In 1986, Bette Midler jump-started her movie career when she starred in Paul Mazursky's "Down and Out in Beverly Hills." But lightning didn't strike twice when she starred in this Mazursky film about a marriage crumbling while a couple shops at the mall. The concept has potential, but the script doesn't have the laughs. Although Woody Allen is an actor-for-hire here, he sticks to his neurotic, obsessive, over-analytical thing. The only thing he does against type is sport a goofy "dork knob" ponytail. Midler sticks to her persona, too, although a milder version of it. Still, Midler and Allen make a convincing couple and are the only reason to sit through this movie's blessedly brief 87 minutes. Maybe Midler should've held out and appeared in a Woody Allen movie instead of Allen appearing in a Bette Midler movie. Just an aside about the poster/cover art for "Scenes from a Mall": Whose body is Bette's head perched on? And who did the Touchstone art department think they were fooling?