My Cousin Vinny is a perfect movie. It’s a masterclass in comedy w/ Joe Pesci and OSCAR WINNER Marisa Tomei. Yet—it hasn’t had a recent BluRay release, it’s not taught in film school (s/o to Jeff Cox in Screenwriting II), it’s not streaming. Let’s talk about it. #ZacksMovieClub 
Written/Produced by Dale Launer, directed by Jonathan Lynn, starring Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio, and Mitchell Whitfield; with Fred Gwynne, Lane Smith, and Bruce McGill in hilarious support roles. The film is “a comedy of trial and errors,” literally.
Two things. One: I’m today years old that you can’t screenshot Amazon Prime or Apple TV. So thanks @IMDb for the photos. And B: I’m winging it here so if you like it, let me know! Comment in the thread with what’s working for you and we’ll do more #ZacksMovieClub. Ok here we go…
I love the use of all three types of IRONY: dramatic, verbal, and situational. If you need a refresher, idk, use context clues in this thread? It’s too much to get into right now. But I love how sharp the writing is here. Every joke in the first half pays off again by the end.
You know I’m a structure nerd, so here are the 8 sequences of My Cousin Vinny. Gonna go through each one.
ACT 1, SEQUENCE 1
“I Shot The Clerk?!”
We meet Bill and Stan, two NYU grads on a cross country trip to UCLA via the South.
Situational Irony: the guys accidentally steal a can of tuna from a convenience store, and they get arrested in a high stakes, gun-drawn showdown.
“I Shot The Clerk?!”
We meet Bill and Stan, two NYU grads on a cross country trip to UCLA via the South.
Situational Irony: the guys accidentally steal a can of tuna from a convenience store, and they get arrested in a high stakes, gun-drawn showdown.
Inciting Incident: we learn the guys are actually being booked for murder, and not shoplifting.
Bill and Stan finally learn it too, and they accidentally confess to killing the convenience store clerk via accidental wordplay and misunderstanding.
Now we need: MY COUSIN VINNY!
Bill and Stan finally learn it too, and they accidentally confess to killing the convenience store clerk via accidental wordplay and misunderstanding.
Now we need: MY COUSIN VINNY!
ACT 1, SEQUENCE 2
“Mud In The Tires”
We meet Vinny and Lisa. We learn about grits, mud in the tires, and how dismissive Vinny is of Lisa’s suggestions. Clearly there’s no Chinese food in Alabama.
Vinny meets with Bill and Stan to discuss taking on the case. Vinny’s a rookie.
“Mud In The Tires”
We meet Vinny and Lisa. We learn about grits, mud in the tires, and how dismissive Vinny is of Lisa’s suggestions. Clearly there’s no Chinese food in Alabama.
Vinny meets with Bill and Stan to discuss taking on the case. Vinny’s a rookie.
Verbal Irony — in true precision of dialogue, Stan thinks Vinny is there as a new cell mate, and Vinny, acknowledging he’s a rookie lawyer working for free, tells Stan he’s “getting fucked one way or another.”
It was the 90’s. But that doesn’t make it any less brilliant.
It was the 90’s. But that doesn’t make it any less brilliant.
Turn Into Act 2:
Bill and Stan are on trial for murder. It took Vinny six times to pass the bar and he’s never done a trial before. We’re fucked.
Bill and Stan are on trial for murder. It took Vinny six times to pass the bar and he’s never done a trial before. We’re fucked.
ACT 2, SEQUENCE 3
“Guilty or Not Guilty?”
The Fun & Games are afoot! Vinny comes face to face with his two main antagonists: Judge Chamberlain Howell, a no-nonsense by-the-book judge; and Jim Trotter, a smooth talking DA.
“Guilty or Not Guilty?”
The Fun & Games are afoot! Vinny comes face to face with his two main antagonists: Judge Chamberlain Howell, a no-nonsense by-the-book judge; and Jim Trotter, a smooth talking DA.
Through more misunderstanding of the two very different English languages being spoken and his complete incompetence, Vinny gets himself thrown into jail for failing to state whether Bill & Stan are guilty or not guilty.
It’s all wordplay. Every joke is just misunderstood words!
It’s all wordplay. Every joke is just misunderstood words!
Multiple running jokes are established here including, “a judge that’s just aching to throw me in jail, and idiot who wants to fight me for two hundred dollars, slaughtered pigs, giant loud whistles, I got no money, and a dress code problem.”
