Scenes from a Mall

I refuse to believe that Allen thought this script was good. He has written a few clunkers in his time, but nothing as bland as this would-be satire of marital strife among middle aged bores. He probably just did it as a favour to Mazursky, and it's really only his presence that saves it from the trash heap. It's mildly amusing to watch him play a Californian yuppie with a ponytail, but that's where it ends. Midler is annoying, and the dialogue is bereft of verve and wit.

A punishing chore to sit through, which no one will do unless they are a demented Woody completionist such as myself. Completely laughless, and the central conflict loops approximately 500 times. I liked the brief scene where some random guys rap. Fabio briefly shows up in an elevator in a non-speaking role.

Patchy but amusing comedy is certainly worth the ride for fans of its stars; Allen is outrageously cast against type as a surfboard carrying (!) pony-tailed (!) dyed-in-the-wool Los Angeles type, while Midler's impassioned portrait of a wife scorned is impressive simply on its own terms. Unfortunately both characters are abrasive and unlikable, and the film is cluttered with too many pointless reaction shots from bit players (it may have worked more effectively as a literal two hander).

A poorly written movie that just doesn't have anything of worth in it. I'm actually at a loss as to why Allen attached himself to this movie. As for Midler, well, she never did anything worth a watch anyway.

When streaming movies was becoming a thing this was one of the first I watched that way. I mention that only because this movie has very few great things going for it. I thought it was a mostly ok way to waste some time, get a few chuckles, and not be bored for 90 minutes.

Not the best Woody Allen film for sure, however enough wry dialogues to keep a Woody Allen fan entertained.