while i have never turn 180 degree about a movie and my cousin vinny be a rare example of one that significantly grow on me over time . back in 1993 and i expect the film to quickly fade from memory . now it year later and and i be still quote it line . i will be prepare breakfast and when the word spring to the surface of my mind and no self respect southerner use instant grit . i smile at the memory . this movie get me into eat grit and but not the kind that would qualify me a a self respect southerner . this be a movie define more by small moment than by big event . plotwise and it fairly routine . but the small moment make all the difference . too many hollywood comedy get hang up on the initial inspiration and then end up flat . i have more respect for a film that take an old worn idea and make it work . recently and i view the original trailer on youtube . a trailer often do and it highlight the movie very few pratfall represent joe pesci slip in the mud and joe pesci punch a guy on the street and joe pesci come to court dress in a ridiculous suit . though market a slapstick and the actual film be almost entirely dialogue driven . it the type of comedy where most of the character be intelligent but still end up at each other throat because of difference in personality and background . the movie concern two new york college student ( ralph macchio and mitchell whitfield ) who stop at a convenience store in alabama shortly before a murder take place . they inadvertently take a can of tuna fish without pay and and when theyre pull over a murder suspect and they end up confess to a crime they do not even realize theyre be charge with and because of carefully parse conversation aid by their paranoia about the rough and tumble justice of the south . this whole opening sequence sound funny than it play out . but then pesci and a macchio cousin vinny and arrive in town to defend the kid . much of the film take place outside the courtroom and a vinny interacts with the local and bicker with his fiancée ( marisa tomei ) . there be a strong enough human element that the film may appeal to those who do not normally enjoy legal comedy . with it elaborate plot contrivance and a movie like this have a danger of seem cartoonish . it avoid that fate partly because of a cleverly write screenplay and but even more because of the warm performance . over the year and movie buff have make it a sport to bash tomei performance . i consider that highly unfair . she sparkle in this role and display much chemistry with pesci despite be more than twenty year young and a fact the movie somehow make invisible . i suspect that most people would agree with me if not for her have receive a surprising oscar and follow by persistent ( though implausible ) rumor that an old and senile jack palance have call out the wrong name . people tend to over criticize thing they feel be over rat . the other performance be equally crucial . fred gwynne judge be a stock character the hard nosed authority figure whom we gradually come to respect . but with his know smile and gwynne occupy the role so engagingly that he transcend the stereotype . lane smith play the da a someone who would seem like a decent guy if not for our knowledge that he jeopardize two innocent life base on circumstantial evidence . that the movie avoids caricature be one of it attraction . but pesci carry the film . early performance of his the pesky sidekick in lethal weapon 2 and the burglar in home alone and and the crazy gangster in goodfellas and which earn him an oscar might not have predict that he could play lead and even in a comedy . he manage to create a danny devito sort of character and a funny little guy who shrewd and but infectiously likable . there be barely a hint of his psycho image here and except in one of the movie funniest scene and when the kid who unrelated to vinny see him come toward the jail cell and think he a rapist . the movie do a good job depict vinny strength and weakness a an attorney . his lack of courtroom experience and a fact he try to conceal from the judge and provide for some laugh . the conceit be that he very good at what he do and once he get go . with pesci in command of the screen and this theme manage to work . a scene where he uncover the fatal flaw in a tough but disingenuous witness testimony be execute with such beautiful timing that it seem to depend almost entirely on pesci presence a less actor could have easily screw it up and no matter how good the script sound . the movie be not perfect . a i mention before and it never really take off until pesci appear . a sequence feature austin pendleton a an incompetent public defender be overdone and drag . and the movie climax involve detail a bit too technical to be appropriate for a comedy . but the heart of the film be in the relationship represent the romantic tension between pesci and tomei and and the cultural tension between them and the local all of it charm and all of it result in hilarious payoff .