My Cousin Vinny (1992)
My Cousin Vinny (1992) 8/10
Quite possibly one of the best law-related movies made, My Cousin Vinny takes the classic “fish out of the water” cliche and elevates it into a memorable and humorous film. The pairing is strange, but it works and both Tomei and Pesci play off each other’s strengths. Special credit must go to the inspired casting of Maria Tomei and Joe Pesci as a most unlikely couple. Tomei in particular shines in this film, with memorable mannerism and accent. She won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in this film and it is a well deserved win. Fred Gwynne also stands out in his last role before he passed away, as an officious judge who picks on Pesci’s character. While the film moves along in a predictable fashion, the humor, wit and excellent cast elevate a mediocre script into something magical. Tomei is poised to win another Best Supporting Actress Oscar, this time for Darren Aronofsky’s excellent “The Wrestler” but it is great to see Tomei shine in her earlier works.
