Rating of
3/4
pretty funny, real good when case goes to trial
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/02/08
"Bill Gambini" (Ralph Machio) and "Stan Rothenstein" (Mitchell Whitfield) are traveling through Alabama and make a stop at a local shop that is oddly named "Sack-o-Suds" to purchase food for their trip. Minutes after getting back on the road, they are pulled over and arrested.
While being questioned for what he thinks is shoplifting, due to an unpaid can of tuna from that shop, "Bill" finds out that he is being booked for murder of the store clerk, and that, based on his misinformed statement, "Stan" is being booked as an accessory to murder.
"Bill" then uses his one phone call back home, and finds out that he has a lawyer in the family -- his cousin "Vinny Gambini" (Joe Pesci). A day or so later, "Vinny", along with his girlfriend "Mona Lisa Vito" (Marisa Tomei, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for this role), arrives and immediately makes an impact. However, not a good impact.
"Vinny" and "Mona," who goes by her middle name, stick out like a sore thumb with their very thick New York accent and dress. "Vinny" also sticks out in court because he has never been in court before for a trial due to the fact that he took six years to finally pass the Bar.
There are some real strong, and many memorable, performances from the entire main cast. Pesci and Tomei work well together and have good chemistry. You actually feel as if these two have been together for years when they talk, and argue.
Fred Gwynne, in his final film role before his death, is real good as the veteran judge picked to preside over the trial, is basically one of the many straight men for Pesci. He plays the role with a strong Southern accent, and is not over-the-top like Pesci. When he says a particularly funny line, you can't help but laugh because of his expression when he says it. The judge is a good "final bow" for Gwynne, who will be forever remembered for the role of "Herman Munster". He made a good seasoned judge who is the professionally opposite of "Vinny" and it's just fun to watch when he butts heads with Pesci in court.
Tomei really deserved the Oscar for this performance. She plays her character as a tough-talking New Yorker who will never take crap from "Vinny," which brings some of the funniest moments in the movie. Her comedic timing is as close to perfect you can get. Out of the entire cast, hers may just be the most memorable.
There are some good giggle-worthy jokes sprinkled through out the movie, with some good laugh-out-loud lines. Personally, I would have liked to have seen more jokes that would make you laugh more than giggle. The cast timing with the jokes are near perfect. Most of the most memorable lines in this movie are the punchlines of the jokes.
If you ask me, the movie really picks up when the case goes to trial. Then it really gets its stride when "Vinny" finally figures out what the heck he is doing. Lane Smith is real good as the gentlemanly prosecuting attorney and is pretty believable when he is addressing the jury and cross-examining witnesses. Other characters are not fleshed out fantasticly and are used to advance the plot.
When it comes to the movie's soundtrack, it helps set the mood with mostly Country music by well-known acts around the time of this movie's release. Unless you are into Country, unlike me, none of the music will stand out. It's good music though.
One thing you should be aware of is that there are a lot of strong language, especially from the stereotypical New Yorkers. Speaking of stereotypes, the Southern stereotypes are used as jokes, but, from what I can see, none are depicted in any of the characters.
I would have to say that this is a good movie to check out the next time you see it coming up on HBO, or another movie network. As for a rental, I would make it the second choice if your first one is not available.
