Customer Reviews

Her Alibi [VHS]

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tom Selleck has spent his entire career after Magnum P.I. making entertaining movies that out-of-touch critics hate and the public loves. Here is one you may have missed from director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Tender Mercies). It is gently moving and amusing, with some hystericaly funny moments along the way.

Tom Selleck is mystery writer Phil Blackwood and William Daniels of TV's St. Elsewhere fame is his best friend and editor Sam. Blackwood hasn't had a bestseller in some time and has been living on his reputation far too long. He needs something to break his writers block, and he may just have found it in beautiful Romanian Nina (lovely Paula Porizkova). He meets the accused murderer in court while watching trials for inspiration, and decides to become her alibi.

James Farentino is the cop who knows Blackwood is lying for the lovely Nina and decides to keep an eye on things so he doesn't get killed. Once Blackwood takes Nina to the estate his Peter Swift mystery novels have paid for, he turns every situation into fodder for his fictional Peter Swift, and you'll find youself laughing hard at Selleck's voice-over as he writes.

Some European thugs are after Nina, and Blackwood becomes increasingly paranoid and begins to suspect the child-like innocence of Nina may be an act. There are some hilarious moments as he begins to wonder if she's out to kill him. William Daniels as his buddy Sam gives fine comic support and Farentino has a good role as the cop who knows these guys are in over their heads!

The film is full of old-fashioned charm reminiscent of films made during the 1930's. Patrick Wayne and Tess Harper as Blackwood's very worried family add some nice moments to this entertaining film. I won't give too much away, but there is one scene that takes place after a huge dinner that will have you laughing as hard as you ever have at the movies. It is absolutely hilarious!

You'll like this movie a lot, especially if you like Tom Selleck, and who doesn't? It's a lot of fun to watch and since you can pick it up so inexpensively here on Amazon there's no need to wait. Pick up this one today!

This must be the most under-rated comedy around. Tom Selleck is at his best playing a cowardly novelist who lives out his fantasies through his creation the famous detective Peter Swift. Paulina Porizkova is disarmingly good as the alleged murderess he provides an alibi for. He spends most of the movie terrified of her, wondering if she really is a psycho on the one hand and falling in love with her on the other. There are some great set pieces here, but the best comedy flows from the book he is writing about their situation. The most mundane events become incredible overblown adventures, its kind of hard to explain but trust us its hilarious.

I have been a Tom Selleck fan for many, many years, and this is probably my favorite Tom Selleck film. As many may have noted from his recent appearances on "Friends" Selleck has a great feel for comedy and its timing.

In this movie Selleck plays struggling mystery novelist Phillip Blackwood. It has been some time since Blackwood has produced a hit book and his publisher is about to drop him. Looking for inspiration Blackwood sits in the back of a courtroom observing cases. Along comes Nina, a Romanian woman accused of a grizzly murder. Convinced of her innocence, Blackwood provides an alibi to the beautiful foreigner to get her released from jail. Suddenly he realizes that he may have just released a killer from prison and the only thing standing between her and complete freedom is him.

Selleck is hilarious as the struggling writer who begins to write a book based on the experiences he has with the stranger now living with him. What makes this movie truly funny is watching the usually macho Selleck living in fear of a woman barely half his size. The voice over dialogue he uses while writing the book is priceless.

It is truly enjoyable to watch Selleck make fun of the persona he spent so many years playing in "Magnum P.I." This is a great film, and one I had to have in my collection.

Her Alibi will never be a listed as one of the top 100 movies of the century. It will never be considered a piece of art that will change your life forever. However, it is a great choice for a delightful way to spend a lazy afternoon or quite weekend evening with your significant other.

First of all, this movie is very funny. Tom Selleck is a bit out of his typecast as a bumbling writer. He narrates the novel that he is writing while the film shows the experiences that inspired the writing. The contrast between reality and fantasy is hilarious.

