Tuesday 23 August 2016

My Cousin Vinny Revisited "What is a yute?!"



OK its been a whole since I've done a post on this blog (perhaps to recover from the James Bond-a-thon I have done but also getting caught up in other stuff too) so I figured its time for another post.

And this will be another blog revisitation as I will be looking at one of my older reviews and giving it a rehash and the review will be on the 1992 comedy film, My Cousin Vinny.

So with that let's take a closer look at this un....

Oh and as usual the following warning is coming:

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

STORY 

So the film begins with two college students , Billy Gambini (Ralph Macchio) and Stanley Rothenstein (Mitchell Whitfield) while heading through Beechum country in Alabama, accidentally forget to pay for a can of tuna after leaving a convenience store.  However minutes after they leave the store, the store owner is murdered and a police officer pull over Bill and Stan and detain them as they are treated as two suspects for the murder.

At the station due to miscommunications and the two boys believing they have been arrested for shoplifting, Bill unwittingly and mistakenly admits to the crime of shoplifting but asks "I shot the clerk?" which Sherriff Farley (Bruce McGill) mistakes for a confession.  And as result he is booked on a charge of murder, and Stan as an accessory to murder.  In need of legal assistance, Billy speaks to his mother on the phone whom tells them they have an attorney in the family, Billy's cousin, Vincent LaGuardio "Vinny" Gambini (Joe Pesci).  Vinny agrees to take the case and travels up to Alabama along with fiancee, Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei).  However Vinny has no real experience as a lawyer and he has only recently passed the bar exam (after six attempts) and only deals in personal injury and therefore has no trial experience whatsoever.

And to make matters worse Vinny despite convincing the courthouse judge, Chamberlain Haller
(Fred Gwynne) he has the experience to take on the case, his lack of understanding of basic court procedures and somewhat abrasive nature get's him into trouble with Haller, who at the arraignment holds Vinny in contempt of court.  As the case proceeds Vinny continues to infuriate Haller who puts in contempt of court again as he is put in jail overnight and is bailed out by Lisa.

Vinny also eventually meets up with the prosecution lawyer and DA, Jim Trotter (Lane Smith) for a hunting trip, whom he manages to get his files for the case, without realising that he is fully entitled to, due to the procedure of full disclosure, which Lisa later on reveals to him after reading the state procedural law book that Haller gave Vinny.  As the trial is set to begin, Stan decides to fire Vinny and go with the public defender, John Gibbons (Austin Pendleton) but Vinny manages to convince Billy from not doing the same and to give him one more chance to question the first witness.

On the first day of the trial, Vinny shows up in a secondhand tuxedo (due to a mishap with it landing in a muddy field) and get's in trouble with Haller again who holds him in contempt yet again.  As the trial begins however, the public defender, Gibbons proves to be next to useless as he suffers from a bad stammer and fails to make an impression on the jurors.  Vinny on the other hand finally shows his worth as he questions the first witness, Sam Tipton (Maury Chaykin) and discredits his testimony, which leads Stan to fire the public defender and go with Vinny.

After this Vinny starts to become more adept in the law process as he adapts his style of questioning and learns quickly on procedure as he makes impressive progress with the remaning witnesses.  However Trotter turns up with a surprise witness, a FBI analyst, George Wilbur (James Rebhorn) who provides a report that shows evidence that the tyre track marks left by the vehicle that left the scene of the crime are identical to those on Billy and Stan's car.

Vinny frustrated with this information and seemingly with no way to win the case, Vinny during lunch has a row with Lisa who storms out.  But back in the court house, Vinny finds a photo that holds the key to the trial which shows the tyre marks of the car could not be made by Billy's 1964 Buick Skylark, but by a different car.  But in order to win the trial he will need to rely on getting Lisa back in time to take the stand and give testimony which will hold the case in the balance for Billy and Stan. 

THOUGHTS

As far as amiable comedies go My Cousin Vinny certainly has plenty going for it and it was a success on its initial release both commercially and critically.  The film also received plaudits from lawyers who said it was quite accurate in its potrayal of courtroom procedures and that in itself was something the director Jonathan Lynn was keen to get over, as he himself said how he disliked films where they got the law procedures wrong.  Lynn himself was also a law graduate as he has a law degree from Cambridge university.

The film's comedy also works well as it simply draws on a comedy of errors, or as the tagline "a comedy of trial and error" and miscommunications of which there are plenty in the film, also combined with Vinny's amusing ignorance in the face of the law and how his argumentative nature while it get's him into alot of trouble it ultimately helps him towards his goal.

