@@bobfin Did anyone really make fun of her? There was the dumb rumor that Jack Palance read the wrong winner, but otherwise it's a widely praised performance.
Didn't really make fun of her, but there was a lot of criticism along the lines she didn't really deserve it, or didn't actually win (which stems from thinking she didn't deserve it) and then of course jokes were made about it. So they didn't make fun of her for winning, but made jokes like it was ridiculous she won. Given how every reactor is amazed by her performance when they watch this, I think is enough proof she deserved the win.
I think a lot of reactors miss that Vinnie finally decides to sleep in the jail, but because it is noisy - a continuous level of noise - like in Brooklyn, he finally gets a good night sleep.
I noticed that too. It's a good consistency to his character and background. Also, he probably has been in jail a few times in his youth so he was used to it.
Don't even get me started on how reactors---around 99%---miss how Emil recognized Murphy in RoboCop when every second grader back in 1987 knew immediately how. Sorry for the digression but that's how audiences are these days.
Familiar Types of noise is the difference. And that's real. We used to live where the train tracks ran right behind our back yard. When we first moved in there, it drove us nuts. And it would come through all odd hours of the night. 3am, 5am, there was no regular schedule. Amazingly after awhile you didn't even notice it, and would indeed sleep right through it.
I love that the judge, prosecutor, and sheriff are all just trying to do their jobs and have legitimate reasons to be skeptical about Vinnie, even if they are a bit uncharitable. It’s a nice touch that the prosecutor was sick of getting guilty people off the hook so he switched from defense to prosecution.
And the case itself was a huge coincidence. Having another similarly looking duo in another similarly green convertible car show up minutes after? The chances, while not impossible, really don't fall into the realm of reasonable doubt.
Agreed! With the exception of the two other people who did the actual murder, there aren't any bad guys in this film. Maybe not very nice, but no one was lying or trying to cheat the system. And the prosecuting attorney was willing to dismiss the charges when they were proven innocent, instead of dragging it out. A friend of mine is a lawyer, and he said that, some of, his teachers would reference this movie for it's realism. One thing he related was that his teacher was a former prosecuting attorney and he was happy to lose a case when it was clear the defendant was innocent.
The judge is played by Fred Gwynne who played Herman Munster in The Munsters tv show. He was also in Pet Sematary. Marissa Tomei was also in a cute movie called *Oscar* with Sylvester Stallone and Tim Curry.
Vinny: How is it that it takes you 5 minutes to cook your grits when it take the entire grit eating world 20 minutes? Witness: I use Instant Pot. Vinny: No more questions.
One of the things I really like about this movie is that it takes a situation where two cultures kind of collide (rural South and urban North), with a lot of potential for misunderstanding. But the movie really shows that all the people who count are taking the situation seriously and trying to do the right thing. In the end, that's what really matters. Good-hearted people with integrity come in all cultures and walks of life.
Still in love with Marisa. Strangest of all, Joe Pesci was a singer, and took up acting just until his music career took off. He's childhood friends with Frankie Vallie and members of the Four Seasons, and he introduced them to each other. After this movie, Joe released an album, but he does the entire album in character as Vinny. I'm not making this up.
This is one of those movies that I saw so many times as a kid that I assumed it was just nostalgia and never realised how good it was until I watched it a couple of years back.
1. Judge would absolutely roast you for not wearing a suit. I had a judge roast me because he felt my belt color didn't match my suit properly. 2. There is no requirement to learn trial procedure in law school beyond writing briefs. There is also no requirement on bar exams to show you know the particular court's procedures because every court is a little different. P.S. Marisa Tomei, deservedly, won the Best Supporting Actress for her performance
Judges take take the dignity of court very seriously. A lot of reactors think the judge was being rude, but in fact he's just acting like a judge. And yes, mouthing off the to the judge is a bad idea...
Such a tight script. Anyone thats ever wanted to learn how to write a film script can just study this movie. Every moment in the film contributes to the characters and the plot in a succinct and meaningful way. Its great that you picked up on that. Classic comedy.
Interestingly, when one of the you-tube lawyers did a commentary on 'courtroom drama' movies he was also very complimentary about this film for being accurate on how much of the courtroom process was actually true to life. More so than a lot of more serious courtroom dramas.
Hi Vicky!🙂I really needed a good comedy today, thank you!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽That is a young Marisa Tomei who you may no better as Aunt May from Spider-Man. The judge is Fred Gwynne, who was Herman Munster from the 60's TV sitcom "The Munsters". He played a character that looked similar to the Frankenstein Monster. The prosecuter, Lane Smith is probably best known as Perry White from the 90's TV series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman". GREAT reactions to this unique comedy, Vicky!!!🎬👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
And the Sherriff was Bruce McGill who played 'D-Day' in the cult classic 'Animal House'. :) Plus, dozens of those TV shows and movies. But to me, he will always be D-Day. LOL.
You could put together a fun film - Perry White leads a rag tag team of crime fighters featuring D-Day, Aunt May, Heman Munster, Harry Lime (the thief from Home Alone) and the Karate Kid...
@@kendric2000-q3d That's true. I believe Bruce McGill was also in the first and last episode of the original "Quantum Leap" series. Which is an unusual accomplishment. The movie "Time Cop" also stands out for me too.
Before "Vinny," when she played college freshman Maggie in the first season of the sitcom "A Different World," it was clear that she had a great career ahead of her.
It's a minor part of the movie but the scene with the guy eating a chicken wing always gives me a chuckle and brings back a funny memory. Many years ago the team I worked with at Kodak all went out to lunch. We ordered buffalo wings as an appetizer. One of my teammates took 5 or 6 legs, laid them out on slice of bread, slapped on another slice of bread and began to eat it like a sandwich. We were all wondering about the bones because he just kept chowing down. 😂and then when he was completing done he simply spit them out one by one. I can't say I've ever seen anything like that since.
This is a great film to rewatch, it's so entertaining. Marissa Tomei won an Oscar for her performance in this movie. I never heard or knew what grits were when I watched this but now seek out shrimp and grits in various forms whenever I'm down south. Cheesy grits are awesome too.
