Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

1992 – Jonathan Lynn

Viewed November 28, 2019

Worlds collide in courtroom comedy that hits its stride after a slow buildup

The willingness to take the scenes slowly in My Cousin Vinny makes it great and can also drag the film down. The last forty minutes are fantastic courtroom theatrics mixed with fish-out-of-water comedy; however, the rest of the film is an effort to fill time until it can arrive at that point.

That being said, all those earlier moments do an excellent job of setting up punchlines, both verbal and visual, helping to make those courtroom scenes all the better. Pesci rides the line between smart-aleck and earnest defender, while Marisa Tomei is an intelligent hoot, and Fred Gwynne is lovable and cantankerous in equal measure.

By the way, I love that 80s/90s music that comes on when the good guys win, you know the type? It starts off with some synth strings and a few horns, then blossoms into a full orchestra and a guitar playing sweet power riffs – brings me back to my “yute.”

As a side note, can anyone tell me why this movie needed so many Dutch angles?