My Cousin Vinny (DVD 2002)

This is a great film and a comical masterpiece. The humour is so well written into the decent and original plot that it constantly keeps delighting you as the film progresses. The writing is excellent and the comic timing is superb. One courtroom scene in particular, involving the public defender, is my favourite all time piece of comedy and I can't help but chuckle uncontrollably when I think of it (which can at times be rather embarrassing). The two young actors playing the New York lads facing murder charges in the Deep South both put in decent performances and have some great comic lines but the star of the movie is Joe Pesci who just turns in a stunning performance. He is in trademark territory but is endearing as opposed to annoying as he was in the Lethal Weapon films. His one on one scenes with the judge and his girlfriend contain some excellent writing and Pesci and his co-stars just deliver them beautifully. Indeed, Marisa Tomei, who won an Oscar for her performance, is sensational and looks fabulous. Her Brooklyn accent, which would normally grate from anyone else, is beautiful and I would challenge any male not to fall in love with her by the end of the movie. My cousin Vinny is not totally in your face funny although it contains its elements of slapstick. Instead the humour is observational with wonderful attention to detail. Every now and then though it crescendos to leave you with a scene that sticks in your mind forever. If you want to feel better buy this movie.