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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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's obvious that the casting was taking advantage of the popularity of Tom Selleck and Paulina Porizkova. They play well together, even though it sounds like they didn't get along in real life. I was a big fan of Paulina in the swimsuit issues and I grew up watching Magnum PI, what wasn't to like? The story is funny and moves along well. The actors did a good job and it makes for a fun date night movie. Grab some popcorn and your favorite drink and sit back on a Friday night and enjoy. For those fellow Paulina fans out there, the whole movie will make you appreciate her even more....especially the pool scene. You're welcome!

This movie just isn't very good.

It's not entertaining. It's not funny. It's confusing in its messaging and its point. Is it a comedy? Is it trying to be a psychological thriller?

If I didn't see the word comedy in its description, I wouldn't have been so certain at least for the first good part of this movie.

Paulina is beautiful.

There's no doubt or confusion about that.

But the whole premise of this movie is silly.

Dude's just gonna go out on a limb and vouch for this chick not knowing her at all in anyway and say that she's not a killer? Even if she is stunning, that doesn't mean she couldn't off somebody.

And then he's a writer but the voiceover of his writing is just cliche'd and awful.

No way that's the stuff of his supposed bestsellers.

No way.

And again, it's just not funny. Even the parts where it's trying to be.

But even with all this lame mediocrity, I couldn't help but think what a shame it was that Tom Selleck never really became the movie star that he should've been. Especially back in the 1980's when being a movie star really meant something.

But this movie ain't it.

It's not horrible.

It's just not good.

Bruce Beresford directed this Tom Selleck vehicle, released in 1989. This film barely broke even at the box office with good reason. It stars Selleck, Paulina Porizkova, and William Daniels.

A mystery wrier, Phil Blackwood (Selleck) has fallen on hard times. After some best sellers, he has develop writers block. He heads for the courthouse, hoping a trial will inspire him.

Phil is dazzled by the gorgeous emigre Nina (Porizkova) charged with murder. Believing her innocent, he provides an alibi for her. As the two fall in love, though, he begins to have doubts.

I saw this in the theater as I adore Selleck, who wound up in some poor films. All I can remember is how beautiful Porizkova was - nothing else!

This movie needed much more humor and some better acting by Porizkova. The supporting cast is very good. Wish the premise of the film had been stronger.

"Her Alibi", written by Charlie Peters and directed by Bruce Beresford, is a terrible movie, but you really can't put any of the blame on star Tom Selleck--he works hard at keeping this comedy from sinking. Romanian beauty, accused of murder, is freed from jail after a smitten mystery novelist (and his editor) provide her with an alibi. She moves into the writer's guest bedroom, but he braces his bedroom door with furniture just in case she really is a killer. Peters has an outré sense of humor, such as the disgusting scene wherein a group of people at a dinner party are encouraged to self-induce vomiting over the balcony after the suspect's main course apparently kills the cat! Most of the slapstick situations land with a clatter, while Beresford torpedoes the jokes by showing no talent for the ridiculous. Selleck's light touch is commendable, William Daniels adds a little pep, model Paulina Porizkova is placid but pretty, and Beresford stages a nice scene in the rain. Otherwise, "Her Alibi" needed funnier people behind the camera--and maybe another run through the word processor. *1/2 from ****

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.

Her Alibi was a promising movie, having the Tom Magnum Selleck on leading role, an eye candy Paulina Porizkova, mystery, crime and comedy oriented, could be much better, nevertheless it 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, so 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Tom Selleck plays a struggling novelist who goes to desperate lengths to find inspiration for his new book, and kickstart his failing career, all the while wondering if his latest muse is trying to murder him.

Selleck plays against type as a bumbling idiot, while his voiceover novelization embellishes his masculinity and prowess as a womanizing detective as the story unfolds. The plot is silly, and the acting is mediocre at best, especially from super model Porizkova. It's painfully obvious that she had never acted before, and the is little to no chemistry between her and Selleck.

The script doesn't ask much of its actors, or even the audience. It's a fun 80's rom-com, carried mostly by Selleck's charm, that will always be a guilty pleasure of mine.

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.

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

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! (**)