Yes—but it is a novel, not a new film. Lawrence Kelter’s Back to Brooklyn, published by Down & Out Books in 2017, follows Vinny Gambini and Lisa Vito after the Alabama case in My Cousin Vinny. It brings them home to Brooklyn, where Vinny takes on a new homicide defense.
What is Back to Brooklyn?
Back to Brooklyn is a prose follow-up to the 1992 film comedy My Cousin Vinny. Down & Out Books groups it in “The My Cousin Vinny Series,” and Publishers Weekly describes it as a sequel to the film. It is not a new movie, nor does the available information establish it as an official film production or a continuation starring the original cast.
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Author Lawrence Kelter brings Vinny and Lisa back to Brooklyn after their Alabama case. Vinny is trying to establish his law practice at home when he takes on a new client, Theresa Cototi.
What is the plot of the novel?
Theresa is charged after her boyfriend, Samuel Cipriani, falls to his death from a roof. Vinny must defend her against a prosecution led by the Brooklyn district attorney’s office. Publishers Weekly notes that the case has political stakes: Cipriani’s brother is a deputy mayor. Lisa helps Vinny as he tries to work out what happened and whether Theresa is innocent.
#1 Best Overall
The mystery gives the book a new case rather than revisiting the Alabama trial. The setup combines a homicide defense with the misunderstandings and comedy associated with the film, while leaving Theresa’s guilt as a question for the reader.
Does the book capture the film’s characters and humor?
Kelter said that getting Vinny and Lisa’s voices right was a central challenge. In a 2017 interview, he described aiming for their “smart Alec rhetoric” and colloquialisms, and said he wanted the story to feel like the original while developing a different plot. That describes the author’s intention, not a guarantee that every reader will find the characters indistinguishable from their film versions.
Rank #2
The response in the available trade review is mixed. Publishers Weekly says some fans may enjoy the characters’ further adventures, but criticizes the plot, the prose characterization, and the repetition of jokes. Readers looking for a written return to Vinny and Lisa may be interested; those who mainly want the film’s timing and performances should bear in mind that this is a novel with a different medium’s constraints.
Publication and edition details
| Edition detail | What the records say |
|---|---|
| Author and publisher | Lawrence Kelter; Down & Out Books |
| Release date | May 22, 2017, according to the publisher’s seasonal listing and OverDrive’s book record |
| Trade paperback | ISBN 978-1-943402-83-0; the publisher listed a 2017 price of $18.95 |
| Publisher-listed ebook price | $8.99 in the publisher’s 2017 catalog; this is historical list pricing, not a current price |
| Publishers Weekly trade paperback record | 348 pages; ISBN 978-1-943402-83-0; listed at $18.95 |
| Publishers Weekly hardcover record | 358 pages; ISBN 978-1-946502-01-8 |
Catalogs list the book in ebook, paperback, audiobook, and hardcover formats, and OverDrive catalogs an ebook. Those records do not establish present-day stock or access: availability and price depend on the retailer or library.
Rank #3
Who is likely to enjoy it?
- Consider it if you want a prose continuation of Vinny and Lisa’s story, a new courtroom mystery, and familiar comic characters in a Brooklyn setting.
- Adjust expectations if you expect the original film’s cast, performance, or comedic rhythm. This is a novel written by Kelter, and the available review raises concerns about the book’s plot, characterization, and repeated jokes.
For a physical edition, the trade paperback ISBN is 978-1-943402-83-0. Check that identifier against a seller’s listing to distinguish it from other formats; library ebook access depends on your library’s collection.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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