The film has been praised by lawyers as one of the more realistic movies about the justice system and the lawyer profession, and certainly one of the most successful ones at drawing humor from a courtroom setting (35th anniversary)

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 19, 2022

...a minor gem of a movie, without pretention, but smart and clever in the way the narrative brings all sides together in the on-going search for justice....

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 12, 2022

While it certainly does feed into some stereotypes, it seems to do so with a certain amount of affection.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 17, 2020

Thanks to director Lynn's own legal expertise, a level of authenticity amusingly lingers amidst the drama, clever personas, alluring storyline, and convivial performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Sep 16, 2020

In My Cousin Vinny, a careless miscarriage of justice serves as the premise for a courtroom comedy that is funnier than it has any right to be.

Full Review | Oct 9, 2019

My Cousin Vinny proves that well-written and superbly delivered jokes belong in comedies.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 6, 2019

My Cousin Vinny slumps badly as the courtroom scenes drag on; but when Tomei is on screen, even the jury wakes up.

Full Review | Jan 4, 2018

Vinny is a winning character and Pesci's performance as the beleaguered litigant is terrific - cranked yet cuddly.

Full Review | Mar 13, 2017

The undercurrent of fish-out-of-water silliness goes a long way towards perpetuating the affable atmosphere...

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 24, 2015

With such canny scene-stealers as Gwynne, Smith, Pendleton, McGill and Chaykin filling out the cast, it is very hard for My Cousin Vinny to go wrong, and indeed, for the purpose of pleasant Saturday night entertainment, it does not.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 30, 2014

Marisa Tomei, as Vinny's fiance, imbues the most obligatory reactions with either a startling ferocity or a farcical ambiguity worthy of her character's name: Mona Lisa Vito.

Full Review | Apr 30, 2014

The movie sags as Vinny sets out to demolish the patently shaky case and dubious witnesses for the prosecution. Pesci does his best, but a lawyer's suit on him becomes a straitjacket.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 30, 2014

As Vincent Gambini, a swaggering pint-sized New York lawyer who only recently passed the bar on his sixth try, Pesci modulates his usual psycho-nuttiness and gives it some recognizably human, even melancholy, undertones.

Full Review | Apr 30, 2014

Nothing makes a moviegoer feel more isolated than sitting stony-faced through a comedy that makes the rest of the audience laugh and cheer.

Full Review | Apr 30, 2014

The pacing is brisk and the energy of the performances is so palpable that even at its silliest and most contrived, the film is enjoyable.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 30, 2014

My Cousin Vinny is a hoot.

Full Review | Apr 30, 2014

The regional stereotypes in Dale Launer's broad script aren't so laudable, but the on-screen talent merits a retrial: Tomei talks up a storm and Pesci terrorises thinly spread gags into near-shape.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 30, 2014

For all of its grossly stereotypical characterizations and cheap laughs, My Cousin Vinny does benefit from Pesci's characteristically energetic performance. And co-star Tomei looks very nice in a clinging blue dress with gold lame applique.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 30, 2014

I don't want to oversell My Cousin Vinny. It's hardly brilliant. But it's easygoing and occasionally quite funny and ultimately satisfying.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 30, 2014

[An] enjoyable fish-out-of-water comedy.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 30, 2014