Customer Reviews

My Cousin Vinny

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Two friends, Stan and Billy, take a road trip down south but run into trouble when they are mistakenly arrested for murder in Alabama. The hapless youngsters have no money to hire an attorney but Billy's cousin Vinny (Joe Pesci) is a lawyer so they call on him to help. What they don't realise is that Vinny took 6 attempts to pass his legal exams and, what's more, has no courtroom experience to speak of. What follows is none stop humour and 'laugh aloud' moments as the brash New Yorker sweeps into the hick town accompanied by his strident girlfriend, Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei).

Vinny's lack of court etiquette, such as dressing in leathers and arriving late, quickly upsets the traditionalist judge, played by a brilliantly dry Fred Gwynne. The judge decides to have Vinny investigated in order to prove he is not fit to take the case whilst Vinny races against time to complete the case before the judge finds any information against him.

Marisa Tomei is the real scene-stealer with her brilliant portrayal of Mona Lisa, her courtroom scenes are pure genius, and she deservedly won an Oscar for the part. The film is no high budget work of art and the DVD has little in the way of extras but the sheer quality of acting and the wonderfully funny script more than compensate.

Great movie, really funny. Arrived in a condition which I anticipated it would arrive in. I love 80s comedies so that's why I bought it.

In 1992, My Cousin Vinny was the one movie that made everybody laugh until their sides split. I've been watching the film ever since it was released and all I did was laugh my rear-end off. Twelve years have gone by since the film was released and I'm still laughing today. Any actor or actress can get a rise out of you if they knew the right way to do it, but nobody can get a rise of you the way Joe Pesci does in this film; nobody can do it they way Marisa Tomei does in this film.

When two college buddies by the names of Bill (played by Ralph Macchio) and Stan (Mitchell Whitford) are driving down the roads of Beecham County, Alabama, they are suddenly arrested for the murder of a grocery store clerk, but what the police of Alabama don't know is that Bill and Stan are completely innocent. Unable to afford a public attorney, Bill turns to his cousin, Vincent Gambini (played by Joe Pesci), an ex-auto-mechanic turned lawyer from Brooklyn, New York, who just past his bar exam after failing it the first five times and knows absolutely nothing about law. By his side is his beautiful fiancee, Lisa Vito (played by Marisa Tomei, in her Oscar-winning role), who is an out-of-work hairdresser that knows every damn thing there is to know about cars. The court is led by Judge Chamberlain Haller (played by the late Fred Gwyne), who has absolutely no patience for any kind of misbehavior in his courtroom. Seems as though Vinny has now finally realized his no longer in New York and is now in a state where no one gets away with any kind of behavior or crime and has finally met his match. Can Vinny pull his cousin out of this mess without screwing up the case? Watch My Cousin Vinny as he desperately tries to save his little cousin while he gives you non-stop laughter along the way.

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.

Joe Pesci and Marisa Tormei are both an absolute scream in this movie. The sparks fly between Pesci and girlfriend Tormei, as well as between Pesci and Fred Gwynne's Chamberlain Holler, an Alabama Judge. I had dreaded seeing it - the television ads almost made me cringe as I anticipated a film which would bash southern rednecks. What I had NOT anticipated was that a story could be told about a couple of New Yorkers falsely charged and locked up in an Alabama jail that could be resolved in a way that justice could be served and the southerners would be portrayed in a way that was not at all stereotypical. I can think of no other plot that has as one of its essential elements a comparison of the amount of time required to properly cook grits. "No self-respecting southerner would make instant grits" a character proclaims from the witness stand during the trial that is the centerpiece of this witty screenplay, and the other southerners in the film's jury nod their heads in understanding. Fred Gwynne is light-years away from Herman Munster as the wise southern judge who is out for justice, but not to be trifled with. Ralph Macchio and Mitchell Whitfield have little to do other than look worried that Ralph's Cousin Vinny isn't going to come through and save the day. At less than 10 bucks, I'd buy this DVD if only to watch Tormei's hilarious response when Pesci tells her that he has been invited to go deer hunting with the Lane Smith's District Attorney.

i think that this movie was one of the best movies i have ever seen. Joe Pesci was the right person for this movie he played a great and convincing roll. I like the way that the writer of the movie made Joe Pesci not know what he is doing so he had to learn so his cousin didnt go to jail. I loved the twists and turns that made you think. All in all this was a great movie and i would reccomend you to see this.

My Cousin Vinny is one of the best comedies of the 90's, and on my list of favorites as well.I can't think of a better weekend movie!By weekend, I mean one of those light,fluffy warm-hearted, effortlessly engaging films that you can watch over and over again.My Cousin Vinny is that film by a mile-thanks to its brilliant comedic performances, which truly raise this film to a caliber all its own.The entire cast is excellent, but Marisa Tomei, and Joe Pesci truly shine in their wisecracking lead roles.

The premise is this-two young guys accidentally end up stealing a can of tuna at a tiny supermarket in the middle of nowhere.They end up getting arrested, and questioned.The two guys, thinking they're being questioned about the can of tuna, admit to their "crime" without hesitation.However, the police have a whole 'nother agenda on their hands-they actually think they've arrested two killers, and are questioning the innocent duo about a murder which the police, due to their confession, now believe they're guilty of.The two guys are quick to realize their mistake, but there's nothing they can do about it, and are forced to go to trial for their "murder".Having no money to hire a real attourney, one of the boys calls up his cousin Vinny, a "lawyer" who doesn't have a single case on his hands, and has never even been inside a courtroom!What follows is a non-stop fest of fun,fun, and can I say MORE FUN.

My Cousin Vinny is one of those movies that will make you laugh until you cry.Many movies are labeled "funny" but once you see them, few actually warrant more than a grin every one in a while.But My Cousin Vinny is a film that will make a person on their death bed sit up-and laugh. The script is endlessly sharp and witty, the performances are brilliant,superbly executed, and a sheer joy to watch, and the film holds some truly memorable scenes which you will replay, whether out loud or in your head, over and over and over again.

Sure, its not "intelligent", and its definately not a film you have to think about, but it doesn't need to be, because it warrants brilliant comedy like no other recent film I can think of.

Famous Goomba Characters (Do you recognize them all?)

"Vinny Gambini" (My Cousin Vinny)
"Vinny Barbarino" (Welcome Back, Kotter)
"Arthur Fonzarelli" (Happy Days)
"Tony Micelli" (Who's The Boss)
"Vinnie Delpino" (Doogie Howser, MD)
"Columbo" (Columbo)
"Joey Tribbiani" (Friends)
"George Costanza" (Seinfeld)
"Sophia Petrillo" (The Golden Girls)
"Mario & Luigi" (Super Mario Bros)
"Tony Manero" (Saturday Night Fever)
"Maria Ragetti" (Grumpier Old Men)
"Frankie Zito" (Kiss Me Guido)
"Rocky Balboa" (Rocky)
"Monty Capuletti" (Easy Money)

I have for the past 10 years seen DVD movies and I BET, without any apology that this very one is one in all, very unique in terms of clarity and quality. It is PERFECT. Big up massive.
Humble Lion say so.

The so called soundtrack for My Cousin Vinny does not include the catchy first country song from the movie. The song is played as the 2 college boys are driving to Alabama in the car. Does any one know where I can at least find the name and group/singer of the song?