PERFORMANCES AND NOTABLE SCENES (Warning: this section contains spoilers and also strong language!) 

Which brings me onto the performances which are all excellent from its fine cast.

And to start off we have Joe Pesci who is great in his role as Vinny, as he plays him as a good natured, intelligent, well meaning yet stubborn and argumentative guy, who bluffs his way through most of the court procedure until he begins to find his feet towards the end.

And some of Vinny's funniest moments include when he first meets with Billy and Stan, and as Billy lies asleep in their cell, Vinny get's off on the wrong foot with Stan, as Stan thinks Vinny wants sexual favours.  And in the scene Stan appears ungrateful and anxious with Vinny at first as Vinny says "Its either me or them.  You're getting fucked one way or another!" and Stan says "Gee thanks".  And this annoys Vinny who says to Stan "Excuse me, I think a modicum of gratitude would not be out of line here".  And Stan says to Vinny "You think I should be grateful??" and Vinny says "Yeah, I think you should be grateful.  I think you should be down on your fuckin knees!".  And as Stan says to Vinny he has one hell of an ego, Vinny angrily says to him " What the fuck is your problem? I did not come down here just to get jerked off!".   

Also there is his scene out in Trotter's cabin (who Trotter lends to Vinny for the weekend) where Vinny fails to get to sleep for so many nights in a row, he is woken up by an owl, yelling "What the fuck is that?!".  So Vinny loads up Trotter's magnum and he runs out side firing the gun at open air and after a moment of silence, Vinny smugly walks back into the cabin but then we hear the owl squawk again.

Another highlight for Joe is in the scene where Lisa gives her "biological clock" speech and Vinny, who has enough on his plate tells in no certain terms he doesn't need her woes just now.  So he says to his fiancee " Lisa, I don't need this. I swear to God, I do not need this right now, okay? I've got a judge that's just aching to throw me in jail. An idiot who wants to fight me for two hundred dollars. Slaughtered pigs. Giant loud whistles. I ain't slept in five days. I got no money, a dress code problem, AND a little murder case which, in the balance, holds the lives of two innocent kids. Not to mention your... (taps his foot) BIOLOGICAL CLOCK - my career, your life, our marriage, and let me see, what else can we pile on?!!!  Is there any more SHIT we can pile on to the top of the outcome of this case??!!! IS IT POSSIBLE???!!".  So Lisa finally relents and says "Maybe it was a bad time to bring it up".  

The scene where Vinny shows up in court for the day of the trial is also hilarious as he walks into the court wearing a cheesy looking tuxedo, and he explains to Haller why he is wearing it.  So in the scene Vinny says to Haller "I bought a suit. You seen it. Now it's covered in mud. This town doesn't have a one hour cleaner so I had to buy a new suit, except the only store you could buy a new suit in has got the flu. Got that? The whole store got the flu so I had to get this in a second hand store. So it's either wear the leather jacket, which I know you hate, or this. So, I wore this ridiculous thing for you!".   

Pesci also has some fun in the courtroom scenes also, particularly in one moment where he questions an old lady who wears thick lens glasses, and he asks her to make an ID of how many fingers he holds up from 50 feet away.  And in the scene Vinny asks the lady how many fingers he is holding up as he holds up two fingers, but Haller interrupts his questioning and says "Let the record know the counselour is holding up two fingers!" and Vinny annoyed says "Your honour, please, huh?!" and Haller says "Oh, sorry".  So Vinny starts again "Right, Mrs Reilly, and this time ONLY Mrs Reilly!" so he asks her again but she get's it wrong and says "four" and he walks toward her still holding up his two fingers saying "What do you think now, dear?" and the witness says "I'm thinking of getting thicker glasses!".

And lastly there is the scene where Vinny on his lunch break from the case, anxiously looks through all the evidence he has and he is joined by Lisa, who Vinny is not in the mood for as she looks at him.  And Vinny says to her "What does that look mean?  That I'm a piece of shit?!" and she continues to look at him and Vinny relents and looks at Lisa's picture she has brought and he says "Okay, your helping!  We'll use your pictures" and he starts to look through a series of snapshots taken by Lisa and sarcastically comments on them.

