Miscellaneous Reviews Festivals Lists Etc
#
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Here


web analytics

 

The Films of Jonathan Lynn

Clue

Nuns on the Run (May 16/05)

Despite a seemingly surefire premise - two inept crooks (played by Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane), on the lam from a dangerous mobster, dress up like nuns and hide out in a convent - Nuns on the Run is a disastrously unfunny mess. Writer/director Jonathan Lynn packs the film with plenty of one-liners and moments of physical comedy, but is utterly unable to provide the viewer with a single reason to care about any of this. Even with Idle and Coltrane's exceedingly enthusiastic performances, Nuns on the Run is never quite able to rise above the level of barely-watchable mediocrity. Exacerbating matters is the increasingly frenetic vibe Lynn imbues the story with, something that's particularly true of the film's third act. But the bottom line is that none of this is funny, and because Lynn places the emphasis on jokes above all else, there's virtually nothing else here to keep the viewer engaged.

out of


My Cousin Vinny (January 24/15)

My Cousin Vinny follows Joe Pesci's street-smart attorney Vinny Gambini as he and his girlfriend (Marisa Tomei's Mona Lisa) arrive in small-town Alabama to defend his incarcerated cousin, with the movie detailing Vinny's exploits within the small town and his ongoing efforts to clear his innocent relative of all charges. Filmmaker Jonathan Lynn has infused My Cousin Vinny with a briskly-paced and easygoing vibe that persists from start to finish, with the movie's slightly overlong running time generally not as problematic as one might've feared (ie why is a film like this 120 minutes?) The undercurrent of fish-out-of-water silliness goes a long way towards perpetuating the affable atmosphere, although it's instantly clear that My Cousin Vinny's most potent weapon is its uniformly stellar performances - with Pesci's engrossing turn as the title character matched by a fantastic supporting cast that includes Lane Smith, Austin Pendleton, and Fred Gwynne. (The latter is especially wonderful as the town's cantankerous judge.) And although the midsection does feel somewhat erratic (ie certain scenes simply go on longer than necessary), My Cousin Vinny benefits substantially from a strong second half that revolves mostly around the often captivating court case - which ultimately does confirm the movie's place as a superior comedic endeavor.

out of

The Distinguished Gentleman

Greedy

Sgt. Bilko

Trial and Error

The Whole Nine Yards

The Fighting Temptations

Wild Target

© David Nusair