Jim Carrey starred in Liar Liar. Photo courtesy of Fan Art.
Summary: These funny legal scenes in movies will make your day.
There are some great legal classics out such as The Rainmaker, Erin Brockovich, and Philadelphia, but people tend to forget that legal stories don’t have to just be dramas. Lawyers can be funny too!
The following is a list of some of the funniest legal scenes in movies. Are there any that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
Liar Liar
In real life, Jim Carrey is now facing some of his own legal woes, but there was a time when he found the funny in the world of law.
In Liar Liar, Carrey plays Fletcher Jones, a scheming weasel of a lawyer who one day magically cannot tell a lie. His honesty is so extreme that his enemy at the firm catches on, and she attempts to destroy his career by making him talk to the firm partners. Thinking that they will be offended by his honest assessment of what jerks they are, she’s shocked when they eat up his insults like delicious candy.
Legally Blonde
In Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon brought charm and wit to the character of Elle Woods, a bubbly sorority girl turned serious law student. In the beginning of the film, Elle started off as a ditzy blonde who seemed destined to be some rich guy’s trophy wife; but after she was dumped, she decides to follow her ex to Harvard Law School and win him back.
While at Harvard Law, the underestimated Elle realizes that she doesn’t need a man and is actually great at law. In fact, she proves that she’s smarter than him and the “serious” girl he left her for.
My Cousin Vinny
Everyone loves the story of an underdog; and Vinny, played by Joe Pesci, was the ultimate underdog in My Cousin Vinny. Even though he was trying a case in a small dinky town, he was the rube because of his lack of legal experience.
In the scene below, the east coast, fast talker Vinny tries to win the favor of the trial judge by wearing a suit instead of his usual leather jacket. Unfortunately for him, the suit gets ruined and he’s forced to wear a purple tux that looks more Barnum & Bailey than Brooks Brothers.
Indecent Proposal
The sexy drama Indecent Proposal had very little to do with law; but somehow, Patton Oswalt’s ruthless and angry attorney character was able to steal the show in a movie about wanting to pay someone a million dollars to sleep with his wife. In this amazing scene, Oswalt’s character wins over difficult clients in a surprising way.
Wedding Crashers
While the public can only imagine what the divorce proceedings of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were actually like, they can at least watch this mediation scene in Wedding Crashers and get a nice chuckle. In Wedding Crashers, lovable Owen Wilson and rambling man Vince Vaughn play two mediators who try to help a contentious pair, played by country singer Dwight Yoakum and Rebecca De Mornay.
Serial Mom
John Waters’ campy suburban serial killer movie, Serial Mom, had some of the most subversive court scenes ever seen. While there were a ton of legal moments to choose from in the film, the courtroom showdown between Kathleen Turner’s Beverly and Mink Stole’s Dottie most certainly sticks in the brain and ruins the otherwise innocent flower, pussy willow.
The People vs. Larry Flynt
Hustler’s Larry Flynt will go down in history for his unwavering commitment to fighting for First Amendment rights. In the film based on his case which was eventually seen before the United States Supreme Court, Larry, played by Woody Harrelson, is a contentious, inappropriate defendant; but even when he’s being bad, he still knows all of his legal rights.