If you’re a fan, you know…
If you’re a fan, you know…
ACT 2, SEQUENCE 4
“You Know You Can Ask Questions, Don’t You, Vin?”
The preliminary hearing is underway and we meet the key witnesses. Their stories are ironclad. Vinny doesn’t cross examine them (cause he doesn’t know he can). When he does learn this, he asks odd questions.
“You Know You Can Ask Questions, Don’t You, Vin?”
The preliminary hearing is underway and we meet the key witnesses. Their stories are ironclad. Vinny doesn’t cross examine them (cause he doesn’t know he can). When he does learn this, he asks odd questions.
Little do we know, it’s those exact oddities that are going to solve the case for him. That’s what I mean when I say “the second shoe drops.” All the breadcrumbs are hidden in plain sight, but it’s not until later that all these jokes pay off until a later, more satisfying way.
We also learn that Stan, concerned about Vinny’s ineptitude, hires the public defender to represent him. It’s an important subplot that comes back in a stupidly-nonsensical way. Just like every “serious” situation in this film.
I can’t overstate how incredible Marisa Tomei is throughout this entire first act and a half. She’s the true heart in this film, as both a comedic foil to Vinny but also the emotional truth that anchors us in the absurdity. She’s loving, affectionate, but smart and sharp as fuck.
The Midpoint:
“Imagine You’re A Deer.”
Vinny tries and fails and tries and fails but finally we have a breakthrough: he was able to smooth talk country-boy AD Jim Trotter, who offered to give him his files.
Dramatic Irony: there’s a reason Trotter is being so kind to Vinny.
“Imagine You’re A Deer.”
Vinny tries and fails and tries and fails but finally we have a breakthrough: he was able to smooth talk country-boy AD Jim Trotter, who offered to give him his files.
Dramatic Irony: there’s a reason Trotter is being so kind to Vinny.
In two of multiple STELLAR monologues from Tomei, we first learn of her objection to Vinny hunting with Trotter (“imagine you’re a deer…”)
And then, she tells Vinny (and us) what we were already suspecting: Trotter HAS to play nice. “It’s called disclosure you dickhead.”)
And then, she tells Vinny (and us) what we were already suspecting: Trotter HAS to play nice. “It’s called disclosure you dickhead.”)
Ok I’m taking a beat to refill my glass before the doing rest of Acts 2 & 3.
How can you not LOVE this film? Every joke has purpose. Every line has multiple meanings. And every character truly believes they’re doing their best—even if it’s awful at times.
#ZacksMovieClub
How can you not LOVE this film? Every joke has purpose. Every line has multiple meanings. And every character truly believes they’re doing their best—even if it’s awful at times.
#ZacksMovieClub
ACT 2, SEQUENCE 5
“My Biological Clock
Following the false-victory moment with Vinny & Trotter’s files; we get hit with a double whammy of raised stakes:
The Judge finds out Vinny has never practiced law before, and Vinny tells a story about changing his name to Jerry Gallo.
“My Biological Clock
Following the false-victory moment with Vinny & Trotter’s files; we get hit with a double whammy of raised stakes:
The Judge finds out Vinny has never practiced law before, and Vinny tells a story about changing his name to Jerry Gallo.
Vinny thinks he’s fooling the judge by taking on the name of a famous trial attorney in New York.
Lisa, ever the persistent reality check gut punch, tells us that Gallo is dead.
Lisa, ever the persistent reality check gut punch, tells us that Gallo is dead.
And in what might be the best monologue of the film (and like, all time cinema), Lisa confronts Vinny about not winning a case in 6 years and pinning their marriage and the rest of their lives on his ability to do so. It’s magic. Absolutely Oscar worthy.
The reason this sequence is so vital is b/c it gives us a reality check after the fun and games. We’ve had a half hour of nonstop laughs but now we need to be rooted in reality just enough in order to understand the context of why the previous absurdity worked. Now shit is real.
ACT 2, SEQUENCE 6
“The Two Youtes”
Pressure is on as Vinny has to show up for the 1st day of the trial. Shit hits the fan as Vinny falls in mud (physical comedy = gold, always) and has to find a new suit. Only a second-hand store is open.
THE PAYOFF TO ALL THE WARDROBE JOKES!
“The Two Youtes”
Pressure is on as Vinny has to show up for the 1st day of the trial. Shit hits the fan as Vinny falls in mud (physical comedy = gold, always) and has to find a new suit. Only a second-hand store is open.
