MY COUSIN VINNY

US, 1992, 119 minutes, Colour.
Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio, Fred Gwynne.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn.

My Cousin Vinny was written by Dale Launer (Ruthless People) and directed by British Jonathan Lynn, co-writer of Yes, Minister - and also director of Clue, Nuns on the Run, The Distinguished Gentleman, Greedy, Sergeant Bilko. The film is a star vehicle for Joe Pesci, Oscar Winner for Goodfellas, performing in JFK, Raging Bull and giving comic turns in the Home Alone films. However, he is often grating in his performance.

The idea is not bad: two innocent young New Yorkers are arrested in Redneck, Alabama, for murder and are to be defended by their inept and inexperienced cousin Vinny. (Ralph Macchio is one of the young men.) There is a great deal of satire at the expense of people in the South. However, there are good performances from Fred Gwynne as the judge, Lane Smith as the prosecutor and Marissa Tomei (Oscar for Best Supporting Actress) as Vinny's fiancee.

A lot of the proceedings take place in jail and in the courts - much of it with great potential for interest and entertainment but frequently laboured. By the time the film picks up (when Vinny actually and literally wakes up) it is too late.

1.The comic and serious tones of the plot, treatment, characters?

2.The atmosphere of Alabama, the town, the seedy hotels, the court, the modern jail? The musical score and songs?

3.The plausibility and implausibility of the plot? Characters? The impossible situation for the young men - what if...?

4.Bill and Stan, their New York backgrounds, New York University, driving through the South, going to the store, economising, the tuna fish and Bill putting it in his pocket accidentally, the police pursuing them, stopping them, treating them as criminals? The comic style, the interrogations and the ambiguity because they did not know that they were being questioned for murder? In jail, Bill telephoning his mother - with Stan lamenting the customs of the South? Prison?

5.In prison, the cell, the walk up the corridor with people shouting? Vinny's arrival, meeting Stan, his fear of homosexual rape and the highly ambiguous conversation? The discussions with Vinny, Vinny and his lack of experience? The discussion with the judge, Vinny hopeless, the plea of not guilty, held in contempt, going to jail, being bailed?

6.Joe Pesci as Vinny: the explanation of his background, his work, Judge Molloy, studying for six years, in Brooklyn? His appearances, New York style, leather jacket? Lisa and her dresses, Chinese restaurants, pink camera? The hotels, the siren in the morning, the pigs, the train going through? Moving from hotel to hotel? The people gaping at them? The breakfast and grits? Lisa's pool game and the $200, the threats and the fight, Vinny using court arguments to evade the fight? The final confrontation and his instant knockout? Going to meet the judge, the judge disapproving of his informality? His lying about his qualifications? The judge and the emphasis on procedure and precision? His making him get new suit (and the irony of the suit in the mud and his having to wear the second-hand clothes)? In contempt of court?

7.Bill and Stan, in jail, in the court, their lacking confidence in Vinny? The employment of the public prosecutor, Stan relying on him? His stammer and nervousness? His questioning the witness ineffectively, fired?

8.The witnesses, the man making his breakfast, the old black lady needing glasses, the man in the house with dirty windows and trees? Their being so definite? The testimony of the police? The antipathy of the South for New Yorkers - and vice versa?

9.Trotter and his style, friendly, his witnesses, giving the information and files to Vinny, inviting him to go hunting? His phone call about his secret witness? Cross-examination of the expert, of Lisa, his conceding the case? The Southern Gentleman prosecutor?

10.The judge, Fred Gwynne's comic style? Precision, exasperation, trying to get a plea from Vinny? The conduct in the court, his clothes, holding him in contempt? His faxes about his authenticity and Vinny's elusive answers? His being interested in Lisa, her testimony? His final congratulations?

11.Vinny and his character, his history, his ignorance, his ability to argue? Studying in the hotel but wanting to do it by himself? Ignoring Lisa's abilities and knowledge? Not being able to sleep, sleeping in the court? His poor speeches and plea? His getting a night's sleep in jail? The sudden change with his interrogating the witnesses and disproving their credibility? His looking at the photos - and abusing Lisa? His brainwave, the collaboration of the sheriff? Lisa walking out on him but making her come onto the stand? Getting the interrogation, her expertise with the tyres? The computer car information? His achievement in getting the boys off? His wanting to escape quickly - but Lisa sending the fax to the judge to justify him? His marrying Lisa?

12.Lisa, personality, New York style, her range of clothes, outrageous style for the South, continually taking photographs? Her mechanical expertise? Present in the court, Vinny wanting him to affirm her? The motels, the meals? Going to the lodge and talking about her biological clock? The prospect of a deer being shot and her arguing against Vinny? Photos, being hurt, walking out - her expertise as a witness, her knowledge, saving the case?

13.The young men, their relief and new life?

14.The humour of the situation, the laborious way in which it was treated - the humour, Joe Pesci's personality? The "what if..." kind of entertainment?