"How was he dead asleep during that, what?" Two reasons: 1. The noise of the prison is almost like a constant white noise rather than the sudden noises Vinny kept experiencing that woke him out of a dead sleep, and 2. Vinny is from New York, at a time when it was pretty crime-ridden. He's used to sirens and people fighting in the streets more than owls and train whistle sounds - it's like he's home XD.
I don't know if someone already mentioned this but My Cousin Vinny is generally regarded by lawyers as one of the finest examples of cross examination ever shown in a movie. After his brilliantly goofball introduction, we see Vinny calmly and ruthlessly rip apart witness after witness in the correct manner. He never needs to prove the witnesses are wrong, just that there is reasonable doubt. And his use of an expert witness is textbook as well. Just a really well written screenplay.
This was filmed in middle Georgia in and around a tiny town called Monticello that was picked because of the historic courthouse on the square - you could still drive past the "Sac O' Suds" almost exactly as it was filmed until about 11 years ago when it shut down and got boarded up. It was reopened under the same name later but with several cosmetic changes, particularly the removal of the old gas pump island that was so central to winning the case.
I really like that there are no villains in this film. The judge, prosecutor, and sheriff aren't bad people, they are just mistaken. When they see their mistake, they do the right thing.
Marisa Tomei won an Oscar for best supporting actor for this role and has been amazing in anything she's been in since, including her role as Aunt May in Tom Holland's Spiderman movies. Glad you got see it, when I was growing up we used to say you're not a real New Yorker if you haven't seen My Cousin Vinny and A Bronx Tale
I feel like most people were introduced to Joe Pesci through one of the mob movies he was in. I never liked mob movies, so I only knew him from comedic roles until I was much older. "My Cousin Vinny," "The Super," and "Home Alone" 1&2 were the ones I knew Joe Pesci from. This movie is my favorite thing I've ever seen him in. It's so cleverly written and quotable.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito is right up there with Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday and John Wayne as "The Quiet Man" or Carey Grant as "Father Goose".
This is one of those few movies that is top notch in all areas: casting, directing, writing, comedy, camera work, editing, pacing, music, wardrobe, set design, etc. I don't think there is any part of this movie that is lacking. This is one of my top favorite movies.
I think everyone in the country fell in love with Marisa Tomei when this movie was released. It's too bad she didn't become a bigger star. The deer hunting scene was awesome. I like how she wore a completely different outfit for every scene she was in. Can you imagine what the kids of Vincent Laguardia Gambini and Mona Lisa Vito are going to be like? You said you thought the judge looked familiar- he was played by Fred Gwynne, most famous for playing Herman Munster in the 60s tv show The Munsters. He's been in many shows and movies since then.
After watching this for year on TV, I finally watched it again with the swears. One of my favorite lines was when they wake up in the car and as Vinny is trying to get to the drivers seat, he yells "Dis F*ckin' jacket!"
RIP Fred Gwynne and Lane Smith. I've been a fan of Ralph Macchio since 1986. Also, I've been a fan of Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei since 1987. I was eight years old when this movie came out. Joe Pesci was 49, Marisa Tomie was 27, and Ralph Macchio was 30 when this film came out.
The defense expert testimony (eyebrows guy) was James Rebhorn. Movie and TV saw Rebhorn perform in SOOOO many supporting roles that my wife and I just call him 'that guy', as most people around in that era immediately know they know him, but few know his name.
"How did he pass the Bar?" Actual courtroom procedure is not tested on the bar exam. If any procedure is on the exam, it is civil procedure - usually about filing deadlines. The bar exam takes place over two days. There is a multi-state part which is tested at the same day and time across the country. Then, either the day before or the day after, the state-specific portion of the exam is tested. The multi-state portion is multiple choice and covers Common Law as well as model codes. The state-specific part is up to each state, but it usually the test is in essay form and tests the particular laws of the state. States that have a major metropolitan area on the border tend to cooperate such that one state will do its exam the day before the multi-state, and the other will hold its exam the day after. This way, an attorney can practice law throughout the metro area because he is licensed in both states (e.g. Kansas and Missouri for Kansas City, Maryland and Virginia for Washington DC, New York and New Jersey, Missouri and Illinois for St. Louis, Washington and Oregon for Portland). What one needs to understand is that the bar exam is graded on a curve. The purpose isn't really to test legal competence, but rather to serve as a barrier to entry to keep legal fees high. Thus, the same quality of answers could result in a pass one year but a fail the next depending on how good the pool of aspiring attorneys are taking the same exam. That said, failing five times is a bit much. Real legal skills are learned on the job. Back in the day, a person wanting to be a lawyer would join a law firm as a clerk, then as the lawyers there got to know him and evaluate his ability, he would be admitted to the bar, similar to how an apprentice electrician becomes a journeyman electrician. Naturally, this system ends up creating a closed profession, the entry into which is based upon *who* one knows rather than *what* one knows. This is the sort of thing that Americans tend not to like, so we created a system in which a state would have a test to ensure minimum competency and allow anyone who passed to practice law (see, e.g. Abraham Lincoln). When this system was established, people who wanted to be lawyers would study on their own by "reading law." Later, somebody got the idea to create course of instruction to prepare people to take the exam, and law schools were born. Now however, law school itself is also a barrier to entry. Something like 48 states require a degree from an ABA accredited law school to even sit for the exam. Moreover, law schools have become more "academic." Law professors used to be practicing attorneys who would teach classes and share their real-life experience with the students. Articles in law reviews were written when the author actually had something to say. Now, law schools have full-time professors who generally don't actually practice law, and who may or may not have done so in the past. There is a pressure to publish, and stuff like "Law and Literature" were added to the class offerings. As a result, a student with a JD *still* needs to sign up for and attend a bar prep course (the most common one is BarBri) as a practical matter, which makes one wonder what the purpose of law school is today.
The witnesses weren't out to get them. They were just saying what they thought they saw. They did indeed hear a gun go off and then saw two men get into a green convertible. The whole point is to demonstrate the shortcomings of eyewitness testimony. The prosecutor as well wasn't personally out for them. He was just a good lawyer doing his job as best he could. As soon as he was presented with evidence that clearly showed they weren't guilty they dismissed the charges. It's one of the best things about this film. They didn't feel the need to make anyone corrupt or a villain. Everyone seems basically good and decent.
