My Cousin Vinny

Stereotyping is used in the movie both as a comic device and as social commentary. When the two accused boys, Bill and Stan, make their one allowed phone call to BillÆs mother, he tells her, ôWe think theyÆre trying to set us up as patsies, Ma. You know how corrupt it is down here. They all know each otherö (ôMy Cousin Vinnyö). Not satisfied with this explanation, Stan adds, ôThe KlanÆs here. TheyÆre inbred. They sleep with their sistersö (ôMy Cousin Vinnyö). When the deputy glares at him, he softens the statement slightlyùôSome of them doö (ôMy Cousin Vinnyö). The implication behind the humorous stereotype is that Southerners are racist, corrupt, small-minded cretinsùunlike the nice, family-oriented Italians in BillÆs family.

Vinny and Lisa are typical New Yorkers, arriving in the muddy Alabama town in New York street wearùVinny in a leather jacket with gold ar

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at Haller is inclined to give Trotter preference in his rulings, merely because Trotter is Southern and follows the established protocol. In one scene, Vinny makes a beautifully stated objection, to which Haller replies, ôMr. Gambini, that is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out objection;ö when Vinny thanks him, Haller responds, ôOverruledö (ôMy Cousin Vinnyö). In spite of the inadequacies of the legal systemùparticularly HallerÆs tendency to exploit it on the basis of his personal preferencesùin the end, Vinny wins the case. His win emphasizes that for all of its tedious rules and loopholes, the legal system is still capable of bringing the right people to justice. All of the checks and balances in the system enable Vinny to steer past the judgeÆs and juryÆs perceived disdain of him and see the truth. The win also takes down the boysÆ perception that as city boys they cannot get a fair trial in Alabama. Of course, had they been defended by a less insightful lawyer, that might have been the case, but VinnyÆs sharp analysis won them their freedom. If there is any area in which the movie can be criticized, it is in the realm of family values. Family values are sorely lacking in the movie. Although Vinny and LisaÆs cohabita
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1645
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)