source: Scenes from a Mall

Trailer—Scenes from a Mall

Scenes from a Mall

One word that describes the movie for me is frustrating. Though the setting might be a rather original idea, it falls short on the plot and characters. For me, the couple are not convincing. They seem to different, a clingy, weak, uncool attorney married to a strong, manipulative and insightful woman. Whilst, Woody totally destroys any dignity and self respect for himself, Bette, seems to be constantly boosting her ego with more and more manipulation. Another flaw is that the setting works against it. At times, i must admit they fit the criteria for a realistic approach of those couples who argue at shopping centre's so loudly, the whole idea in itself removes the realism from it. Though this is comedy, the mime, for me is straight up an irritation. There just seems to be no character development and that's what the whole film has tried to fit into. The plot is written to suit the insight of a couple who play mind games on each other constantly, and for me falls short.

In Los Angeles, the upper class lawyer Nick (Woody Allen) and the psychologist Deborah (Bette Midler) are married with children and successful in their professions. On the day of their 16th anniversary of marriage, their children travel with their friends and Nick and Deborah go to a mall in Beverly Hills to bring Japanese food to have dinner at home with some friends and exchange gifts. Nick buys the book written by Deborah and reads a chapter where she writes the marriage should be renewed every now and then and decides to confess his affairs to her in the beginning of a troubled afternoon in the mall. "Scenes from a Mall" is a comedy with a promising storyline that fails in the last part. The plot is funny until the moment that Deborah confesses that she has an affair with her mentor. However there are good moments and worth watching this film. My vote is six. Title (Brazil): "Cenas em um Shopping" ("Scenes from a Mall")

Woody Allen and Bette Midler play an affluent married couple with teenage children. He is a lawyer, she a celebrated psychiatrist with a bestselling book. The two stars cover about 80% of the picture either talking to each other, an unseen person on the phone or themselves. They could not appear any more selfish, superficial than perceived here. On their 16th wedding anniversary (with big plans for a celebration) both confess to the other their affairs. Halfway into the film, I wanted them to get a damn divorce and get it over with. These two quickly turn from annoying to totally unbearable. Only one thing would be worse than watching this nonsense: Being one of the two characters. Sad! Allen and Middler are Superstars who need not waste their talents on such stupid material. Are they selling out, or why would they do this to their solid fan base? Please, don't offend my intelligence like this ever again!

This movie was great, and to an earlier comment, the movie wasn't filmed in California, it was filmed in Stamford Connecticut. DUH. The movie made my sides split. What is the matter with you people? Woodie Alan is so funny in this! I am in an acting class in Palm Beach Atlantic University, and going by what my teacher has said, they did an awesome acting job, and I thought that the movie as a whole was hilarious. Some people are so caught up in critiquing movies that they don't know how to enjoy movies anymore, just for the pure enjoyment. Maybe it's just my personal judgement but this movie rocked my socks and made me wanna pee in my pants. Too bad no one else could see this.

If you enjoy a film full of subtle one liners then this is one you must see. Allen and Midler are their best delivering on cue subtle gags which relate to our hidden fears at growing old. Sit back and enjoy and laugh especially if you're reaching that time of life.

I'm a big Woody Allen fan, so naturally I got a sufficient amount of laughs from the film (though he didn't write the script). But the movie plays out like a stage play, and perhaps it would've worked better that way--like any movie that centers solely on 2 characters. Allen and Midler have a fine chemistry, and their banter is often amusing. But the infidelity thing seemed to have been thrown in as a simple way to develop some sort of plot and some sort of conflict. Are they gonna break up for good? Are they gonna decide to stay together? Those who've seen films like these won't have a tough time figuring the outcome. "Scenes from a Mall" is funny, harmless entertainment, but not exactly a must-see. My score: 7 (out of 10)

Someone from Hollywood with a sympathetic heart should gather up all the prints of "Scenes from a Mall" and take a match to them. It would be an act of generosity. This comedy from Paul Mazursky is pretty much an appalling waste of film, and a waste of time for stars Woody Allen and Bette Midler. Allen and Midler play a California married couple 'celebrating' their 16 years together as husband and wife; they share a scene near the beginning in the bathtub, and see if you squirm through it as much as I did. I laughed one time during this atrocious fiasco (where Bette buys a new dress and Woody tells her she looks like his aunt). Otherwise, it's a claustrophobic drag with seemingly no script to fall back on. Everyone is winging it--badly. NO STARS from ****