Her Alibi (1989) User Reviews (40)

How do you say in Romanian, get lost dick-face! Tremendous Fun

[cosmorados · 7/10 · 12 June 2008]

Philip Blackwood is a depressed writer who's lost his spark and his passion for writing. His successful detective character is the subject of endless predictable stories and his agent is on his back trying to get him to turn it around. As he goes to court with the usual oldies who attend in order to have something to Gossip about up steps the beautiful Nina, an eastern European arrested for murdering a fellow countryman with a pair of scissors. Tom Selleck decides to act as her alibi (Hey it's the title of the film as well!) and invites her to live with him as he believes she is innocent. As the police detective that drops by to chat with Philip Blackwood informs him, if the alibi is made up then he is not only a perjurer, but more importantly, he is liable to be the next victim in order for the alibi to stand forever. What follows is a series of ridiculous escapades in which Philip's life is under threat at every stage of the day, never knowing if the lovely Nina is a cold blooded killer or just deadly unlucky.

I had the fortune to get this film out of the video library on a whim and wound up falling in love with the film as much as Blackwood does with Nina, the parallels between his super-cool fictional world and the clumsy long suffering Blackwood are fantastic, and all the supporting cast do a great job.

Don't get me wrong, this is not an Annie Hall or a when harry met sally, it's silly ridiculous and as Farantino says "I gotta say, Phil, You're works a little predictable!" but it's still a good watch and a very fun film.

Selleck's humour

[Mort-31 · 7/10 · 8 February 2001]

It's true that this film is rather undeep and not particularly demanding. But still, in my opinion, it's charmy. From this point of view, the film is stylistically correct because the books Philip Blackwood writes are also romantic thrillers with exaggerated characters and no attempt to be serious or even world class. We're in the world of trash. Of course, the movie can be understood as kind of a parody on the book that's being written during the film. But on the other hand, it corresponds to it.

Tom Selleck's humour or maybe only the humour around his role keeps the movie alive. Like in „Folks!`, he is the poor guy, damned to passiveness, who desperately tries to cope with what is happening to him. But here the humour doesn't arise only from his mishaps but also from the way he falsifies them when transferring them into his novel. Paulina Porizkova is not a convincing actress but in this movie this doesn't matter because her inflexible face makes her character unfathomable, unpredictable, unlike Philip Blackwood's stories.

If you want to see a trashy little comedy about trashy little thrillers, this is the right one for you!

Under-appreciated suspense comedy

[dave13-1 · 6/10 · 19 July 2008]

Always likable Tom Selleck is well cast as a mediocre mystery writer (VERY mediocre, based on the samples of his writing we get in the voice-over narrations, which are one of the funniest parts of the movie). He's looking for a plot for his next book and finding it in the person of a beautiful Romanian college student (Paulina Porizkova) who seems to be hiding some big secret. The movie plays like the plot of a bad detective book, with perceptions of the female character shifting from dangerous to trustworthy to suspicious and back. The chemistry between the characters works very well romantically as both characters begin to fall in love despite being wary and suspicious of the various goings-on, and the Romanian KGB agents on Paulina's trail make for useful comic villains.

there should be more movies like this

[skmcg_man · 20 August 2001]

Though not a masterpiece of film-making, HER ALIBI makes for a pleasant change from the violent films that Hollywood keeps on churning out. Tom Selleck and model-cum-actress Paulina Porizkova generate some genuine sparks on-screen in this lighthearted comedy/mystery. Selleck does well in the role of a once-popular mystery writer, while Porizkova, better known for her model-perfect looks, satisfies as the mysterious foreigner who captures the heart of Selleck.

Fairly amusing "comedy-thriller" but sort of lame at the same time

[MovieAddict2016 · 6/10 · 1 February 2005]

Tom Selleck is the titular character, "her alibi," who provides a beautiful murder suspect with a false alibi because he believes she is innocent. However, once he brings her back to his house, he begins to believe perhaps he was wrong - and now she is trying to murder him so that he cannot go back on his word.

Selleck's character also happens to be a mystery writer of cheap paperback books so he uses what's happening in his life as a parallel to his story, so at moments throughout the film we hear voice-overs of the story being narrated and it's played for comedy (example: Selleck makes a lot of noise while spying on the murder suspect, then in voice-over he reads a line from the book he's writing and says that the character in the book "quietly snuck up on the girl.").

Not a great movie, but it will entertain you.

