I felt this film couldn't decide if it was a comedy or a courtroom drama. It's an okay movie (B/B-) which could've been better if it took itself more seriously. There are the more dramatic elements in which two young Italians are accused of murder in the rural South. They call the only person they know out New York, their older cousin fresh out of law school. So the premise is pretty serious but the script still needed a lot of work. The story sort of u-turns when Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci) arrives on the scene and then a lot of the movies becomes nearly an SNL-type comedy.
The comedy of Pesci as a streetwise urban punk-turned-criminal-attorney, Vinny, sort of works. He seemed to be a reprise of his role as Tommy in "Goodfellas". If Tommy hadn't been assassinated and went to law school instead, maybe we get Vinny. However some of the comedy seemed very forced and over-the-top which were at times a bit unbelievable. During several scenes Vinny is disrespectful in court and gets a few nights in the slammer. I started getting tired of it happening over and over again.
What saves this film is Marisa Tormei who snagged a Best Supporting Actress statuette for her work. She is more believable than any of the other characters. She also is good spoiler/straight man against the wild Pesci/Vinny. So if the film had decided to be a bit more sober, simply telling the story of street-punk-turned-attorney and his intelligent assistant the film would have worked a lot better. The comedy could still derive from that premise. To its credit, the story gets a bit better during about the last third or quarter, but still a one-watch to be sure.
The comedy of Pesci as a streetwise urban punk-turned-criminal-attorney, Vinny, sort of works. He seemed to be a reprise of his role as Tommy in "Goodfellas". If Tommy hadn't been assassinated and went to law school instead, maybe we get Vinny. However some of the comedy seemed very forced and over-the-top which were at times a bit unbelievable. During several scenes Vinny is disrespectful in court and gets a few nights in the slammer. I started getting tired of it happening over and over again.
What saves this film is Marisa Tormei who snagged a Best Supporting Actress statuette for her work. She is more believable than any of the other characters. She also is good spoiler/straight man against the wild Pesci/Vinny. So if the film had decided to be a bit more sober, simply telling the story of street-punk-turned-attorney and his intelligent assistant the film would have worked a lot better. The comedy could still derive from that premise. To its credit, the story gets a bit better during about the last third or quarter, but still a one-watch to be sure.