And Vinny finishes off looking at the last few saying to Lisa as he comments on each one "What's this over here? It's dog shit. Dog shit! That's great! Dog shit, what a clue! Why didn't I think of that? Here's one of me reading. Terrific. I should've asked you along time ago for these pictures. Holy shit, you got it, honey! You did it! The case cracker, me in the shower! Ha ha! I love this! That's it!".  And Lisa finally snaps and yells "That IS IT!! I'm out of here!" and she storms out of the cafe, leaving Vinny to chase after her but stop at the door and say "Lisa!  I'm sorry!".  And he goes back to his seat and says to himself "I'm missin something, I'm missing somethin!" and the camera zooms in on a key piece of evidence: the tyre tracks of the car from the scene of the crime that is alleged to be Billy's car.  

Getting onto other performances, Marisa Tomei is also great in her role as Vinny's long suffering girlfriend, Lisa, who has worked as a mechanic in her father's garage and has extensive automotive knowledge.

And whether or not Marisa's performance warrants on Oscar or not is up for debate but there is no doubt she brings a great mixture of being sassy, sexy and above all very intelligent, and when it comes to holding an argument she is Vinny's equal.

Tomei has a few standout moments in the film, which include "biological clock" scene where she complains to Vinny about how she thinks they will never get married.  And in the scene Lisa anxiously paces around Trotter's log cabin and she tells him what's on her mind "ou wanna know what I'm nervous about? I'll tell you what I'm nervous about! I am in the dark here with all this legal crap. I have no idea what's going on. All I know is that you're screwing up and I can't help!".  And Vinny almost sarcastically says to her "You left me a little camera, didn't you?" and Lisa anxiously continues "Oh, Vinny! I'm watching you go down in flames, and you're bringing me with you and I can't do anything about it!".

And Vinny, who can see where this is going asks "And?" and Lisa says to him " Well, I hate to bring it up, because I know you've got enough pressure on you already. But we agreed to get married as soon as you won your first case. Meanwhile, TEN YEARS LATER, my niece, the daughter of my sister is getting married. My biological clock is (taps her foot loudly) TICKING LIKE THIS and the way this case is going, I ain't never getting married!".   

And then there is the scene where she get's her best line in the whole film when Vinny says to her that he is going out hunting with Trotter and she disagrees with him and storms out the room.  And when Vinny asks her about what she thinks about the pants he is wearing (or trousers to us Brits and Scots!) she comes out and says "Imagine you are a dear, you spot a brook and put your little lips to the soft water.  BAM!!  A fucking bullet rips part of your head off, and your brains are lying on the ground in little bloody pieces!  Now I ask you, would you give a fuck what kind of pants the son of a bitch who shot you was wearing??!!!".

And another funny moment between Lisa and Vinny comes when Vinny arrives back in town with the car and he get's out and says to Lisa what he's got to do.  And Vinny angrily says " I got thirty fucking minutes to take a shower, get a new suit, get dressed and get to the fucking courthouse!" and Lisa replies by saying "You fucking shower, I'll get your fucking suit!".  

And lastly there is the scene when Lisa give her testimony in the courtroom scene for Vinny and at first when Haller asks her to answer Vinny's questions she says "No, I hate him!" and Vinny asks if he can treat her as a hostile witness and Lisa relies "You think I'm hostile just now, wait till you see me tonight!".  And well I won't mention the rest for time and not SPOILING it!  

Fred Gwynne is terrific in his role as the cranky old judge, Haller, who takes an instant disliking towards Vinny and his cavalier attitude to the law.  This was also sadly Gwynne's final performance on film before his death the following year in 1993.

Gwynne's exchanges with Pesci are clearly some of the film's funniest moments, especially in the scene with the arraignment where he pulls up Vinny for just about everything, from his appearance to his lack of knowledge on proper procedure. And he says to Vinny "It appears to me you want to skip the arraignment, skip trial and ask for a dismissal!" and "the next words I want to hear out of you are either guilty or not guilty.  It don't wanna hear commentary or argument.  I don't even want to hear you clear your throat!".

Then there is the funny moment where the DA, Trotter, the prosecution gives his opening speech to the jury to lay down Billy and Stan's guilt for the crime.  And when it comes to Vinny's turn he has nothing to say and afterward, Haller adjourns the court and looks at Vinny disdainfully, who is still wearing his leather jacket.  And Haller says to Vinny "Mr Gambini, stand up!" and Vinny stands up and Haller says "Now didn't I tell you the next time I see you in this court you were to dress appropriately?!" and Vinny looks on confused and says "You were serious about that?!" and we cut to Vinny on the prison bus with Billy and Stan.    

