothenstein (Mitchell Whitfield) who while driving through Alabama are arrested for murder. Although innocent they are sent to jail and Bill's cousin Vinny (Joe Pesci) drives down from New York to defend them. Unfortunately Vinny has never tried a murder case before, has never actually been in a courtroom and has only been practising law for six weeks!! This does not deter him from taking on the case however nor the many courtroom clashes he has with the redoubtable Judge Haller. The Judge is not too impressed with this oddly dressed character from New York although what Vinny lacks in courtroom experience he more than makes up for with his enthusiasm and his belief that the two boys are innocent. As well as studying the local bulky law technique manuals, sifting through the evidence, interviewing prospective witnesses and trying to build some kind of defence, Vinny also has the problem of keeping one step ahead of Judge Haller who is trying to obtain confirmation of the lawyer's qualifications from sources in New York (which are of course non existent!). Some favourite lines from the film: Mitchell Whitfield (to Ralph Macchio): "Ridiculous, all this over a can of tuna!". Fred Gwynne (to Joe Pesci): "Once again the communication process is broken down". Pesci (to Gwynne): "You were serious about that?". Well written, expertly acted, this is one of the funniest courtroom comedies you will see in a long time. South Brooklyn meets The South Subtly employing the city mouse/country mouse theme, MY COUSIN VINNY is a light-hearted courtroom comedy. While it occasionally stoops to some stereotyping, the movie doesn't do so mean-spiritedly. In any event, both sides get equal skewering. Vinny Gambini, brilliantly portrayed by Joe Pesci, is a Brooklyn boy who has finally passed the Bar (after repeated failures) and now finds himself defending his nephew and his nephew's friend against murder charges in the Bible Belt. Along with his too beautiful fiancee, played by Academy Award Winner Marissa Tomei, Pesci investigates the southern style of life, as he fathoms southern courtroom procedures and tries to get some sleep. The resulting clash of cultures is sometimes predictable, but honestly, is very inventive for the most part. The comedy of the court room scenes is heightened by the late Fred Gwynne who plays the presiding judge. His by-the-book habits and short-fused temper are a perfect foil to Vinny's laconic style. It is their interaction that feeds most of the cultural clashing. But there is also a clash of the sexes that underlies the film, as Vinny stubbornly refuses the help of his fiancee. This confrontation is also highlighted in the courtroom when the DA refuses to believe that she could possibly be considered an expert in automechanics, even though her brothers, her father, her uncles, and just about everyone else in her family are expert mechanics. (The DA becomes convinced in a wonderful cross-interview scene.) MY COUSIN VINNY was both critically well-received and a huge box-office success. There's a reason for that: it is a well-written, well-directed and perfectly acted comedy that stands up well even after repeated viewings. See it for yourself and you'll understand why, too. Buy My Cousin Vinny at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on My Cousin Vinny Search with the Priority Search Engine on My Cousin Vinny This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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