Alibi.com
Greg founded a company called Alibi.com that creates any type of alibi. With his associate, Augustin, and Medhi his new employee, they devise unstoppable stratagems and stagings to cover their clients. But meeting Flo, a pretty blonde who hates men who lie, will complicate Greg's life, which begins by hiding the true nature of his activity. During the presentation to parents, Greg understands that Gérard, the father of Flo, is also one of their clients.
Despite its limited budget of $7.5M, Alibi.com became a commercial success, earning $29.4M worldwide—a 289% return. The film's distinctive approach found its audience, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Greg
Flo
Augustin
Mehdi
Flo's Father
Flo's Mother
Main Cast & Characters
Greg
Played by Philippe Lacheau
Charming entrepreneur who runs Alibi.com, creating elaborate alibis for cheating clients until he falls in love
Flo
Played by Élodie Fontan
Greg's girlfriend who eventually discovers his business, forcing him to confront his deceptive lifestyle
Augustin
Played by Julien Arruti
Greg's best friend and business partner at Alibi.com, the comedic sidekick who helps execute elaborate schemes
Mehdi
Played by Tarek Boudali
Team member at Alibi.com who contributes to the company's elaborate deception operations
Flo's Father
Played by Didier Bourdon
Flo's protective and traditional father who becomes suspicious of Greg
Flo's Mother
Played by Nathalie Baye
Flo's mother who, along with her husband, puts pressure on Greg and Flo's relationship
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Greg is shown successfully running Alibi.com, orchestrating elaborate alibis for cheating clients with his team, establishing his morally dubious but profitable business.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Greg meets Flo and is immediately smitten. She represents something genuine and good, disrupting his cynical view of relationships and making him want something real.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Greg commits to the lie about his profession when he meets Flo's father Gérard, a stern moralist. Greg actively chooses to maintain his deception rather than come clean., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Gérard himself becomes a client of Alibi.com, wanting to cheat on his wife. Greg is horrified to discover his future father-in-law is a hypocrite, and must now create alibis for him while hiding his identity., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The truth explodes catastrophically. Flo discovers Greg's real profession and his involvement in her father's affair. She breaks up with him, and the family is torn apart by the revelations., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Greg decides to use his skills for good. He realizes he can employ his expertise in elaborate scenarios not to deceive, but to win Flo back with genuine honesty and a grand romantic gesture., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Alibi.com's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Alibi.com against these established plot points, we can identify how Philippe Lacheau utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Alibi.com within the comedy genre.
Philippe Lacheau's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Philippe Lacheau films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Alibi.com exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Philippe Lacheau filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Philippe Lacheau analyses, see Babysitting, Superwho?.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Greg is shown successfully running Alibi.com, orchestrating elaborate alibis for cheating clients with his team, establishing his morally dubious but profitable business.
Theme
Augustin remarks that relationships built on lies are doomed to fail, foreshadowing the central conflict Greg will face when his own relationship becomes built on deception.
Worldbuilding
The world of Alibi.com is established: Greg and his team create alibis, we see their methods and clients, and Greg's comfortable bachelor lifestyle is shown before he meets Flo.
Disruption
Greg meets Flo and is immediately smitten. She represents something genuine and good, disrupting his cynical view of relationships and making him want something real.
Resistance
Greg pursues Flo and they begin dating. He debates whether to tell her about his real job, ultimately deciding to lie and claim he runs a wedding planning business instead.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Greg commits to the lie about his profession when he meets Flo's father Gérard, a stern moralist. Greg actively chooses to maintain his deception rather than come clean.
Mirror World
Greg's relationship with Flo deepens, showing him what an honest, loving partnership could look like. She becomes the mirror reflecting who he could become if he abandons his deceptive ways.
Premise
Comic complications ensue as Greg juggles his secret business while trying to impress Gérard. The team creates elaborate scenarios to maintain Greg's cover while still serving clients.
Midpoint
Gérard himself becomes a client of Alibi.com, wanting to cheat on his wife. Greg is horrified to discover his future father-in-law is a hypocrite, and must now create alibis for him while hiding his identity.
Opposition
The web of lies becomes increasingly tangled. Greg must manage Gérard's affair while keeping his business secret from Flo. Near-misses and close calls multiply as the deceptions threaten to unravel.
Collapse
The truth explodes catastrophically. Flo discovers Greg's real profession and his involvement in her father's affair. She breaks up with him, and the family is torn apart by the revelations.
Crisis
Greg hits rock bottom. He has lost Flo, his business feels hollow, and he must confront the consequences of building his life on helping others deceive their loved ones.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Greg decides to use his skills for good. He realizes he can employ his expertise in elaborate scenarios not to deceive, but to win Flo back with genuine honesty and a grand romantic gesture.
Synthesis
Greg orchestrates an elaborate plan to prove his love and sincerity to Flo. He uses all his creative talents not for alibis but for a genuine declaration of love, while also helping repair Flo's parents' marriage.
Transformation
Greg and Flo reunite, now with complete honesty between them. He has transformed from a professional liar into someone who values truth in relationships. The final image shows their authentic happiness together.