Two youths are wrongly accused of murder and call a family-friend-lawyer to defend them, and the result is this, 1992’s “My Cousin Vinny,” a comedy that is both funny and warm. The lawyer is played by Joe Pesci, renowned for gangster roles in films like “Goodfellas” and “Casino,” but who here is able to create a likeable Brooklyn trial attorney who has never gone to trial. A host of other characters, such as Marisa Tomei who plays his fiancée, Fred Gwynne who plays a hilarious courtroom judge, and “The Karate Kid’s” Ralph Macchio round this film out. We’re not talking grade-A comedy here, but rather a film that somehow works despite its quirky elements.
“My Cousin Vinny,” which is essentially a coming of age story for an inexperienced lawyer, opens without much backstory. Billy and Stan (Ralph Macchio, Mitchell Whitfield) are arrested for murder, and Vinny (Pesci) shows up to defend them. In one hilarious scene after another, Vinny’s lack of trial experience is shown to us. “This would be my first foray into Trial Law,” he narrates and is quickly brought down to Earth as the hard-nosed Southern judge Halley educates him on down-South law and way of life. “You will show up tomorrow wearing an acceptable suit,” Haller commands, looking at Vinny’s black leather suit and gold chain around his neck. Vinny shows up the next day wearing the same thing and is put in jail for contempt. “You were serious?” he defends.
What works about “My Cousin Vinny” is that it’s really just harmless. Its characters bring a sort of relaxed yet loving feel to this movie – and I’m sure there were so many opportunities for sarcasm or ill-intended jokes given the film’s premise. Pesci here shines as Vinny Gambini, who arrives talking in that Brooklyn accent that made his character in “Goodfellas” so menacing, yet here it makes him look kind of goofy and fun. “Two yoots,” he says in one scene, and is corrected by the judge to say “youths.” And he bumbles one courtroom etiquette after another, landing in jail several times throughout for contempt. “It was a learning experience,” he states, defending how Law School taught him the law, but just not how to practice it.
Pesci and Tomei (who plays Vinny’s fiancée Mona) have a great chemistry here, and the real gem of this movie is that Tomei somehow garnered an Oscar for ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ for her work here. The film manages to clash their New York attitude with down-South charm, but there are no North vs. South jokes here, where a meaner film would have found easy footing. In hysterical scenes, Mona demonstrates her knowledge of plumbing and cars, in one scene arguing why she couldn’t have possibly left the faucet on even though they both hear it dripping. Tomei is also extremely likeable, owning several courtroom scenes, and another endearing one at a secluded cabin where she attributes the future of Vinny and her relationship to the outcome of his first case.
The rest of the cast is hit or miss. Gwynne (aka Herman Munster) plays Judge Hallen wonderfully, who seems to be chomping at the bit for Vinny’s head throughout this film, but who comes around in predictable yet nice ways by the end. Macchio and Whitfield are little more than space fillers here, however, as they get zero character development once the trial gets going. Additionally, Lane Smith (TV’s “Lois and Clark”) is introduced as a headstrong prosecutor, but never really leaves an impression. He and Vinny have some fun scenes, but that’s about it. And the addition of a Public Defender played by Austin Pendleton is confusing and, in one overlong scene as he stutters in court, kind of annoying.
Overall the setting and humor of “My Cousin Vinny” hits home. The film is enjoyable as long as you don’t take it too seriously. It has some hysterical elements, especially between Mona and Vinny, and stark differences between New York and down South. Vinny’s a good character for Pesci and you can tell he has fun with him. The outcome is predictable, but you watch a film like this for laughs, not its twists and turns. A serious courtroom drama by no means, “My Cousin Vinny” has its moments. If you want to be moved by lawyer’s closing arguments, “A Time to Kill” is probably more your speed. But if you want to have fun, this is a good a bet as any.
– by Mark Ziobro
