In the vast library of legal dramas and courtroom comedies, one title stands out not just for its quotable lines and slapstick brilliance, but for an almost accidental legacy: its stunning legal accuracy. Released in 1992, My Cousin Vinny stars Joe Pesci as Vincent "Vinny" Gambini, a flamboyant, unprepared New York lawyer who must defend his cousin (Ralph Macchio) and a friend from a false murder charge in rural Alabama.