A court room drama portrayed like a comedy, is not something often seen in cinema since its extremely difficult to feature both the tension and laughs together in a script. But in 'My Cousin Vinny' you get to enjoy a commendable amalgamation of these conflicting genres, which can easily be stated as the winning USP of this entertaining film undoubtedly. Based on a brilliant screenplay with many outstanding scenes, it is one of those few films which completely win over the viewers through their written material (dialogues) in reality. So its not a slapstick comedy but an intelligently conceived film which has some humorous court room sequences (maintaining the dignity), perfectly enacted by its entire cast as victims, witnesses, lawyers, judge and other participants in the case.
To be exact, here we have Joe Pesci playing the cousin Vinni, a lawyer who has not been to a trial ever in his so called professional career and his associate (girl friend or fiancée), Mona Lisa (played by Marisa Tomei) who simply doesn’t know when to close her mouth and stop talking. The two continue to be themselves in the court room too in front of the annoyed judge and its their mutual conversations only which simply raise the level of this court room comedy from good to remarkable. The chemistry between the two is terrific and their characters stay with you for long after you have finished enjoying it.
Particularly Marisa Tomei turns the film into a complete entertainer and for that she deservingly won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role OSCAR in the year 1993. The fine direction along with some fabulously written dialogues infuses an appreciable repeat value into the film wherein the court room becomes nothing short of funny place full of witty performers. Surely deserving more praises and recognition then received MY COUSIN VINNY is sharp, clever, funny and a hugely entertaining court room comedy which deserves to be seen as a must if you really love to watch films revolving around the court proceedings. Yet for a change, this will not feed you with that usual thrilling excitement of a crime but would sure provide some great witty moments, which you might not have experienced before in any routine investigative films offered in this particular genre.
Incidentally the brilliance of MY COUSIN VINNY even inspired the Hindi Film Industry to make a film on it titled BANDA YEH BINDAAS HAI featuring Govinda in the lead. But being a small world today, the similarity in concept was reportedly questioned by the original makers from the Indian production house and the film at present is still lying in an uncertain zone, as it is said. Anyway, since real movie buffs don’t believe in waiting for versions, so just go for this original film at the earliest and have a good time with both Vinny and Mona together.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn
Starring : Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei and more.
Tags :
My Cousin Vinny (1992), Movies To See Before You Die, Court Room Comedies, Must Watch Films List by Bobby Sing at bobbytalkscinema.com, Inspiring Films, Court Room Comedy, Not TO Be Missed Movies List by Bobby Sing.
