Review of Scenes from a Mall (1991) by Jennifer A — 22 Mar 2006

I'm beginning the rather lengthy task of entering into the database every film I have seen, at least those I have a decent memory of. Some may have the briefest of reviews while many will just have a number. Those films that I consider personal favorites and/or those that have some historical signficance I will add later when I have time for more lengthy reviews.

[b]Boys on the Side[/b], directed by Herbert Ross, is a better than average "woman's movie" starring Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker and Drew Barrymore. Robin (Mary-Louise Parker) is a successful real estate executive battling AIDS. Jane (Whoopi Goldberg) is a lesbian singer, and Holly (Barrymore) is a young woman in an abusive relationship. It's definitely a sentimental film, and a couple of scenes don't work, but the film finishes strong and does an admirable job dealing with women in crisis, and works well as a friendship film.

[b]The First Wives Club[/b], directed by Hugh Wilson, is the story of three middle aged women (played by Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton) who meet at the funeral of an old college friend, renewing a friendship and discovering each have marital problems of their own. They soon seek revenge. The film also features Sarah Jessica Parker, Marcia Gay Harden, Maggie Smith, and Bronson Pinchot. This actually could have been a great film, but it too often goes for campy, over-the-top laughs. Goldie Hawn fares best in this film, and although enertaining at times, it plays to much like a sitcom to recommend to anyone other than fans of the three leads.

[b]Scenes From a Mall[/b], directed by Paul Mazursky and starring Woody Allen and Bette Midler is a romantic comedy that's neither romantic or funny.