My Cousin Vinny

Before there were official "Red" and "Blue" Americas, there was this film that pretty much represents it all. Bill Gambini and Stanley Rothenstein are two NYU students who get scholarships at UCLA and decide to drive across America to get there. Bad idea. In Alabama they are picked up and arrested for murder and robbery. They are innocent, but there are witnesses who ID their car and ID them. And it is the word of two New Yorkers against the locals.

Not having any money, Bill calls his cousin Vinny (Joe Pesci), who is a lawyer but hasn't practiced yet. And here the culture clash begins. Into this sleepy little Alabama town arrive Vinny and his girlfriend, dressed in leather with rather flashy but faux jewelry. The judge (Fred Gwynne) in the case demands that since this is a capital case that Vinny have trial experience. He does not, but knowing he is his cousin's best shot, he lies and just hopes the judge can't find that out until the trial is over.

Well the Southerners don't get these New Yorkers ("Two Yutes? What's a Yute?"), and vice versa. Vinny and his girl are awakened by factory whistles at 5AM and don't understand why every meal has to include grits, to name a couple of the problems. And the judge is a stickler for decorum. The prosecutor invites Vinny to go deer hunting to discuss the case. As a longtime urban resident who thinks that meat comes from grocery stores not live animals, Marisa Tomei as Vinny's girlfriend is hilarious in her reaction.

This is just a very good comedy with lots of light moments, and yet you wonder, how is Vinny going to debunk these people, who have nothing against the defendants, claiming they are the perps. Watch and find out. This is a rare lead role for Joe Pesci, and he is marvelous. Putting Gwynne and Pesci together was unexpected comic genius, and you'd never guess that Gwynne, with that Southern accent he is sporting, was somewhat raised in New York City. Marisa Tomei absolutely earned her Oscar as Vinny's mechanic whiz girlfriend. And the best thing is that neither the Southerners nor the New Yorkers come off as cartoonish. This film was made when both sides got along pretty well. I'd highly recommend it.