The best part about the characters is that the film sets up that they'll be villains, but when you get right down to it, they actually are honest and honorable. They're antagonists, but only doing their job. Once Vinny successfully blew up the prosecution's case, they were gracious and dropped the charges without argument. This is the movie that put Marissa Tomei on the map. And you're right, she was absolutely GORGEOUS (hell, she's STILL gorgeous). The thing about a small diner like that is the best restaurants actually have a small menu. If you have a lot of different items on the menu, it means they're likely working with frozen food that were probably pre-cooked. However if you have a short menu, it means that almost everything is going to be cooked right then and there from fresh ingredients. The focus on legal procedures in this movie is SO good, that it's STILL by law schools to teach them to this day. The biggest outright mistake is when the judge overrules Vinny's objection to the surprise witness. Not only was his argument lucid, intelligent, and well thought-out, it was also RIGHT. Vinny would have had grounds. And if Vinny hadn't screwed up the arraignment and pretrial he probably could have gotten the case dismissed altogether over the confusion at the beginning with the charges. The Public Defender made a critical error: You NEVER ask the witness a question on the stand that you don't already know the answer to. Vinny, however, did his homework with the seemingly innocuous questions he was asking while interviewing the witnesses before the trial.
Fun fact: Joe Pesci was thought by many to be too old for Marisa Tomei as the love interest. To make Pesci look younger the make-up artists for the film gave him an artificial face lift: they used tape to pull back his face skin getting rid of wrinkles. There are some closeups of Pesci's face in the movie where you can actually see the crease mark just to the left of his ear where the tape is pulling back the skin.
I thought the age difference was a little odd at first but as the movie went along their chemistry was so good that it didn't bother me. They did a decent job at de-aging Pesci but you could still tell that he was about 15-20 years older than her. Tomei came off as someone who had been around a lot longer than she looked. Her backstory was that she worked as a mechanic for years and then did hairdressing for a while. Additionally, she and Pesci had been together for an unspecified amount of time but I'm guessing about 10 years. And with her tough attitude and life experiences, her character was around 40 years old, but her youthful appearance still said mid-20's. It should not have worked but strangely it did.
@@SurvivorBri Yes, she (the character) just looked young for her age. She was old enough to have a niece that was getting married and also said that she and Vinny agreed to get married after he won his first case and that agreement had been made 10 years ago. Not sure how long they had dated before talking about marriage.
The judge was played by Fred Gwynne is his last role. He was so well-known for “The Munsters” and “Car 54, Where Are You?” that it took a lot of people years and years to remember he could do other kinds of roles. Perhaps you saw him in “Pet Sematary” or “Fatal Attraction”.
Most convertibles of that era don’t stow the top when it’s down; they bundle up down at the rear. You can still tell what colour the top is when they are down.
the judge is played by Fred Gwen. an enormously talented actor. Frederick Hubbard Gwynne was an American actor, artist, and author widely known for his roles in the 1960s television sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? as Francis Muldoon and as Herman Munster in The Munsters, as well as his later film roles in The Cotton Club, Pet Sematary, and My Cousin Vinny. After serving in the United States Navy as a radioman during World War II, he went on to Harvard, where he majored in English and was on the staff of the "Harvard Lampoon". At Harvard, he studied drawing with artist R.S. Merryman and was active in dramatics.
One other thing is that small towns in rural areas exist in every single state in the Union, so this movie could've taken place anywhere in America. As someone who lives in one of those small towns, let me tell you that I recognize each and every local depicted in this film: the sheriff, the judge, the prosecuting attorney, the witnesses, even the clerk who was shot and killed. Those people are part of my community, and they were written with exquisite accuracy by Dale Launer. Good screenwriters don't get enough credit for what they do. Good actors bring great characters to life, but a good screenwriter has to first create them and make sure they're _true-to-life,_ or the movie will fail.
During that hearing of evidence, Vinny is ostensibly allowed to talk, but that’s not typical in all jurisdictions. In fact, the defendents are often absent for that. Vinny’s role in many states is merely to observe.
"A pool with chickens in them." The inside of your mind must be fun! ha. I just learned today that chickens are the worst swimmers among birds because their feathers soak up the water like a sponge then they drown.
This movie made we want to try grits too, Vicky. They're basically the sister to mashed potatoes in the south and are legitimately great when made the right way- cheese, bacon, chives is my favorite
I love grits with breakfast, and I'm fine with just butter, salt & pepper on them. However, if I were having grillades & grits, for instance, that cheese, bacon & chive combo sounds freakin' awesome.
They are like the southern answer to oatmeal for breakfast. It became a staple with poor farmers, because oats were too expensive and usually reserved for high-quality horse feed. It's made from white hominy corn, dried and flaked. Since it essentially has no taste much like rice, you flavor it with butter, salt and pepper for the basic dish - but it's almost endlessly adaptable cheese, gravy, honey, shrimp, etc. It can be turned into a dinner dish easily as well for various Cajun or Creole recipes.
@26:25 A lot of people don't get this part, and the trap that the prosecutor very neatly set for Vinny. The judge points out that it is a **well thought-out** objection... which means he DID have notice about the witness, which means that his argument that he didn't have notice is incorrect. Great reaction as always. :)
The judge is famous for the sitcom The Munsters. Fred Gwynn played Herman Munster. His family included two vampires, a witch, and a teenage average girl.
I've heard that the night at the cabin he was supposed to get good sleep, but an owl happened to come by and screech during the night shoot so they changed the script
"Did he come here to roast him? Is that what judges do?" According to my lawyer girlfriend... Yes, yes it is. You should absolutely try grits! A little butter, salt, and pepper, they're amazing.
Grits and polenta are very, very similar, both corn grits, yellow or white, larger or smaller grinds. Grits are usually looser, served with just butter, salt, maybe pepper and honey. You can do savory grits, with cheese, say, but they aren't usually as herbal or stiff as polenta. You can do a lot of similar recipes with farina, too.
Another great reaction. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's one of those that if I see it on and I'm flipping through the channels I have to stop on it. Looking as beautiful as ever, by the way.