Enjoyable fluff

[Tito-8 · 7/10 · 5 September 1999]

Okay, I can admit that this was a fairly dumb movie, but that didn't stop me from enjoying myself. Tom Selleck was a good choice for this silly film, and Paulina Porizkova shows that she's more than just a pretty face. Sometimes it did get too stupid for my tastes, but it was still a good way to kill an hour-and-a-half. Yeah, it's not Shakespeare, but it's a lot more fun than Shakespeare.

I coulda been watching the IFC channel

[helpless_dancer · 5/10 · 13 June 2002]

Occasionally amusing but for the most part I just sat there and watched these folks go through their paces. This was merely one of those pictures created to fill up a film reel and make a nice payday for a big name actor. A pointless exercise in tedium.

Great premise, average results, enjoyable comedy !!!

[elo-equipamentos · 6/10 · 9 February 2020]

Her Alibi was a promising movie, having the Tom Magnum Selleck on leading role, an eye candy Paulina Poriskova, mystery, crime and comedy oriented, could be better, nevertheless has many holes in the screenplay, Selleck plays Phil Blackwood a successful writer over detective Peter Swift's cheaper novel, he wasn't inspired to write around four years, then prodded by his publisher he saw at a murder case where Nina Ionescu (Paulina) was charged by murder, he introduces to her as Priest, however it fails, then suggest to her as alibi on the night of the murder, since then he starts write his newest novel under Nina's character, however he ignores what's the real truth concealed behind of her, the Romanians embassy sent several agents (among them the great veteran actor Hurd Hatfield) to track down Nina's steps, many aspects displayed on the picture had a bit oddity, he was hit by arrow accidently or not, he afraid of her quite often, quite opposite on Magnum's character, he is slight presented as gay character, although the food poisoned sequence is really funny, also the horrible ending at circus scratch the picture, call my attention the marvelous song at ending credits "Falling In Love" sang by Randy Newman produced by his musical hero Jeff Lynne!!

Resume:

First watch: 1998 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-VHS-DVD / Rating: 6.5

Her What? Who's that Girl?

[thesar-2 · 1/10 · 22 March 2019]

It's rare I award a film 10/10 stars - even for many films I truly love. Equally, it's uncommon for me to give a movie just one star out of ten...but, here we are. I literally just watched this, took a nap and I barely remember a single thing about it. Except, well, I didn't like it at all and if I had a gun to my head, I wouldn't be able to give a synopsis. THAT is NOT a good sign, so hence: the 1 star. Bah!

Magnum moves on

[polsixe · 7/10 · 20 July 2019]

Released just after the Magnum PI TV series this would have been one of Selleck's new post-TV career films. Plays off the built in expectations of Selleck but he's uses a lot of the same mannerisms, without the macho. Magnum's klutzy doppelgänger. The actress Porizkova is fine and an attractive presence. Some kind of plot involving Romanians and circus, all OK.

bad right from the start

[SnoopyStyle · 3/10 · 21 July 2016]

Phil Blackwood (Tom Selleck) is a successful crime mystery writer of Peter Swift novels but he's been blocked for four years. Her publisher Sam (William Daniels) suggests getting a woman. He hangs out at court with the regulars. One day, he comes across Romanian Nina Lonescu (Paulina Porizkova) accused of a stabbing murder. He pretends to be a priest to interview her and offers to be her alibi. The government reluctantly releases her. With agents from the communist Romanian government after her, she decides to stay with Phil in his country home.

First, Phil is an idiot. He's the most naive crime writer in the world. Other than being beautiful, he has no reason to assume her innocence. In fact, she doesn't even exert her innocence before he volunteers to be her alibi. The whole premise falls apart right from the start. The rest of the movie struggles to create humor. Tom Selleck is capable but Porizkova is only a model. She has the beauty and the poise. She doesn't have the skills to play in a comedy. She could be a functional actor in something less demanding. This movie is bad right from the start.

A simple, funny, and charming little film

[chrisinthemorning · 8/10 · 22 November 2003]

A lot of us go through our quite ordinary lives daydreaming about being these larger than life characters, so I thought that this story about this sheltered and detached mystery writer, Phillip Blackwood, was quite good because of the funny and endearing way it relates to being a dreamer.

I'm a big Tom Selleck fan, since his days as island hopping P.I. Thomas Magnum, and I think he was the perfect fit for the role of Phil Blackwood. Selleck is this tall, good-looking dude who looks the part of your typical hero or action star, but he is able to come across as this almost goofy, nice guy, and I think those are the qualities that make Thomas Magnum and Phillip Blackwood such great characters. The contradictions between the characters' physical appearances and their personalities make them very easy to like and root for.

