Scenes from a Mall

Plot

Nick (Woody Allen), a sports lawyer, is married to psychotherapist and author Deborah (Bette Midler). After years of being happily married, Nick reveals to Deborah that he has had an affair. She is soon shocked and requests a divorce, but later admits that she herself has been unfaithful.

Cast

• Bette Midler – Deborah Fifer
• Woody Allen – Nick Fifer
• Bill Irwin – Mime
• Daren Firestone – Sam
• Rebecca Nickels – Jennifer
• Paul Mazursky – Doctor Hans Clava
• Marc Shaiman – Pianist
• Fabio Lanzoni – Handsome Man

Production

Most of the mall scenes were filmed at the Kaufman Astoria Studios sound stages in Queens, New York. Mall scenes with elevators and escalators were filmed at the Stamford Town Center in Stamford, Connecticut. Mall exteriors were filmed at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, California, the mall where most of the picture is set.

Reception

The film received mostly negative reviews, and rated at 32% on Rotten Tomatoes from an aggregate of 25 reviews. At the time of its release, film critics almost unanimously commented that the characters' emotional responses were contrived and false, and that the gaudy set design and production seemed an obvious effort to hide the film's lack of both comedic value and dramatic substance. On their television show, Ebert's colleague Gene Siskel called the film "stunningly unfunny," saying he "didn't laugh once when they were inside the mall, and that's incredible for a film with these two stars." Siskel also wondered if Allen's paycheck was the sole reason for his appearance in the film.

The Los Angeles Times Peter Rainder opined that "the pairing of Allen and Midler, which might seem like the kind of weirdo match-up that could produce a comedy classic, never takes flight. ... Allen and Midler are such highly individual actors that they never quite seem to be in the same orbit; the series of juicy marital revelations that keep perking the movie come across as forced and schematic because we never really believe in the relationship." Variety similarly said that the characters' "emotional storms never achieve any veracity. They seem like just another indulgence on the part of the pampered, secure spouses."

Many critics found the film's awfulness to be especially startling in light of its esteemed director and lead actors. However, most commented that Allen and Midler's performances were not to blame, as there was simply no way to play the characters that would have made them likable or believable.

Scenes from a Mall was amongst Siskel & Ebert's worst movies of 1991. Gene Siskel, who chose the film for the list with Ebert approving the choice, remarked, "Bette Midler and Woody Allen in the same film as a married couple? Well, the very idea of that is funnier than anything in the movie!"

Box office

The film was not a box office success but did manage to bring back its budget. It grossed $9.6 million and $19 million worldwide.

References

References

1. "Scenes from a Mall (1991)".
2. Ebert, Roger. (February 22, 1991). "Scenes from a Mall". [[Chicago Sun Times]].
3. (1991-02-23). "Scenes from a Mall/Nothing But Trouble/He Said, She Said/King Ralph/The Field".
4. Rainer, Peter. (February 22, 1991). "MOVIE REVIEW : Down and Out in Beverly Center : A Slice of L.A.--Without the Bite". [[Los Angeles Times]].
5. (December 31, 1990). "Scenes from a Mall". [[Variety (magazine).
6. Canby, Vincent. (February 22, 1991). "Review/Film; A Marriage On and Off The Rocks". [[The New York Times]].
7. "The Worst Movies of 1991".
8. "THREE-DAY WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : A Replay of the Top Fhree". [[Los Angeles Times]].
9. {{Mojo title. scenesfromamall. Scenes from a Mall
10. (5 September 1997). "International Star Chart".