THE PAYOFF TO ALL THE WARDROBE JOKES!
Another brilliant second shoe moment is the public defender. Vinny is bad at his job. The PD is truly incompetent—he gets stage fright and stutters.
FYI, The joke isn’t the physical impediment, the joke is how the hell does this man have a job?
FYI, The joke isn’t the physical impediment, the joke is how the hell does this man have a job?
The Dark Night Of The Soul beat happens here, where Vinny faces setback after setback. He’s already proven he can handle the job, but now he’s being outsmarted by Trotter. He reverts to his “IDGAF” mentality and gets thrown in jail again.
Ever so brilliantly though, never wasting a page sans joke—the payoff for “Vinny being woken up by loud noises” is hilariously perfect: he sleeps soundly during a jail riot.
Comedy is usually rules of three. But a perfectly timed callback to any throwaway joke is ALWAYS good.
Comedy is usually rules of three. But a perfectly timed callback to any throwaway joke is ALWAYS good.
ACT 3, SEQUENCE 7
“We’re These Magic Grits?”
There’s arguments to be made here via a vis how 3 Act Structure overlaps with 8 Sequence Structure, and it’s all the same even if it’s different slightly.
I’d argue we’re in the 3rd act here because Vinny is armed with new knowledge.
“We’re These Magic Grits?”
There’s arguments to be made here via a vis how 3 Act Structure overlaps with 8 Sequence Structure, and it’s all the same even if it’s different slightly.
I’d argue we’re in the 3rd act here because Vinny is armed with new knowledge.
He realized that all his mishaps in Alabama have taught him something. Previously, we had a throwaway joke about a diner cook explaining to Vinny how grits are made, and we laugh it off because he used lard to cook it.
Now, that knowledge is poking holes in witness testimony.
Now, that knowledge is poking holes in witness testimony.
Same with the dirty screens.
Same with the woman’s glasses.
Like Blues Traveler famously said, The Hook Brings You Back!
Same with the woman’s glasses.
Like Blues Traveler famously said, The Hook Brings You Back!
We’re introduced to the Final Boss for Vinny: the expert witness. The guy who’s going to claim that everything we’ve known in our hearts is wrong and we’re dumb for believing in Vinny. And it works!
The ALL IS LOST beat: Vinny and Lisa break up, when Lisa dumps him at breakfast. Vinny’s been a dick to her all movie long and we as the audience know that she’s always right. The consequence of dramatic irony.
We’re teased with one of her photos holding a clue.
We’re teased with one of her photos holding a clue.
ACT 3, SEQUENCE 8
“The 1963 Pontiac Tempest.”
EVERYTHING comes together as Vinny solves the case but needs to put Lisa on the stand in order to prove it. Vinny and Lisa make up via arguing. Lisa finally gets the respect she deserves. The Karate Kid lives to fight another day.
“The 1963 Pontiac Tempest.”
EVERYTHING comes together as Vinny solves the case but needs to put Lisa on the stand in order to prove it. Vinny and Lisa make up via arguing. Lisa finally gets the respect she deserves. The Karate Kid lives to fight another day.
What’s so brilliant about this is that all the clues were planted ahead of time. The opening sequence of Bill and Stan at Sac O Suds has this jib shot that pushes into where the tire marks clearly AREN’T. And you don’t notice until just now.
And the final button:
Of all the lies Vinny told, we learn that his story about Judge Malloy was TRUE! That saves his favor with the Judge (even if Malloy lied for Vinny, that bond is real). And Vinny and Lisa drive off discussing their wedding plans.
Of all the lies Vinny told, we learn that his story about Judge Malloy was TRUE! That saves his favor with the Judge (even if Malloy lied for Vinny, that bond is real). And Vinny and Lisa drive off discussing their wedding plans.
Well yea. I mean that’s it. My Cousin Vinny is a perfect film. Case closed.
Ugh yea I hate myself too for saying that.
Ugh yea I hate myself too for saying that.
Thanks for coming tonight to #ZacksMovieClub. There’s so much more to discuss about Vinny. Leave your thoughts below.
If you’re into this sort of screenwriting structure breakdown, tune in next Friday as we breakdown my all time favorite Disney classic, Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
If you’re into this sort of screenwriting structure breakdown, tune in next Friday as we breakdown my all time favorite Disney classic, Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
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