I liked the rest of the cast too. Paulina Porizkova was stunningly beautiful and I liked her in her role. The actors who played Blackwood's agent and brother were very funny in their roles.

I recommend this movie. It is lighthearted, funny, and quite charming.

Imperfect but amusing and enjoyable.

[gatorgus48 · 7/10 · 11 March 2020]

If Tom Selleck was in it, critics didn't like it.

It was worth watching. Some very funny scenes and decent story line. Paula is a babe.

cute spoofy mystery-romance

[triple8 · 5/10 · 24 November 2003]

I look at this as almost a spoof on mystery thrillers. It has its moments of funniness, the ensemble cast is particularly funny, I love the scene where they all think they've been poisoned. This movie isn't roll in your seat hilarious or anything but it is the type of movie you can watch when there's nothing else on and maybe get a few laughs out of. Selleck shows a gift for comedy here while at the same time maintaining his trademark sexiness. Still,Selleck's about the best thing in it, don't be fooled this is not a good movie, more an OK one with a few laughs in it thats cool to watch on a rainy day(it runs CONSTANTLY on TV-they always show it-so it should be easy to find). After you see it once though, it may not be one you'll care to watch a second time.

More enjoyable than its 5.1 IMDb rating would suggest.

[TxMike · 9 April 2008]

Maybe Tom Selleck is so popular because he can be liked equally by the gals and the guys. Here he is Phil Blackwood, successful bachelor author of a whole series of mystery novels. But lately he is "stuck" and his agent is pressuring him into writing something good.

He happens to be in court with friends one day when beautiful Paulina Porizkova as Nina from Romania is arraigned for murder. It seems that the dead guy had scissors stuck through his chest, into his heart, and she was the accused.

Apparently unable to speak English, Nina's court-appointed lawyer asks for and gets a 24-hour continuance. Meanwhile, dresses as a priest, Phil gets into jail to visit her. In short, they agree on a plan, he will claim they are in a relationship and she was with him when the murder was committed. That becomes "Her Alibi."

As part of their agreement, Nina goes with Phil, back to his secluded home in Connecticut. He doesn't quite know what to do with her, but is smitten. And, it turns out, she speaks English very well. But she remains mysterious, and won't tell Phil anything about her background or "who she is." Still, Phil uses his everyday experiences with her, including the court case, to write his fictional novel. Most of the movie involves their interactions and her dodging some mysterious Romanians seemingly out to get her. It is a romantic comedy, very enjoyable at barely 90 minutes. We found it very entertaining.

A bonus was seeing Patrick Wayne as Phil's brother Gary Blackwood. As the movie was playing I didn't know whom he was, but remarked that he looked a lot like Jim Garner and I wondered if he was Garner's son. John Wayne's son instead!

SPOILERS: Nina and her family were Romanian circus performers, planning to defect. The mysterious men were trying to prevent the defection, as it would be an embarrassment to their country.

Selleck finds inspiration in Porizkova

[goya-4 · 6/10 · 8 October 2000]

Tom Selleck stars as a detective novelist with writers block in this cute little movie that introduces supermodel Paulina Porizkova to the acting world. She does a fine job as a Russian immigrant accused of murder (of course she didn't do it) and Selleck offers to be her alibi.

On a scale of one to ten..6

Surprisingly endearing.

[redcrossaint · 6/10 · 28 May 2022]

Her Alibi (1989)

2.5/4

'Her Alibi' is a curious piece of fluff. I'm aware that this film doesn't work. But there I was, carried along; it doesn't have good acting, good writing, directing, and so on. Tom Selleck, in the title role, basically plays everything the same and straight. His co-star, Paulina Porizkova, plays her character straight and without depth, just like Selleck. They kind of just wander through the movie. But the movie itself, surprisingly, works - there's no question it's a piece of fluff, but it's a fast paced, quick moving piece of fluff, highlighted by some interesting plot twists and a clever story. While the writing is far from Shakespere (some scenes more than others), some of the set-ups are actually quite clever and I think sometimes work. Oftentimes, however, it mostly doesn't work, and that's a lot of dialogue and acting from the two main stars.

The movie's plot is (I think) the best part of the movie and managed to keep my interest. It follows Phil Blackwood (Tom Selleck), a mystery writer suffering from writer's block after writing 30 straight detective novels. It's clear to him that he needs inspiration, and eventually sees a beautiful Romanian murder suspect (Paulina Poriszkova) at a trial, and later meets her. As Phil slowly falls for her, he provides her alibi, and she stays with him. The tension grows as he's not sure whether she'll kiss or kill him, and the film becomes a sort of a comedic mystery.