And then comes the scene where Vinny questions the first witness and he says "Is it possible that the two youths..." and cause of his accent Haller has to ask Vinny what he said, "What was that word?".  And Vinny says "What?" and Haller asks "Two what?" and Vinny asks again "What?" and Haller asks "Did you say a yute?"  and Vinny again says in his accent "Yeah two youths!" and Haller finally asks "What is a yute?" and Vinny finally get it and sarcastically replies "Oh I'm sorry your honor.  Two youths!".

And lastly there is the scene when Haller asks to speak to Vinny in his chambers as they approach the end of the case.  And Haller holds a fax in his hand regarding Vinny's claim that he used another for practising law "Jerry Gallo" who was a real lawyer but he had died recently.  So in the scene Haller says to Vinny "You're a dead man!" and Vinny anxiously says "I'm a dead man??" and Haller says to Vinny "I faxed the clerk of New York and asked him what he knew about Jerry Gallo.  You wannna know what he replied?".  So Vinny tries to bluff his way out of it by saying "Did you say "Jerry Gallo"?  Gallo with a G?" and Haller says "That's right" and Vinny replies "Jerry Gallo's dead!" and Haller looks at the fax and says testily "I'm AWARE of that!".  And Vinny bluffs Haller again and says to him "I'm Jerry Callow!  C-A-L-L-O!".

So they go into Haller's office who is fed up and tries to call the New York clerk's office again but doesn't get through.  So Haller says to a very nervous Vinny "He's gonna call back after three.  That gives you a stay of execution.  Unless by some miracle you win this case in the next 90 minutes!  Why don't you go to lunch".  

Ralph Macchio also does fine with his role as the innocent college kid, Billy, who ends up on trial for his life, and Ralph despite being 31 or 32 at the time, with his everlasting youthful looks manages to continue playing teenagers or youngsters in their early 20s!

And Ralph's best scenes include the scene where Billy and Stan having been arrested are questioned by Sheriff Farley (Bruce McGill) at the police station and Farley tries to get Billy to confess about the murder.  And in the scene Farley asks Billy regarding the murder of the store clerk "When did you shoot him?" and Billy, confused, asks "What?" and Farley asks "At what point did you shoot the clerk?".  And Billy, stunned, asks "I shot the clerk?" and Farley asks again "Yes.  When did you shoot him??" and again Billy asks "I shot the clerk?!" but Farley is called away from his office and then it starts to sink in for Billy what is going on and jumps in surprise and yells "WHOA!!!  WAIT A MINUTE!!".

And lastly there is the scene when Billy tries to convince Stan that Vinny, despite his slip ups so far in defending them, could still be the right man for the job.  And Billy tells Stan a story regarding Vinny rumbling a magician's tricks at a wedding "Well, he did his act, and every time he made something disappear, Vinny jumped on him. I mean, he nailed him! It was like, "it's in his pocket", or "he's palming it", you know? Or, "there's a mirror under the table." I mean, he was like, he was like, "wait a second, wait a second, it's joined in the middle, and there's a spring around it, it pops it open when it's inside the tube." It was like Alakazam's worst nightmare. Vinny was just being Vinny. He was just being the quintessential Gambini!".  And then the lights dim in the prison from the electric chair being used to execute a convict and both young men look very uncomfortable at the prospect of them being next.   

Mitchell Whitfield also does well in his role as Stan, Billy's college buddy, who is something of a neurotic guy who also has some amusing moments.

And Mitchell's good moments include the one where Billy has just learned they have been booked for murdering the store clerk.  And Billy asks Stan "Do you know what this is all about?" and Stan says "Yeah, they're fucking with us!" and Billy asks him "You don't believe them?" and Stan says "They don't execute for shoplifting".  And Billy asks Stan "You think we're being booked for shoplifting" and Stan says "No, you're being booked for shoplifting.  I'm being booked for an accessory to shoplifting!".  And Stan tells Stan "No, Stan.  I'm being booked for murder, and you're being booked for an accessory to murder!".  

And then after this in the next scene Stan calls his mother and Billy says to his mother regarding the police "We think they're trying to set us up as patsies.  You know how it is, they're all corrupt down here".  And Stan loudly interrupts their call saying "The Klan's here, they're inbred, they sleep with their sisters!" which get's some disproving looks from the police station staff and Stan looks awkwardly and says "well some of them do!".