If you think that you recognize the judge from somewhere , that's Fred Gwynne , he played Herman Munster in "The Munsters" , if you ever watched that show .
You need to see more older movies...From the same early '90s period is a wonderful Bill Murray gem called Groundhog Day that you will probably love even more than this one.
Car shown spinning its one wheel in the mud while showing the other one stationary, lets the viewer know what later will be explained in the courtroom as posi traction vs non posi traction.
I saw this in the theater as a 16 year old with my mom in 1992, or whenever it was.... it was just one of those movies where when u go in u have no idea what to expect, and u leave just thinking “wow, that was great, just an instant little classic”.... i wish all movies u go into having no idea what to expect were this rewarding......great reaction, this movie will make people happy for generations to come:) theres really no reason not to expect it not to, its just quality, good stuff.
The film has the running gag that Vinnie can't get any sleep, due to all the noisy distractions that keep waking him up. Then you see him in jail, overnight, with prison riot sounds filling the air... and he sleeps like a baby. That scene caps off the "can't sleep" sequence, and puts all the previous scenes of the running joke into a reframe: It wasn't NOISE that was keeping Vinnie up; It was •UNFAMILIAR COUNTRY NOISES• that did it.(and/or noises that were sudden, loud bursts). As soon as he was surrounded by •Familiar City Noises• (like a prison riot) (or noises that weren't sudden, loud bursts, but rather ongoing), then he slept just fine! •••• The film introduces Mona Lisa Vito, in one of her unusual stylish outfits, and with the pink camera. One of the first things Vinnie says is, "She knows everything about cars." We later learn that that is true, but when he first says it, the info he provides is so mismatched with her image, that we're inclined to dismiss his statement as BS. Vinnie later bullshits a lot of people (including the judge, about his legal track record) so why should this be any different? It's one of the (MANY!) clever strengths of the script, that it plays with the audience's expectations - Mona Lisa Vito is an amazingly strong character!
Vinny sleeping well in prison is a NY joke: he can't adapt to the country noises, but all the racket in prison is just a normal night in Brooklyn, you know.... There are no villains in this story: the witnesses are under oath and believe they saw what they saw.
Marisa Tomei won Best Supporting Actress in this film.
Well deserved
And I never understood why people made fun of her for it.
Just came here to say this
@@bobfin Did anyone really make fun of her? There was the dumb rumor that Jack Palance read the wrong winner, but otherwise it's a widely praised performance.
Didn't really make fun of her, but there was a lot of criticism along the lines she didn't really deserve it, or didn't actually win (which stems from thinking she didn't deserve it) and then of course jokes were made about it. So they didn't make fun of her for winning, but made jokes like it was ridiculous she won. Given how every reactor is amazed by her performance when they watch this, I think is enough proof she deserved the win.
I think a lot of reactors miss that Vinnie finally decides to sleep in the jail, but because it is noisy - a continuous level of noise - like in Brooklyn, he finally gets a good night sleep.
Whoa! Good catch
I was going to write this exact thing..every reactor I have watched doing this film misses it.
I noticed that too. It's a good consistency to his character and background. Also, he probably has been in jail a few times in his youth so he was used to it.
Don't even get me started on how reactors---around 99%---miss how Emil recognized Murphy in RoboCop when every second grader back in 1987 knew immediately how. Sorry for the digression but that's how audiences are these days.
Familiar Types of noise is the difference. And that's real. We used to live where the train tracks ran right behind our back yard. When we first moved in there, it drove us nuts. And it would come through all odd hours of the night. 3am, 5am, there was no regular schedule. Amazingly after awhile you didn't even notice it, and would indeed sleep right through it.
You're legally required to give Marisa Tomei more praise than this
Seriously. Never seen anyone watch this movie and not rave over how great she is.
You're being sarcastic right? She praised her alot. Usually I can tell when someone's being sarcastic but I'm very tired.
Marisa won an Oscar for this movie and has gotten a lot of praise for her performance. I don't think she's lacking any praise.
'No, there's mo-ah!'
Are you serious? Listen to her (and watch her expression) just after 17:50.
“Please get the lunch option. I want to see what it is.”
THAT was the funniest thing I’ve ever heard someone say while reacting to this movie 😆
I love that the judge, prosecutor, and sheriff are all just trying to do their jobs and have legitimate reasons to be skeptical about Vinnie, even if they are a bit uncharitable. It’s a nice touch that the prosecutor was sick of getting guilty people off the hook so he switched from defense to prosecution.
And the case itself was a huge coincidence. Having another similarly looking duo in another similarly green convertible car show up minutes after? The chances, while not impossible, really don't fall into the realm of reasonable doubt.
Agreed! With the exception of the two other people who did the actual murder, there aren't any bad guys in this film. Maybe not very nice, but no one was lying or trying to cheat the system. And the prosecuting attorney was willing to dismiss the charges when they were proven innocent, instead of dragging it out. A friend of mine is a lawyer, and he said that, some of, his teachers would reference this movie for it's realism. One thing he related was that his teacher was a former prosecuting attorney and he was happy to lose a case when it was clear the defendant was innocent.
@@redrave404 You are a literalist. This is comedy. C-o-m-e-d-y.
Yep. This movie confirmed, even in my early days, that I had, have and will probably always crush over Marisa Tomei
I was crushing on her the moment she stepped out of the car and it is just as intense now as Aunt May.
Ditto. See her in The Wrestler (2008). She has a topless scene.
See her in " What Women Want ".
@@dudermcdudeface3674 Untamed Heart is an earlier topless scene.
You're not alone.
"What is a yute?" Is a line I quote with my Dad all the time! Such an outstanding movie, glad Vkunia enjoyed it 😊
That line was an accident. The director was talking to Pesci about the plot and got confused by how Pesci said youths, so he added it to the script
"What is a yute?" Someone who has attended or is a faculty member of the University of Utah.
It's an Australian pick-up truck.
The judge is played by Fred Gwynne who played Herman Munster in The Munsters tv show. He was also in Pet Sematary.
Marissa Tomei was also in a cute movie called *Oscar* with Sylvester Stallone and Tim Curry.
AND Marissa Tomei more recently played Aunt May with the new Spider-man
"oooh, oooh" he was also Officer Francis Muldoon in Car 54, where are you?
