Courtroom movies are often crowd pleasers when it comes to media; whether it brings up complex moral questions, has compelling drama that comes up from the nature of the situation, an introspective character study, or is just a good mystery, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like at least one court film. 

But something rarer to see are comedies that take place in a courtroom. This is mainly because it’s a lot harder than it looks because the script has to be funny, but not so slapstick that it takes out the inherent stakes and seriousness of being on trial. “My Cousin Vinny” (1992, directed by Jonathan Lynn), while definitely leaning more towards the comedy side of the spectrum, still keeps the stakes high.

Two boys from New York, Bill Gambini (played by Daniel San himself, Ralph Macchio) and Stan Rothenstein (Mitchell Whitfield), are traveling the country when, after arriving in Alabama, they make a stop at a local convenience store to pick up some snacks, accidentally stealing a can of tuna in the process. 

They’re pulled over later on and arrested for what they at first assume to be shoplifting, but in actuality is for murder. As it turns out, right after they left, two different guys in a similar looking car pulled up to the convenience store, killed the attendant, and robbed the place. 

Not having enough money to afford an attorney and facing execution by electric chair if found guilty, Bill’s cousin, Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci), is called in to defend the two young men. Only problem is Vinny only just passed the bar 6 weeks ago, doesn’t know how the trial process works, and this is his first court case ever.

The most obvious thing to talk about when discussing the film is the comedy. To no one’s surprise, it’s very well done. Most of it comes from how the characters interact with each other.

A good example is how Vinny interacts with his fiancee Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei) and Judge Chamberlain Haller (played by Fred Gwynne, in his last on-screen role before passing away in 1993).

Vinny and Mona are always on each other’s backs about one thing or another. Usually Mona just wants to help Vinny with the case, with Vinny saying no, causing Mona to get annoyed, or Mona does or says something to annoy Vinny. In both cases, it usually leads to an argument, which ends up being more comical than dramatic. 

While Vinny’s and Judge Haller’s interactions are somehow even more tense but just as funny. Judge Haller is very strict and rigid when it comes to procedure in court, Vinny has no idea how to actually act in court and is usually pretty blunt and rude. Add those two facts together and you get some of the best lines in the film. 

Speaking of lines, the film is very quotable. Whether it’s Mona telling Vinny how a deer probably won’t care what Vinny’s pants look like, or Judge Haller asking what a “yute” is, or basically anytime Vinny cross examines anyone on stand, it’s all gold.

The acting in the film is also done spectacularly. 

Joe Pesci, while still acting like a wise guy from a Scorsese film, still does well portraying the inexperienced lawyer his character is, and naturally showing the growth of the character goes through as he starts to get better at courtroom procedure.

Marisa Tomei is hilarious as the overbearing fiance who’s constantly on Vinny’s back for one thing or another. But at the same time, she doesn’t come off as unlikeable or uncaring, and has some of the funniest moments in the film. 

It makes sense the role won her an academy award for best supporting actress.

Something worth mentioning is that despite being a comedy, the film depicts courtroom procedure, how cross examination is supposed to work, and how to present an expert witness in trial that is actually very realistic, and is praised by many attorneys and law professors for its accuracy. 

The film is so accurate in these regards, that it’s shown in some law schools in order to show courtroom procedures. For example, federal appellate judge Richard Posner said in 2009 that the film showed great tips on how to stand your ground against a hostile judge or how to sow doubt on eye witnesses in cross examination.

It’s something the movie didn’t have to do, but the director, Jonathan Lynn, actually had a law degree and wanted to accurately and realistically portray the courtroom.

If there are any problems with the film it would probably be that one of the defendants, Stan, is constantly assuming the worst in any situation and it can get kind of annoying pretty quick.

While most films do either/or, “My Cousin Vinny” does the improbable of making a court film that’s equal parts funny and realistic. Which also makes a good study in law and in comedy.