Product Details

• Actors: Suzi Bass, Michael Burgess, Maury Chaykin, Bill Coates, J. Don Ferguson
• Format: Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: July 25, 2000
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000SFOW8I
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,624 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Two carefree pals (Ralph Macchio and Mitchell Whitfield) traveling through Alabama are mistakenly arrested, and charged with murder. Fortunately, one of them has a cousin who's a lawyer - Vincent Gambini (Joe Pesci, Lethal Weapon 3, Home Alone), a former auto mechanic from Brooklyn who just passed his bar exam after his sixth try. Vinny's never been in court - or in Alabama - and when he arrives with his leather-clad girlfriend (Marisa Tomei in her OscarÂ(r) winning Supporting Actress performance), to try his first case, it's a real shock - for him and the Deep South!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feel Good Comedy About "City Slickers" Colliding With "Southern Bumpkins" In Courtroom "Drama", June 12, 2008

By	Dr. Karl O. Edwards (Helena, Montana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I cautiously first went to see "My Cousin Vinny" when Marisa Tomei won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, because--unlike many people--I don't like Joe Pesci. I still don't like Joe Pesci, BUT the role of Vincent LaGuardia Gambini in "My Cousin Vinny" is perfect for him, and his performance is stellar. For me Joe Pesci is Vincent Gambini and Vincent Gambini is Joe Pesci. And, it was my opinion when I first saw "My Cousin Vinny," as it is now after watching the DVD I just got, that Marisa Tomei more than deserved the Oscar. It is my opinion, moreover, that many times award winning performances are discredited by viewers because the actor is performing so well that it appears they are not acting at all. (Please note that I count myself among those who see the Oscars as politically driven; so, when I agree with them--which is seldom--I am truly standing up to be counted).

The product description does a fair job of describing the story outline; although it hardly makes "My Cousin Vinny" sound nearly as funny as it is. But the movie is about more than two kids from the city mistakenly arrested for murder in (the implicitly implied "redneck") Alabama. The film is a light-hearted study of culture clashes, where all characters have stereotypical traits and stereotype the other characters themselves. The movie is also about assumptions--along with the inherent danger of such--and how the "meaning" of these assumptions vary with regards to experience and socialization. "My Cousin Vinny" also examines gender roles--and it is here that Tomei shines--and education/science versus experience and common knowledge. But, most importantly, "My Cousin Vinny" demonstrates the importance of "doing the right thing," regardless of the consequences (and in some cases the legality of the action). Pesci's character finally "gets it," and is able to find his way; but only through the assistance of Tomei's character and the trust of Billy Gambini (inconsistently performed by Ralph Macchio).

As for the other reviewer's triad about the language in this DVD version of the movie, as compared to the bleeped television version, I have these comments: 1) the movie is rated "R," which should have informed you about the probability of profanity; 2) while it may seem like there is a lot of profanity in the movie, it is completely applicable to the way these characters would actually speak--and I suspect that there is actually less profanity than it sounds like; 3) when "My Cousin Vinny" was made (1992), most movies were moving towards increased use of profanity--especially "R" rated movies; and 4) is overt profanity that much worse than suggested or ribald "comedy?" Moreover, just how does the sudden inclusion of (generally appropriately used) profanity into any dialog--films or otherwise--change the humor or make it no longer funny? In fact, I personally hear just as much, if not more, profanity used by children, teenagers, adults, and seniors at the store than in the movie; which I believe is gross misuse of profanity, but is the way of life today. For me, and I am sure many others, a great funny movie, is a great funny movie in spite of the language. Remember, there was a day when movies couldn't even rely on language to be funny.

Now for the mystery I am having trouble understanding: Why is this version of the DVD/VHS not being lumped together with the other versions with regards to reviews? To date (12 June 2008), there is only one review listed for this version, while there are 129 reviews for the other version currently available. This is so uncharacteristic of Amazon! And, in near ultimate irony, it appears that there is no difference between this version and the other "lower priced" (I got mine when it was sale) version, other than the fact that this version has a gold cardboard slipcase (the box inside is exactly like the other one) and the listing has the wrong actors!

Update--1 July 2008: If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all-time favorite movies!, June 24, 2009

By	Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

When New Yorkers Billy Gambini (played by Ralph Macchio) and Stan Rothenstein (Mitchell Whitfield) are wrongly accused of murder in Beechum County, Alabama, they call in a lawyer they know - Vincent "Vinny" Gambini (Joe Pesci). He knows how to argue and how to get to the truth, but as a very-newly minted lawyer, does he really know what he's doing? Everyone seems to take an instant dislike to this smooth-talking city-slicker, but Vinny isn't going to let anything come in the way of his proving the boys' innocence.

Well, I must admit that this is one of my all-time favorite movies. On the down-side, and it is a big down-side, the swearing in this movie is strong and almost non-stop, with the f-bomb being thrown around like confetti on New Year's Eve. But, in spite of this, the movie is so well-made that you can't help but like it.

Joe Pesci is great, of course, but the rest of the cast carries their own weight, making ever scene in the movie really work. Marisa Tomei does an excellent job as Vinny's fiancé Ms. Mona Lisa Vito, and Fred Gwynne brings in a stellar performance in his last major role - Judge Chamberlain Haller. Plus, I found the storyline to be non-stop funny, and the mystery to be quite interesting.

Yep, this is one of my favorite movies, and I think it will be adored by audiences for many years to come. With the movie's language it's not for children, but it definitely is for everyone else!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A favorite movie, November 24, 2008

By	Research Fanatic - See all my reviews

The perfect cast, including Ralph Macchio, Joe Pesci and Marissa Tomei, are fantastic in this comedy about two college students from New York who are accused of murder. The only lawyer they can find to defend them is cousin Vinny Gambino (Pesci), an auto mechanic turned attorney who just passed the bar six weeks before. Yes, there is a lot of foul language and wise-cracking, but the tenderness and loyalty in the relationships in the movie are charming.