All together, the film is very watchable. Selleck and Poriszkova are likable even with the little acting talent they have, and director Bruce Beresford utilizes the clever script to keep things moving. It's a surprisingly entertaining experience. I'm not recommending the movie, but I kind of liked it. I'm shocked also.

But what is Tom's?

[Mister-6 · 1/10 · 19 August 1999]

You ever want to see Tom Selleck act like a total buffoon?

You ever want to see Tom Selleck get shot in the rear with an arrow, have dry heaves, fall off trash cans, get beaten up by a guy in a clown suit, get windshield wiper fluid shot up his nose and, oh yeah, fall in love Paulina Pourizkova?

You do?

You're sick.

One star. Tom, hope and pray for a "Magnum PI" reunion.

Pauline unfairly treated

[RavenGlamDVDCollector · 7/10 · 19 April 2024]

It is disgraceful that Paulina was nearly voted Worst Actress of the Year for this. What did the people expect from her, a song and dance routine thrown in as well? I suppose there had been a whole lot of haters involved too, most likely wannabe Tom Selleck groupies doing their envious thing.

Back in the day, this movie was a big hit with me, and certainly not because of ol' Magnum star's whiny ninny about-turn.

Look at Paulina, and then look at today's stars. Jeesh, there are total trash parading as "starz"... tattoo taxis, junkyard-made. Hollywood is in a slump! This movie, it is of course way, way, way corny in many, many places BUT it carries a certain charm, a certain innocence, a beauty in it...

In the old days, I read about the Golden Age of Hollywood. Back then, it was really still the Golden Age. Nowadays, very few bright-spark romantic comedy movies like this one pops up.

Predictable.

[gridoon · 5/10 · 27 November 2003]

Very shaky plot. I didn't know that all you had to do to get a murder suspect free was to get into a police station, claim that you were with him/her at the time of the murder and bam!...out they go. The picture was probably trying to be a comic (and reverse) version of Hitchcock's "Suspicion" ("is the person I love trying to murder me?"), but it doesn't have enough ambiguity for that - there's never a moment's doubt about Porizkova's innocence. Tom Selleck's pratfalls are not funny at all, and the "romance" part doesn't work either, because he has no one to play off against him - Porizkova is a wooden blank up there on the screen. And I won't even mention the dated anti-Communist overtones! (**)

She got one thing right. Predictable.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 4 June 2021]

Razzie nominee Paulina Porizkova is certainly strikingly beautiful, playing a Romanian immigrant accused of murder, and given an alibi out of the blue by struggling mystery writer Tom Selleck. Not to swab bachelor of the "Three Men" films, he's actually quite idiotic here, getting himself into the most ridiculous of situations that will have him in danger, either by Porizkova or by the men following her. One sell it gets her out of prison, he takes her to his beautiful home in Connecticut, and panic-stricken by the fact that she may indeed be a murderer, makes an absolute fool out of himself in trying to become another victim while both loving and lusting after her.

I wouldn't call Porizkova a bad actress. You have to be making an effort to act to be bad, and she seems to be simply reading lines. She was obviously cast because of her looks and her gymnastic ability, and in spite of how emotionless she is, you can't take your eyes off of her. Selleck seems to be desperate to escape from his Magnum P. I. image, but instead of John Hillerman, we get the similar William Daniels as his publisher confidante. Daniels get some truly great lines and of course commands attention every time he's on screen.

With James Farentino as the detective following every move, and veteran actor Hurd Hatfield as one of the men following Porizkova, this has intrigue, romance and comedy, but what it doesn't have are intelligence or believable characters. There are also similarities to the earlier big hit "Throw Mama From the Train" which has salad narrating his book as the events occur that he decides to write about. It certainly watchable, but with a weak script and implausible situations, this ends up just being a formula 80's movie that is easy to get through but even easier to forget.

OK--It's not "Breaker Morant"

[Red-125 · 8/10 · 16 May 2005]

Her Alibi (1989) directed by Bruce Beresford, is a very funny, but totally predictable, murder mystery. Tom Selleck plays Phil Blackwood, a mystery writer whose stories are as predictable as the film's plot. Phil has run out of creative steam and his reputation is diminishing.

Paulina Porizkova plays Nina, who is a beautiful (very) Romanian who may or may not be a murderer.

From the moment Phil sees Nina, we can guess where the movie is going. In other words, Her Alibi isn't really a mystery. What makes the film enjoyable isn't the plot, but the technique Beresford utilizes. We see a scene, and hear Selleck's voice- over as he writes the scene into his novel. Of course, what we see and what we hear are two totally different versions of reality. The contrast really is very funny.

