this be the best way for joe pesci to follow up goodfellas and jfk . those two be ultra serious role for him and to forray into comedy be perfect . it be a perfect role and perfect timing and a perfect opportunity to show people that he could play something other than the heavy or the bad guy . my cousin vinny be really just a distant cousin of his character in goodfellas anyway . just imagine one of the guy in goodfellas that do not want to follow in the footstep of the rest of the gangster and this be him . vinny be a foul mouth and sometime violent and insecure but smart man . he go to law school but take six attempt before he pass the bar . they be definitely similar character . the difference be that goodfellas be a serious film with a funny side and my cousin vinny be an absolutely hilarious film with a somewhat serious side . what make the film work as well a it do and be many thing . first of all you have the fish out of water scenario with vinny and his fiancee lisa and wear leather jacket and cowboy boot down in the south where it seem everyone be wear overall and they hang out in establishment where their best selling feature be chicken and pool . you also have a great support cast that feature lane smith a a very animated d. a. that have to hammer home every point to his jury like they be moron . he say the word truth be a word that come down from england where all of our ancestor come and and look at him incredulously be some of the black jury member . fred gwynne supply some of the best comedy for the film with his constant badgering of vinny . everything from his suit and to his enunciation of word like youts and to his court room impropriety to his just plain dislike of him . gwynne and pesci be so opposite a people . gwynne be a giant of a man with a southern drawl and a long and virile face while pesci be a short man with a distinct new yawk slur and a pudgy and baby look face . they be complete opposite and much of the hilarity come from their inability to see eye to eye on many thing . it also have to say that marisa tomei be brilliant in this film . there be people out there that try to demean her oscar triumph that year because the favourite do not win like anticipated . but her performance here be nothing short of oscar worthy . she be a gifted actress and her comedic timing in this film be bang on and or a she would say and dead on ball accurate . this be one of the funnier film to come out in the 90 and it be well worth see again . positive .