@@craigplatel813 I don't know why that tv show title is even funnier now.
Tim Curry is an underrated treasure. Clue is fantastic.
@@TheRubberDuck77 Are you sure? I saw Sally Fields playing Aunt May last.
"No self-respecting Southerner uses instant grits." An accurate statement.
Amen
Fuck southerners lol
I'm not even from the South, and I'd never make instant grits. The fuck are we Neanderthals?
@@brianmurphy8811 glad yall got the time to waste cooking "grits" for 20mins.
Vinny: How is it that it takes you 5 minutes to cook your grits when it take the entire grit eating world 20 minutes?
Witness: I use Instant Pot.
Vinny: No more questions.
One of the things I really like about this movie is that it takes a situation where two cultures kind of collide (rural South and urban North), with a lot of potential for misunderstanding. But the movie really shows that all the people who count are taking the situation seriously and trying to do the right thing. In the end, that's what really matters. Good-hearted people with integrity come in all cultures and walks of life.
Joe Pesci can play anything from screwball comedy to seriously frightening gangsters - one of the great actors of our time
casino ?
@@Metzwerg74 funny how?
@@bradmiller8517 read the OP
And don't forget a wise(cracking) mentor like in With Honors
@@Metzwerg74 I don't think you recognize the quote.
Still in love with Marisa. Strangest of all, Joe Pesci was a singer, and took up acting just until his music career took off. He's childhood friends with Frankie Vallie and members of the Four Seasons, and he introduced them to each other. After this movie, Joe released an album, but he does the entire album in character as Vinny. I'm not making this up.
"Why would you have a magician at a wedding?" I enjoy hearing new perspectives.
This is one of those movies that I saw so many times as a kid that I assumed it was just nostalgia and never realised how good it was until I watched it a couple of years back.
1. Judge would absolutely roast you for not wearing a suit. I had a judge roast me because he felt my belt color didn't match my suit properly.
2. There is no requirement to learn trial procedure in law school beyond writing briefs.
There is also no requirement on bar exams to show you know the particular court's procedures because every court is a little different.
P.S. Marisa Tomei, deservedly, won the Best Supporting Actress for her performance
+1. I would expect to catch hell for those outfits in any state or federal court I ever appeared in.
Judges take take the dignity of court very seriously. A lot of reactors think the judge was being rude, but in fact he's just acting like a judge.
And yes, mouthing off the to the judge is a bad idea...
Wisconsin does not require any attorney to take or pass the bar exam except to go to a state accredited ABA program.
Such a tight script. Anyone thats ever wanted to learn how to write a film script can just study this movie. Every moment in the film contributes to the characters and the plot in a succinct and meaningful way. Its great that you picked up on that. Classic comedy.
Marisa Tomei is so talented and incredibly funny.
not to mention drop dead gorgeous......and This is second only to Aunt May as her sexiest role.
@@musicandmoviefan9217 She has aged like the finest of wine 🍷 🧐
just say hot. Thats what you really mean.
I think The Wrestler was one of her sexiest roles.
@@musicandmoviefan9217 Fun Fact: she & RDJ were in a rom-com together: Only You (1994).
Absolutely hilarious. For a court drama movie...in which you know the ending, the replay value of this is insane to me. ⚖
Interestingly, when one of the you-tube lawyers did a commentary on 'courtroom drama' movies he was also very complimentary about this film for being accurate on how much of the courtroom process was actually true to life. More so than a lot of more serious courtroom dramas.
Aw you cut out "my biological clock is ticking like this". The best line of the movie. Good reaction.
I thought it was like a "swimming pool with chickens" lmao you just made my day 😂 love your reactions ♡
Hi Vicky!🙂I really needed a good comedy today, thank you!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽That is a young Marisa Tomei who you may no better as Aunt May from Spider-Man. The judge is Fred Gwynne, who was Herman Munster from the 60's TV sitcom "The Munsters". He played a character that looked similar to the Frankenstein Monster. The prosecuter, Lane Smith is probably best known as Perry White from the 90's TV series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman". GREAT reactions to this unique comedy, Vicky!!!🎬👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
And the Sherriff was Bruce McGill who played 'D-Day' in the cult classic 'Animal House'. :) Plus, dozens of those TV shows and movies. But to me, he will always be D-Day. LOL.
You could put together a fun film - Perry White leads a rag tag team of crime fighters featuring D-Day, Aunt May, Heman Munster, Harry Lime (the thief from Home Alone) and the Karate Kid...
@@kendric2000-q3d That's true. I believe Bruce McGill was also in the first and last episode of the original "Quantum Leap" series. Which is an unusual accomplishment. The movie "Time Cop" also stands out for me too.
@Thomas Harfst for me its jack dalton from macguiver, and the bartender/god from quantum leap
@@mikebrown7799 and the last episode
I have always loved how respectful Vinny was with Mrs. Riley. It really shows his character, and what a good person he is.
Marisa Tomei other wise known as Aunt May is a spectacular actress . Loved her in everything !!!!!!!!
She is the only reason I watch Wild Hogs every time they re-run it on TV.
She also did an amazing job in The Wrestler.
Before "Vinny," when she played college freshman Maggie in the first season of the sitcom "A Different World," it was clear that she had a great career ahead of her.
My wife and I still quote this movie every day 😂
The scene in the jail where Vinny sounded like "Bubba" was soooooo friggin hilarious, my favorite scene of the movie 😂😂😂
It's a minor part of the movie but the scene with the guy eating a chicken wing always gives me a chuckle and brings back a funny memory. Many years ago the team I worked with at Kodak all went out to lunch. We ordered buffalo wings as an appetizer. One of my teammates took 5 or 6 legs, laid them out on slice of bread, slapped on another slice of bread and began to eat it like a sandwich. We were all wondering about the bones because he just kept chowing down. 😂and then when he was completing done he simply spit them out one by one. I can't say I've ever seen anything like that since.
This is a great film to rewatch, it's so entertaining. Marissa Tomei won an Oscar for her performance in this movie. I never heard or knew what grits were when I watched this but now seek out shrimp and grits in various forms whenever I'm down south. Cheesy grits are awesome too.
