My Cousin Vinny (1992)

My Review

The laughs never stop in the classic culture clash comedy “My Cousin Vinny.” The film has one Oscar win for Marisa Tomei for Best Supporting Actress, and was the final big screen appearance for veteran actor Fred Gwynne (known for his television role of Herman Munster on “The Munsters”}. The performances of Tomei, Gwynne, and Joe Pesci received critical acclaim and the film’s popularity has held up over the years.

Director Jonathan Lynn (“Clue” 1985) and screenwriter-producer Dale Launer put together a great story that starts with two New Yorkers, played by Ralph Macchio and Mitchell Whitfield, getting into trouble while traveling through a rural Alabama county. They call home for help and Macchio’s cousin Vincent Gambino (Pesci) heads south with his girl friend Mona Lisa Vito (Tomei) in tow. Clashes between the flamboyant New York Italian-Americans and the more reserved southerners, especially Judge Haller (Gwynne), are a big part of the comedy.

Co-stars include Lane Smith, Bruce McGill, Austin Pendleton, Maury Chaykin, Paulene Meyers, Raynor Scheine, James Rebhorn, and Chris Ellis. “My Cousin Vinny” was a big hit at the box office for Palo Vista Productions, Peter V. Miller Investment Corp., and 20th Century Fox. Filming took place in Georgia.