Then there is the scene where Billy has been convinced by Vinny to stay on as his defence lawyer much to chagrin of Stan.  And Stan refers to Vinny's previous statement that he thinks they should give him the chance to be their lawyer, so Stan says "He thinks you should give it to him???  What was he in his last job?!  A fucking comedian??!!".  And Billy says "It can't hurt, I mean if he asks the wrong questions then your guy can still ask the right ones" and Stan says "No, he could still fuck things up!  There's more to cross-examination then knowing what to say, its knowing what NOT to say!  How did he ever talk you into it?!".  And Billy tells Stan the story about the magician at the wedding Vinny attended, who kept catching out the magician's tricks and that Vinny was just being the "quintessential Gambini".  And at that point the lights dim in the prison as one of the prisoners has been executed in the electric chair and both of them look very nervous and Stan says anxiously "there goes the quintessential Norton!".  

And lastly there is the moment where Stan decides to go with the public attorney, Gibbons, who turns out to have a bad stammer and get's nervous when he questions the first witness.  And after Vinny questions the first witness and successfully discredits his testimony, Stan looks angrily at Gibbons and says "You're fired!" and he stands and shouts to the judge, pointing at Vinny "I want HIM!". 

Lane Smith is also excellent as the DA, Jim Trotter, and he provides an unusual Southern quirkiness to his role in his delivery which adds nicely to his performance. 

And Smith has some highlights too such as the scene where Trotter gives his opening statement to the jury and he says to them "You're the jury. It's your job to decide who's telling the truth. Truth. That's what 'verdict' means. It's a word comes down from Old England and all our little old ancestors!".  

And then there is the scene where FBI anaylst, George Wilbur, reveals the tyre marks of the accused's car to be identical to the marks of the tyres found after the killer's made their getaway.  And as Trotter asks "Now, Mr Wilbur.  What was the result of your analysis?" and Wilbur says "The chemical composition between the two examples was found to be identical".  And then Trotter announces to the court "I----dentical!" as he smacks his hands together in between the "I" and "dentical".

And lastly there is the scene where Vinny calls Lisa to the stand to give testimony and Trotter questions Lisa's expertise on cars with herself having being an auto mechanic.  So Trotter asks Lisa "Now, uh, Ms. Vito, being an expert on general automotive knowledge, can you tell me... what would the correct ignition timing be on a 1955 Bel Air Chevrolet, with a 327 cubic-inch engine and a four-barrel carburetor?!".  And Lisa incredulously says "That's a bullshit question!" and Trotter goes up close to her and asks "Does that mean you can't answer it?!" and Lisa says "Its a bullshit question, its impossible to answer!" and Trotter teasingly says "Impossible because YOU don't know the ANSWER!".  And Trotter rather smugly says to Haller "Your Honor, I move to disqualify Ms. Vito as a "expert witness"!" and as Haller asks Lisa why she can't answer the question she tells him it is a trick one and the reason why much to the surprise of both Haller and Trotter.  And after, Trotter looks somewhat embarrassed and says akwardly "Um...she's acceptable, your honor".   

And then we have Austin Pendelton who provides a hilarious performance as the nervy public defender, John Gibbons, who suffers from a bad stammer and he get's a bad case of nerves in front of the jury on the first day of the trial as he tries to address them "Ladies and gentlmen of the jjjjjjjjjjjj...jury!  My client did indeed visit the Sac-o-Suds c..c.convenience store but-but he...he didn't kill anyone.  And we intend to prove that the pppppppppp....prosecution's case is circumstancial and and-and-and circumstancial.  Thank you!".   

And then there is the scene where Gibbons questions the first witness, Mr Tipton and he asks him "Mr T-T-T-....Tipton!  Now when you viewed my clients, how far away were you from them?" and Tipton says "about 50 feet".  And Gibbons says to him "Now, do you think that's close enough to make a positive i-i-i-i-i-identification???".  And Gibbons goes on to try and discredit Tipton's testimony based on him not wearing his glasses when he witness the two men fleeing the store but Tipton tells him the glasses he wears are simply for reading and he goes on to successfully tell the colour of Billy and Stan's eyes.  So after Gibbons unsuccessfully sits down and says to Stan "Boy he's a tough one!" and Stan complains to him, and the defender says "I get a little nervous.  I'm getting better!".

And lastly Bruce McGill who has always been a reliable veteran actor also provides a fine performance as Sheriff Farley.