"How was he dead asleep during that, what?" Two reasons: 1. The noise of the prison is almost like a constant white noise rather than the sudden noises Vinny kept experiencing that woke him out of a dead sleep, and 2. Vinny is from New York, at a time when it was pretty crime-ridden. He's used to sirens and people fighting in the streets more than owls and train whistle sounds - it's like he's home XD.
This is actually shown in some law schools as some of the best on-screen portrayals of actual courtroom procedure.
I don't know if someone already mentioned this but My Cousin Vinny is generally regarded by lawyers as one of the finest examples of cross examination ever shown in a movie. After his brilliantly goofball introduction, we see Vinny calmly and ruthlessly rip apart witness after witness in the correct manner. He never needs to prove the witnesses are wrong, just that there is reasonable doubt. And his use of an expert witness is textbook as well. Just a really well written screenplay.
Yep! This is a movie entrée for up and coming legal eagles. Sew the seeds of doubt and move on with the case.
This was filmed in middle Georgia in and around a tiny town called Monticello that was picked because of the historic courthouse on the square - you could still drive past the "Sac O' Suds" almost exactly as it was filmed until about 11 years ago when it shut down and got boarded up. It was reopened under the same name later but with several cosmetic changes, particularly the removal of the old gas pump island that was so central to winning the case.
I really like that there are no villains in this film. The judge, prosecutor, and sheriff aren't bad people, they are just mistaken. When they see their mistake, they do the right thing.
Marisa Tomei won an Oscar for best supporting actor for this role and has been amazing in anything she's been in since, including her role as Aunt May in Tom Holland's Spiderman movies. Glad you got see it, when I was growing up we used to say you're not a real New Yorker if you haven't seen My Cousin Vinny and A Bronx Tale
Thank you so much for your support!❤️❤️ but LOL, I guess I wasn’t a real New Yorker until now 😂
@@VKunia hey can you put gloves on and do a reaction to the movie anaconda
Nothing worse in this world than wasted talent!
Am I the only one who wishes Joe Pesci played Uncle Ben in the MCU based solely on this movie and his awesome chemistry with Marisa Tomei
That would've been beautiful
That's a terrible idea -- and I love it! 🙈
A well-deserved Oscar for Marisa Tomei. One of the most iconic roles ever. She knocked it out of the park and looked like a knockout doing it.
Her most iconic role would have to be playing herself on Seinfeld. She was dating George (go figure...).
I feel like most people were introduced to Joe Pesci through one of the mob movies he was in. I never liked mob movies, so I only knew him from comedic roles until I was much older. "My Cousin Vinny," "The Super," and "Home Alone" 1&2 were the ones I knew Joe Pesci from. This movie is my favorite thing I've ever seen him in. It's so cleverly written and quotable.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito is right up there with Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday and John Wayne as "The Quiet Man" or Carey Grant as "Father Goose".
This is one of those few movies that is top notch in all areas: casting, directing, writing, comedy, camera work, editing, pacing, music, wardrobe, set design, etc. I don't think there is any part of this movie that is lacking. This is one of my top favorite movies.
I think everyone in the country fell in love with Marisa Tomei when this movie was released. It's too bad she didn't become a bigger star. The deer hunting scene was awesome. I like how she wore a completely different outfit for every scene she was in.
Can you imagine what the kids of Vincent Laguardia Gambini and Mona Lisa Vito are going to be like?
You said you thought the judge looked familiar- he was played by Fred Gwynne, most famous for playing Herman Munster in the 60s tv show The Munsters. He's been in many shows and movies since then.
This is your best reaction yet. You really let your personality shine through. Loved it. You're so beautiful.
This one is a family favorite. My wife and I quote it all the time.
In our house, expect to get asked "how can you be sooo suurre?"
After watching this for year on TV, I finally watched it again with the swears. One of my favorite lines was when they wake up in the car and as Vinny is trying to get to the drivers seat, he yells "Dis F*ckin' jacket!"
RIP Fred Gwynne and Lane Smith. I've been a fan of Ralph Macchio since 1986. Also, I've been a fan of Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei since 1987. I was eight years old when this movie came out. Joe Pesci was 49, Marisa Tomie was 27, and Ralph Macchio was 30 when this film came out.
Loved Lane Smith in V and From the Earth to the Moon.
That explains the hostility said by the judge gets me every time , loved the reaction
Many lawyers say this is one of the most accurate court movies.
The defense expert testimony (eyebrows guy) was James Rebhorn. Movie and TV saw Rebhorn perform in SOOOO many supporting roles that my wife and I just call him 'that guy', as most people around in that era immediately know they know him, but few know his name.
This is one of my favorite comedies, and your reaction did not disappoint 😂That was delightful!! 😂
"How did he pass the Bar?"
Actual courtroom procedure is not tested on the bar exam. If any procedure is on the exam, it is civil procedure - usually about filing deadlines. The bar exam takes place over two days. There is a multi-state part which is tested at the same day and time across the country. Then, either the day before or the day after, the state-specific portion of the exam is tested. The multi-state portion is multiple choice and covers Common Law as well as model codes. The state-specific part is up to each state, but it usually the test is in essay form and tests the particular laws of the state. States that have a major metropolitan area on the border tend to cooperate such that one state will do its exam the day before the multi-state, and the other will hold its exam the day after. This way, an attorney can practice law throughout the metro area because he is licensed in both states (e.g. Kansas and Missouri for Kansas City, Maryland and Virginia for Washington DC, New York and New Jersey, Missouri and Illinois for St. Louis, Washington and Oregon for Portland).
