Many liberties have been taken with the source material. Some changes are inspired, though most seem random, giving the movie a half-baked, mashup feel. The Seven Dwarves are re-named, and are now seven bandits that leap around the woods on spring-like stilts and rob their victims of their gold. An empowered Snow White (Lily Collins) learns how to swordfight and is in no need of saving by a Prince (Armie Hammer) who is not entirely up to the task anyway. Another twist: the tale is told from the point of view of the Evil Queen (Julia Roberts).
There is still a mirror on the wall, but it's actually a watery portal to...another mirror, where the Queen speaks to her own alter-ego reflection. Nothing comes of these overwrought visitations, except vague warnings about the price of using magic.
Enjoying herself in the unfamiliar role of the villain, Julia Roberts delivers playfully sarcastic lines in a partially English accent. It's not as enjoyable to watch though, as the humor is mild and the punches are pulled. The more inspired bits are when the unpleasantness is directed towards her: an uncomfortable corset-fitting; a facemask of bird droppings; lips that are literally bee-stung. Lily Collins and Armie Hammer are nice to look at but make for a dull royal duo. Fortunately Nathan Lane is reliably funny as the Queen's henchman.
"Mirror, Mirror" is visually stunning, but the super-saturated sets and eye-candy costumes are more interesting than anything anybody says or does. Unless you're a kid, watching this movie will just make you sleepy: like biting into a shiny red poisoned apple.
| Movie title | Mirror Mirror |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2012 |
| MPAA Rating | PG |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | As Snow White movies go, director Tarsem Singh's makeover is not the fairest of them all. |
