Mirror Mirror

Plot: This is the famous story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves told as a winkingly ironic comedy. There are departures from the story to make the story more modern and a better foil for the ironic humor. In this version, Snow White (Lilly Collins) escapes from stepmom, the Queen (Julia Roberts,) and is sheltered by the Dwarves. The Queen is vain and in need of a husband to buttress her finances. She targets Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer.) Soon Snow White meets Price Alcott, and next Snow White is battling the Queen for his affections. The movie ends with Bollywood-style singing and dancing.  link to imdb   Photos

Review: From its first moments, the ironic tone is the dominant element of Mirror Mirror. The Queen's monolog gets us into her head, and the comic motivations of her vanity and lust for power. Meanwhile Snow White is as nice as can be, and not at all helpless -- no 21st Century Princess is helpless. Lily Collins makes Snow White cute and likable, when she is not stabbing with her dagger or swashbuckling with her sword.

The love story is pretty weak, and the Prince is just going through the fairy tale motions. The art direction is strong and the scenes are fancy, but never really inspired. In many places it looks like a stage show. I wonder if there was a stage version.

There were some reoccurring jokes; like the dwarves stealing peoples clothes, and leaving them in elaborate under-ware. I don't think this is a movie for children, since I don't think they'd like it. I don't think it is for adults either since it is not dark enough. It is hard to tell what effect they were going for. 

Cast: Julia Roberts, Lily Collin

Directed by: Rarsem Singh

Rating:   2.0 stars: this movie is cute, and kinda fun-to-watch.

More: I did not see the twist ending. 

Even more: I liked Snow White and the Huntsman better. See my review.