William Daniels does well as Sam, Selleck's long-suffering publisher. Porizkova can't act, but nobody will notice. Selleck plays Selleck.

If you want to see fine film-making, rent Beresford's Breaker Morant. If you want to laugh at a film with no social significance at all, rent Her Alibi.

It Has Its Charms

[fatcat-73450 · 5/10 · 28 November 2021]

Tom Selleck plays a writer of bad, but apparently popular, romance novels who gets writer's block. He trawls the courts to try and see if some salacious cases come up he can use for inspiration. It is here that he sees a young Romanian woman charged with murder and becomes instantly infatuated with her to the point that he decides to claim they are lovers to give her an alibi to get out of prison. Bright idea.

The performance of the two leads is where this movie shines. Selleck plays the character he was meant to play to perfection without holding back. He's a physically dashing and has a lavish moustache but the truth is he's a pretty awkward and excessively formal guy who's actually not very good at dealing with women - your typical "nice guy."

Paulina Porizkova at many points plays an Eastern European woman to perfection - coldly arrogant, eternally unimpressed, and a very unsafe driver. That's probably because she actually was a person from behind the iron curtain - Czech. It's one of the few times Hollywood actually got an Eastern European to play the role of an Eastern European. We had to sit through pretend-comrade performances by Robin Williams (Moscow on the Hudson (1984)), Arnie (Red Heat (1988)), and dumb Swede (Rocky IV (1985)) but never did get the real deal. The authenticity makes a big difference.

Other than that the movie is very silly. Long story short, it's clearly meant to be a dramatic comedy or a romantic comedy - it's not supposed to be gross-out comedy/farce - yet it has dead pets, people vomiting, people getting shot in the butt, and clowns beating each other up.

Not only that, but the director seems to have interfered negatively with Porizkova's acting at times. Sometimes she plays a suave, confident Romanian in USA, but sometimes she tries to play fish-out-of-water foreigner in a strange land and it doesn't work.

Honourable Mentions: Lethal Weapon 2 (1989). At the end of the movie an employee of the embassy tries to use diplomatic immunity to get out of heinous crimes in Alibi. It doesn't work, but at least he's better off than the South African diplomat in Lethal Weapon 2.

Hilarious adventure with excellent performances

[vikramts · 29 March 2000]

I caught "Her Alibi" last week by chance and I had absolutely no idea that it would be such an enjoyable movie.With Tom Selleck giving a simply wonderful performance and a gorgeous Paulina for company,the movie had me rooted to my seat for the entire length!

Selleck plays the role of Phillip Blackwood , a not-so succesful writer with a creative block and his publisher is getting impatient with him,waiting for the next "Peter Swift" novel from blackwood.To get his creative juices flowing with ideas of crime plots,Selleck visits the law court one day where he witnesses the lovely Romanian girl,Nina(Paulina Polizkova), being tried for murder.In an attempt to salvage what's left of his personal life,Selleck gives her an alibi that she is his lover and saves her from imprisonment.The movie then deals with Selleck taking the girl home and incorporating totally twisted versions (of his daily adventures) into his novel.Now that his book seems to be shaping up with the elements of Mystery,Passion,Adventure and Thrill (characteristic of detective novels),Selleck finds himself falling in love and possibly also in danger with the ravishing beauty.!

Her expert skills in throwing knives n handling scissors make it hard for him to believe that she could be innocent of the murder charge.However,Love soon finds itself taking form between the lonely,handsome man and the lovely lass.Her identity still remains a mystery to him and in his quest for the truth,he stumbles upon an interesting plot which makes the perfect ending for his new novel.

The movie has its share of hilarious scenes when Selleck gets an arrow into his butt,when he rushes his family to the hospital(doubting that Nina might have poisoned them all)and when he challenges the bad guys to a bout(dressed up as a clown).It also captures the picturesque locations hitherto dreamt of only in fantasy lands.Paulina is an absolute stunner and she plays the part of the innocent yet no-nonsense kind of girl with ease and panache. In all,I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and I sure hope all you guys watch it for yourselves sometime!If you like it,tell me so since I'd love to contact the stars and convey my appreciation.

So funny

[iainsmith-18061 · 10/10 · 16 September 2021]

What a fantastic upbeat movie this is and genius ! Tom Selleck is just hilarious in this and the storyline just fantastic ! If your after an amusing and brilliant watch which will put you in a happy mood then this is the movie for you . Watch this !