What one needs to understand is that the bar exam is graded on a curve. The purpose isn't really to test legal competence, but rather to serve as a barrier to entry to keep legal fees high. Thus, the same quality of answers could result in a pass one year but a fail the next depending on how good the pool of aspiring attorneys are taking the same exam. That said, failing five times is a bit much. Real legal skills are learned on the job. Back in the day, a person wanting to be a lawyer would join a law firm as a clerk, then as the lawyers there got to know him and evaluate his ability, he would be admitted to the bar, similar to how an apprentice electrician becomes a journeyman electrician. Naturally, this system ends up creating a closed profession, the entry into which is based upon *who* one knows rather than *what* one knows. This is the sort of thing that Americans tend not to like, so we created a system in which a state would have a test to ensure minimum competency and allow anyone who passed to practice law (see, e.g. Abraham Lincoln). When this system was established, people who wanted to be lawyers would study on their own by "reading law." Later, somebody got the idea to create course of instruction to prepare people to take the exam, and law schools were born. Now however, law school itself is also a barrier to entry. Something like 48 states require a degree from an ABA accredited law school to even sit for the exam. Moreover, law schools have become more "academic." Law professors used to be practicing attorneys who would teach classes and share their real-life experience with the students. Articles in law reviews were written when the author actually had something to say. Now, law schools have full-time professors who generally don't actually practice law, and who may or may not have done so in the past. There is a pressure to publish, and stuff like "Law and Literature" were added to the class offerings. As a result, a student with a JD *still* needs to sign up for and attend a bar prep course (the most common one is BarBri) as a practical matter, which makes one wonder what the purpose of law school is today.
The witnesses weren't out to get them. They were just saying what they thought they saw. They did indeed hear a gun go off and then saw two men get into a green convertible. The whole point is to demonstrate the shortcomings of eyewitness testimony. The prosecutor as well wasn't personally out for them. He was just a good lawyer doing his job as best he could. As soon as he was presented with evidence that clearly showed they weren't guilty they dismissed the charges.
It's one of the best things about this film. They didn't feel the need to make anyone corrupt or a villain. Everyone seems basically good and decent.
The best part about the characters is that the film sets up that they'll be villains, but when you get right down to it, they actually are honest and honorable. They're antagonists, but only doing their job. Once Vinny successfully blew up the prosecution's case, they were gracious and dropped the charges without argument.
This is the movie that put Marissa Tomei on the map. And you're right, she was absolutely GORGEOUS (hell, she's STILL gorgeous).
The thing about a small diner like that is the best restaurants actually have a small menu. If you have a lot of different items on the menu, it means they're likely working with frozen food that were probably pre-cooked. However if you have a short menu, it means that almost everything is going to be cooked right then and there from fresh ingredients.
The focus on legal procedures in this movie is SO good, that it's STILL by law schools to teach them to this day. The biggest outright mistake is when the judge overrules Vinny's objection to the surprise witness. Not only was his argument lucid, intelligent, and well thought-out, it was also RIGHT. Vinny would have had grounds. And if Vinny hadn't screwed up the arraignment and pretrial he probably could have gotten the case dismissed altogether over the confusion at the beginning with the charges.
The Public Defender made a critical error: You NEVER ask the witness a question on the stand that you don't already know the answer to. Vinny, however, did his homework with the seemingly innocuous questions he was asking while interviewing the witnesses before the trial.
Fun fact: Joe Pesci was thought by many to be too old for Marisa Tomei as the love interest. To make Pesci look younger the make-up artists for the film gave him an artificial face lift: they used tape to pull back his face skin getting rid of wrinkles. There are some closeups of Pesci's face in the movie where you can actually see the crease mark just to the left of his ear where the tape is pulling back the skin.
I thought the age difference was a little odd at first but as the movie went along their chemistry was so good that it didn't bother me. They did a decent job at de-aging Pesci but you could still tell that he was about 15-20 years older than her. Tomei came off as someone who had been around a lot longer than she looked. Her backstory was that she worked as a mechanic for years and then did hairdressing for a while. Additionally, she and Pesci had been together for an unspecified amount of time but I'm guessing about 10 years. And with her tough attitude and life experiences, her character was around 40 years old, but her youthful appearance still said mid-20's. It should not have worked but strangely it did.
@@SurvivorBri
Yes, she (the character) just looked young for her age. She was old enough to have a niece that was getting married and also said that she and Vinny agreed to get married after he won his first case and that agreement had been made 10 years ago. Not sure how long they had dated before talking about marriage.
"...Now that the owl's not out...." Right. I guess he went inside to get out of the rain, lol.
"he looks familiar"
The judge was Fred Gwynne.
Known to most of my generation as Herman Munster.
She won an academy award for this performance.
The judge was played by Fred Gwynne is his last role. He was so well-known for “The Munsters” and “Car 54, Where Are You?” that it took a lot of people years and years to remember he could do other kinds of roles. Perhaps you saw him in “Pet Sematary” or “Fatal Attraction”.
Most convertibles of that era don’t stow the top when it’s down; they bundle up down at the rear. You can still tell what colour the top is when they are down.
One of my favorite movies to see someone watch for the first time.... you're gonna love it!!
the judge is played by Fred Gwen. an enormously talented actor.
Frederick Hubbard Gwynne was an American actor, artist, and author widely known for his roles in the 1960s television sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? as Francis Muldoon and as Herman Munster in The Munsters, as well as his later film roles in The Cotton Club, Pet Sematary, and My Cousin Vinny.
After serving in the United States Navy as a radioman during World War II, he went on to Harvard, where he majored in English and was on the staff of the "Harvard Lampoon". At Harvard, he studied drawing with artist R.S. Merryman and was active in dramatics.
One other thing is that small towns in rural areas exist in every single state in the Union, so this movie could've taken place anywhere in America. As someone who lives in one of those small towns, let me tell you that I recognize each and every local depicted in this film: the sheriff, the judge, the prosecuting attorney, the witnesses, even the clerk who was shot and killed. Those people are part of my community, and they were written with exquisite accuracy by Dale Launer. Good screenwriters don't get enough credit for what they do. Good actors bring great characters to life, but a good screenwriter has to first create them and make sure they're _true-to-life,_ or the movie will fail.
During that hearing of evidence, Vinny is ostensibly allowed to talk, but that’s not typical in all jurisdictions. In fact, the defendents are often absent for that. Vinny’s role in many states is merely to observe.
"A pool with chickens in them." The inside of your mind must be fun! ha. I just learned today that chickens are the worst swimmers among birds because their feathers soak up the water like a sponge then they drown.
I remember watching the judge in the sixties playing Herman Munster on the hit tv show, The Munsters. Such an underrated romantic, legal comedy.
