Her Alibi

Starring:Tom Selleck, Paulina Porizkova, William Daniels, James Farentino, Hurd Hatfield, Ronald Guttman, Victor Argo, Patrick Wayne, Tess Harper, Bill Smitrovich, Bobo Lewis, Jane Welch, Austin Hay, W. Benson Terry, Joan Copeland, Liliana Komorowska, Alan Mixon, Barbara Caruso, Marlene Bryan, William Aylward
Director: Bruce Beresford
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

To see why Tom Selleck's movie career has been a constant uphill battle, look no further than this tepid mystery/comedy from 1989. Selleck plays a successful mystery novelist who cures a persistent case of writer's block by visiting the courtroom trial of a young Romanian woman named Nina (played by late '80s supermodel Paulina Porizkova) who has been accused of murder. He supplies the alleged murderer with an alibi--she can claim she was having an affair with him at his Connecticut country home at the time of the murder--and then he brings her to Connecticut to make the alibi look legitimate. Is she in fact a killer? Did she serve poisoned casserole to a group of dinner guests? You'd have to be a major fan of Selleck or Porizkova to want to find out what happens next, because despite a few light moments of engaging comedy this is the kind of nonsensical fluff that quickly wears out its welcome. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Her Alibi.............2007-02-07

Extremely funny movie with some mystery mixed in with it as well! Great storyline and very well acted movie by all cast members involved.

Tom Selleck plays a best selling mystery writer who hits a long dry spell after he divorced his wife. His publisher is pressuring him to write another best selling novel. Selleck's character falls in love with a young, beautiful, Romanian woman (Paulina Porizkova) accused of murder with whom he doesn't know. Is she innocent or is she guilty of the crime she's being accused of? Selleck doesn't know, but decides to be "her alibi" by saying that he knows her and that she is his lover.

Porizkova's character unwillingly moves in with Selleck's character because the Romanian Secret Police are after her which only adds to the suspense of this movie...... Is she a criminal or what? Through out the movie Porizkova's character provides Selleck's character with lots of fodder to write another best selling novel..... She becomes the muse he needs to write his next book.

In the end all is revealed. Sit back and enjoy the humorous story as it unfolds.

Good clean fun.......2006-11-07

Tom Selleck, writer of mysteries, is enchanted by a beautiful foreigner, Paulina Porizkova. Searching for a new spin for his fictional character, this writer finds a plot brewing in the eyes of the alluring murder suspect. In the process he falls in love but at the same time is unsure of her innocence. Will he be the next victim? Their interplay is charming but not sophisticated. This is a simple, fun movie with loads of laughs.

It holds up -- like comfort food........2006-11-07

After almost 18 years, this largely underrated little comedy remains a perennial treasure and brings a special brand of joy with every viewing.

Ms. Porizkova is always just as gorgeous; Tom Selleck's faux macho narration as unfailingly corny and amusing; the dark comedy about the cat and the food poisoning just as unnecessary and out of place; and the slapstick surrounding the arrow in Selleck's posterior just as forced and, well, funny.

Her Alibi is an escape, a return to a simpler time that at this writing is still less than two decades ago.

Keep a copy of this DVD in your collection and pop it into the player to lift your spirits on a rainy day.

I LOVE HER AND I FEAR HER.......2006-04-23

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.

Fun Mystery Romp .......2005-05-11

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!

Average customer rating:

Held for Murder Aka Her Mad Night
Starring: Mary Carlisle , William B. Davidson , Irene Rich , Conway Tearle , and Ken Thomson
Director: E. Mason Hopper
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Drama | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

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Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0009OL8U8
Release Date: 2005-07-27

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