Tom Holland’s favourite comedy movie: “I think it’s just brilliant”
Everyone has their favourite version of Spider-Man, but on an objective level, Tom Holland might just be the best. The British star’s take on Peter Parker falls on just the right side of annoying, encompassing the character’s trademark teenage innocence with an endearing slice of dorkiness. There’s a reason why he was chosen as the big emotional death in Avengers: Infinity War—Marvel knew it would get a reaction.
Another reason why people love Holland’s webslinger so much is that he’s so funny. Across his three solo movies and multiple appearances in team-up films, this version of Spidey has been responsible for some of the funniest moments in the entire franchise. Outside of the comic book realm, Holland strangely hasn’t appeared in that many other comedies. He’s done two kids films, Spies in Disguise and Pixar’s Onward, but he’s never really been in a funny movie targeted at adults. You could make a case for Doolittle, but, actually, no, you can’t. Nobody was laughing at that.
Considering his next project is Christopher Nolan’s deadly serious take on The Odyssey and that he has spoken about retiring from acting when he becomes a father, Holland’s time to star in a proper comedy seems to be running out. The reason this is so remarkable is because the young star is a big fan of the genre. He explained this during an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, when he was asked to list his five favourite films. Alongside the likes of Avatar and Saving Private Ryan, he opted for a classic comedy with a legal twist.
“I think My Cousin Vinny is one of the funniest movies of all time,” Holland explained. “Joe Pesci is one of my favorite actors and I think it’s just brilliant. Aunt May is in that movie and I love her to death.”
Released in 1992, My Cousin Vinny stars Pesci as a newly-qualified lawyer called into action when his cousin and a friend are arrested in Alabama. Not only must he convince the jury that his clients are innocent, but Vinny must also overcome the huge cultural barriers between himself, a native New Yorker, and his new Southern surroundings. The ‘Aunt May’ Holland is referring to is Marisa Tomei, who plays the classic comic book character in the MCU. In My Cousin Vinny, she plays the wonderfully named Mona Lisa Vito, the fiancée of the title character. Tomei was awarded the Oscar for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her work.
Though there had been legal comedies before this one—the Katharine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy joint Adam’s Rib, for example—they were few and far between. The legal genre is still taken incredibly seriously, as recent releases like Anatomy of a Fall and Juror #2 prove. My Cousin Vinny showed that you can be funny in a courtroom setting while still making a serious point. In a subgenre that has since gone on to include the Legally Blonde movies and Chicago, it still reigns supreme.
The fact that Holland has such good taste in comedies is further proof that he would be great in his own one. Maybe he could even star in a remake of his favourite one day. If only he knew an incredibly famous female star to play his onscreen love interest…