Car 54 as well
@@shawnmiller4781 you’re right, I forgot about that show. I was 7.😂
Southern boy here. I can attest that properly made grits, while simple, can be absolutely fantastic.
35 minutes, now thats a proper reaction that MCV deserves. Well done
This movie made we want to try grits too, Vicky. They're basically the sister to mashed potatoes in the south and are legitimately great when made the right way- cheese, bacon, chives is my favorite
I love grits with breakfast, and I'm fine with just butter, salt & pepper on them. However, if I were having grillades & grits, for instance, that cheese, bacon & chive combo sounds freakin' awesome.
They are like the southern answer to oatmeal for breakfast.
It became a staple with poor farmers, because oats were too expensive and usually reserved for high-quality horse feed.
It's made from white hominy corn, dried and flaked. Since it essentially has no taste much like rice, you flavor it with butter, salt and pepper for the basic dish - but it's almost endlessly adaptable cheese, gravy, honey, shrimp, etc. It can be turned into a dinner dish easily as well for various Cajun or Creole recipes.
Had to watch your reaction to this. I knew you would love it but was so much fan to watch your attitude change as the movie progressed. 😄
@26:25 A lot of people don't get this part, and the trap that the prosecutor very neatly set for Vinny. The judge points out that it is a **well thought-out** objection... which means he DID have notice about the witness, which means that his argument that he didn't have notice is incorrect.
Great reaction as always. :)
The judge, Fred Gwynn, was Herman Munster off the 50s TV show "The Munsters".
If you've ever had polenta, you've had grits. Also, lawyers LOVE this film.
Great reaction and EXCELLENT editing!
The judge is famous for the sitcom The Munsters. Fred Gwynn played Herman Munster. His family included two vampires, a witch, and a teenage average girl.
He's also in Pet Sematary.
I've heard that the night at the cabin he was supposed to get good sleep, but an owl happened to come by and screech during the night shoot so they changed the script
Fred Gwynne was the judge, in the 1960's he played Herman Munster in the TV show, the Munsters.
Grits is like the southern version of Oatmeal
You mean polenta
He was dead asleep in jail because he’s from New York. That noise made him feel like he was home.
"Did he come here to roast him? Is that what judges do?"
According to my lawyer girlfriend... Yes, yes it is.
You should absolutely try grits! A little butter, salt, and pepper, they're amazing.
Grits and polenta are very, very similar, both corn grits, yellow or white, larger or smaller grinds. Grits are usually looser, served with just butter, salt, maybe pepper and honey. You can do savory grits, with cheese, say, but they aren't usually as herbal or stiff as polenta. You can do a lot of similar recipes with farina, too.
Another great reaction. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's one of those that if I see it on and I'm flipping through the channels I have to stop on it. Looking as beautiful as ever, by the way.
The Judge is played by Fred Gwynn who played Herman Munster in the tv show The Munsters
First person I've seen react to this that mentioned how their top was down. Nobody ever questions that detail
If you think that you recognize the judge from somewhere , that's Fred Gwynne , he played Herman Munster in "The Munsters" , if you ever watched that show .
Vkunia - the Judge is Fred Guyine , he played Herman munster, in the Munsters tv show.
My favorite line: "It's called discosah, D**khead!"
You had me laughing as hard as the movie did 😂😂😂
A swimming pool of chickens. That made my day. 😂😂
This is a fantastic movie. Thanks for the great reaction.
You're cat seems unhappy its over.
"a swimming pool with chickens" OMG 😂😂😂😳
You need to see more older movies...From the same early '90s period is a wonderful Bill Murray gem called Groundhog Day that you will probably love even more than this one.
Car shown spinning its one wheel in the mud while showing the other one stationary, lets the viewer know what later will be explained in the courtroom as posi traction vs non posi traction.
Marissa Tormei won an academy award for supporting actress for this movie
You were talking about how much sass was going on in the movie, and then kitty cat had to chime in, as if on cue, because cats are the sassiest.
The judge was Herman Munster back in the '60s. Marisa Tomei in this is absolutely gorgeous.
I saw this in the theater as a 16 year old with my mom in 1992, or whenever it was.... it was just one of those movies where when u go in u have no idea what to expect, and u leave just thinking “wow, that was great, just an instant little classic”.... i wish all movies u go into having no idea what to expect were this rewarding......great reaction, this movie will make people happy for generations to come:) theres really no reason not to expect it not to, its just quality, good stuff.
Awesome reaction! You got all the best parts in the movie
The film has the running gag that Vinnie can't get any sleep, due to all the noisy distractions that keep waking him up.
Then you see him in jail, overnight, with prison riot sounds filling the air... and he sleeps like a baby.
That scene caps off the "can't sleep" sequence, and puts all the previous scenes of the running joke into a reframe: It wasn't NOISE that was keeping Vinnie up; It was •UNFAMILIAR COUNTRY NOISES• that did it.(and/or noises that were sudden, loud bursts). As soon as he was surrounded by •Familiar City Noises• (like a prison riot) (or noises that weren't sudden, loud bursts, but rather ongoing), then he slept just fine!
••••
The film introduces Mona Lisa Vito, in one of her unusual stylish outfits, and with the pink camera. One of the first things Vinnie says is, "She knows everything about cars." We later learn that that is true, but when he first says it, the info he provides is so mismatched with her image, that we're inclined to dismiss his statement as BS. Vinnie later bullshits a lot of people (including the judge, about his legal track record) so why should this be any different? It's one of the (MANY!) clever strengths of the script, that it plays with the audience's expectations - Mona Lisa Vito is an amazingly strong character!
I've seen a lot of reactions to this movie and you're the first one who noticed the top of their convertible was down!
Vinny sleeping well in prison is a NY joke: he can't adapt to the country noises, but all the racket in prison is just a normal night in Brooklyn, you know....
There are no villains in this story: the witnesses are under oath and believe they saw what they saw.
Peter Parker’s aunt really aged well! And who knew his uncle was a Lawyer xD
Marisa Tomi won and academy award for her part in this movie.
“I think you’re gonna be really great…… ifff, ya don’t fuck up!”
Perfect example of why you always ask for a lawyer before speaking to the police ever. Nothing wrong with having an advocate that knows the system.