And McGill has a couple of scenes worth mentioning such as the one where Farley questions Billy about what happened at the store.  And Farley asks Billy "Did Stan try and stop you at anytime" and Billy says "No.  I mean he was..." and Billy notices Farley write something down on a piece of paper on his desk.  And Billy asks "Is that a big deal?" and Farley says "Aidin and abettin!" and Billy asks "Aiding and abbetting??  Is that a major thing?" and Farley laughs out "Oh yeah!  Yeah!".

And then in the scene just after Farley questions Stan, thinking Stan is an accessory to the murder that Billy is alleged to have committed.  And in the scene Farley asks Stan "You didn't try and stop it?" and Stan says "No, I found out later in the car" and Farley asks him "Why didn't you get out and the call the police then?" and Stan says He's my friend" and Farley says to Stan "Well your friend has put you in alot of trouble!".  And before Farley leaves, Stan asks him "What is going to happen to Bill?" and Farley says "Nothing.  Unless he's convicted.  If he is, we're gonna run enough electricity through him to light up Birmingham!" (Birmingham, Alabama that is!).  

DIRECTOR AND MUSIC 

As for the film's director, Jonathan Lynn, he does a fine job, as he is no stranger to comedy, having previously been behind Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister as well as previously directing the British farce, Nuns on the run (starring Robbie Coltrane and Eric Idle).  And Lynn keeps the film's tone nice and light hearted and only in one or two scenes does he highlight the danger the two young college kids are in, such as the scene where Billy and Stan see the lights dim in their cell as the electric chair is used elsewhere in the prison.  But for the most part Lynn get's the tone of the comedy just right and he keeps the film moving at a nice pace which only occassionally lags. 

And lastly moving onto the music, Randy Edelman provides a pleasant, jaunty score that fits the film rather nicely even if the score isn't overly memorable it is still fit for purpose and is perfect for the film's comedic tone.   

FLAWS (Warning: this section may contain the odd spoiler!)

So flaws.....yes My Cousin Vinny does have some (for a moment that almost reads like he was my cousin!). 

And for me part of the film's problems are to do with its padded length as it does take its time before we finally get to the courtroom scenes and to the nitty gritty of the film, with some inconsequential moments in the film.  And such moments include Vinny arguing with a town local who owes Lisa money for a game of pool, which we come to a few times before Vinny finally pounces on him and takes the money, which is admittedly quite a funny moment.

Then there is the scene where Vinny and Lisa decide to spend the night out in their car rather than stay in Trotter's log cabin but in the morning they find the car is stuck in the mud.  And in the scene Vinny get's out his car and goes flying on his arse and ends up covered in mud but when he tries to get up and he suddenly slips and falls face down so he is covered in mud on both sides.  However the way it is done is pretty obvious and a bit pat that Vinny would end up slipping face down as well and its one of the comedic scenes in the film that, no pun intended, does fall flat.   

And perhaps if you want to be really picky you could get argue there are some moments where the film's logic and timeframe is a bit muddled.  And as an exmaple starter there is the scene where Vinny and Lisa argue over a dripping tap and if Lisa turned the tap firmly enough to fully shut it off, she goes through a whole spiel of how the engineers who installed the taps made sure it was "dead on balls accurate" for turning on and off or for "torquage".  But instead of arguing about it, why didn't Vinny just get out of bed and go over twist the tap to see if it would stop dripping or not, rather than make a song and dance about it!

And lastly there is the moment where Vinny tells Lisa during lunch as the case draws to an end that Haller found out that Jerry Gallo was dead but in the scene he didn't tell her that he bluffed Haller again and said his name started with a "C" and not a "G" i.e. Jerry Callo.  However later on at the end of the film after the case has finished, Haller commends Vinny and tells him that he got a fax through telling him that he was a recognised trial lawyer.  And afterward as they drive off, Lisa tells Vinny that she called his friend, Judge Molloy and told him to do her a favour and send a letter confirming was Jerry Callo, but again Vinny didn't tell her!  So this scene at the end doesn't make any sense as Lisa couldn't possibly know that Vinny bluffed Haller in the first place and it remains the film's main plot hole.

Anyway that's it for the flaws.

SUM UP

So in summing up, My Cousin Vinny is a very entertaining comedy film that has alot going for it and has plenty of laughs and it features an excellent cast.  And yeah OK it does overrun a little length wise and does meander a bit in certain scenes but if you can forgive that then there is still much to enjoy in this light hearted comedy after nearly 25 years.


So that's it for now and I will be back again soon with another post (hopefully before the end of the month!).

Till the next un, its bye for now!

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