Vinny is a smooth-talking ladies' man who hides his Puerto Rican heritage behind the lie that he's Italian.

[1] Jay Boyar of the Orlando Sentinel said "this semiautobiographical production has an exuberance that recalls such other coming-of-age movies as American Graffiti and Diner".

[9] Though Boyar said the film gets "slightly preachy at the end…Director Vasquez treats the people in his movie sympathetically, but with an edge of irony that makes most of what happens humorous.

"[9] Dave Kehr of the Chicago Tribune wrote the film "transcends its drive-in title to become a compelling Cassavetes-like study of male friendship.

"[10] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "the actors fill out their roles, especially Leguizamo, who gives Johnny a furtive, soulful complexity.