Second, the interplay between characters is touching and witty. One never knows what is and is not true as the story unfolds. Yet, some scenes are both touching and insightful. Along those lines, the scene where Tom Selleck gets a haircut is more erotic than many more graphic scenes from movies made for today's more coarse society.

Finally, this reviewer finds this movie interesting, at least to this viewer, as a case study in technology use. This movie was made in 1989 a bit before cell phones, pda's, and desk top computers become ubiquitous. It is interesting to see how many of these tools have become so imbedded in our lives that to view folks working and living without them is almost like a trip to some ancient culture.

Overall, this movie is a nice and entertaining way to spend a few leisure hours. Likewise, it is a good story that will hold up under repeated viewings.

This is a rather implausible plot, but it is a movie and most critics forget what movies are, Entertainment! This is great entertainment and hilarious laughs. Selleck and Porizkova must have had fun falling in love in this movie and I found their foreplay to be the best. Men are really this insecure when approaching a women seriously and what a haircut!

Tom Selleck plays a mystery novelist with writer's block who "discovers" his next story in Nina (Paulina Porizkova), a woman so beautiful that she could not possibly commit the murder she is accused of. Selleck offers her an alibi and spends the rest of the movie worrying about whether she really did commit murder and if he is her next victim.

The story line is weak and has an overly pollyanna ending. But the casting is exceptional and the weak plot is lost in the delightful interaction between the characters. Selleck is always good, but Ms Porizkova is surprisingly believable as the almost childlike mysterious woman. The supporting cast bathes the story in a consistent dry humor that makes the outrageous antics of Selleck's character more hilarious by comparison.

While the film is often too cutsy and you have to be in the mood for slapstick to enjoy much of the humor, it is a gentle bit of fluff, perfect for a lighthearted evening with your sweetheart.

To me, this was one of Tom Selleck's best! It was mysterious, comical and romantic all in one! I absolutely loved this movie! It was one of those feel-good, fun loving flicks! More movies should be this much fun! Don't miss this one!

After CBS television pulled the plug on Tom Selleck's detective drama,"Magnum P.I.",Tom Selleck concentrated on his film career which would last several more years. This film is Selleck's post-Magnum first. It is based on the book by Philip Blackwood,played by Selleck. Philip has written several novels in the past. Blackwood's novel of the same title inspired what was seen in this film. A bearded Philip is present at the arraignment of a young Romanian girl named Nina(Paulina Porizkova). Nina was accused of murder and was convicted. After Philip shaves his beard down to a moustache,he visits Nina in prison,dressed as a minister and bails her out. This is where their romance began. One memorable scene was where Philip is shot in the derriere by a hunting arrow,fired by Nina who was hunting some kind of animal. In the last scene,at a circus,Philip,Nina and a few other people are there as clowns. The few other people are criminals out to get Nina and are arrested. The closing theme entitled "Falling In Love",was written and performed by Randy Newman.

Tom Selleck and Paulina Porizkova do a decent acting job in the movie. The last part of the movie was a bit of a let-down, but overall it is OK. In a nutshell, Porizkova is suspected of a crime, and writer Selleck offers an alibi for her in exchange for a story.

The best part, responsible for all three stars I've given the DVD, is Selleck's narration of the book his character is writing. That is really funny. The plot and story is mostly non-existent or far-fetched, but the contrast between reality and what he writes is amusing.

No extras at all on the DVD. Rated PG for some language. No sex or nudity - rats!

People who claim this film isn't serious aren't getting the point. This is a gentle mystery-comedy with the sexy Paulina Porizkova and the fun-loving Tom Selleck.

Selleck plays the Agatha Christie-style mystery writing who is suffering from writers block. He discovers a Russian beauty who is accused of murder and is inspired. Pretending to be her alibi, he starts writing his new greatest novel loosely based on his experiences. There is a slight problem though. He is falling in love with her and doesn't know whether she is or is not a murderess.