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DVD Review: Mirror Mirror

Julia Roberts and Lily Collins

Director: Tarsem Singh
Stars: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane

Genre(s): Adventure; Comedy; Drama; Fantasy
DVD Release Date: June 26, 2012
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%





Honestly, the only reason I watched Mirror Mirror, Tarsem Singh's light-as-a-feather take on Snow White, was because it received an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design.  Although I found the Kristen Stewart-starring Snow White tale, Snow White and the Huntsman (coincidentally, also nominated for Best Costumes) to be more well-done and exciting, Singh's comedic approach was not as terrible as I would have expected.  I thoroughly enjoyed some bits and pieces, and I thoroughly disliked other bits and pieces.  

It is interesting to contrast the bright, vibrant colors of Mirror Mirror with the bleak, dark colors of Snow White: in both circumstances, these color palettes serve their purposes for the most part, though I'd give Snow White the slighter edge.  However, I am not writing an essay that compares and contrasts the two films.  Rather, I am focusing on Singh's version, which stars the adorable Lily Collins (The Blind Side) -- yes, she is Phil Collins' daughter -- as Snow White.  Snow has been living with her evil stepmom, the Queen (Julia Roberts) since her father mysteriously disappeared when she was a child.  On her 18th birthday, she decides to be more independent and explores the woods and town surrounding the castle in which she has been stuck.  She and the Prince (Armie Hammer, The Social Network) meet cute, but of course, the Queen is also interested in the Prince (mostly for the money).  It is easy to guess how it will end, but I will eliminate spoilers, just in case.     

Collins is absolutely lovely and is what one might expect this fairytale character: pure as snow (even when she is sword-fighting, it is hard to take her seriously), beautiful, kind, and a friend to all.  In that sense, Collins is perfect for the role, but she is not what I would consider leading lady material.  I can see how Armie Hammer's Prince would fall for her, but her transformation from naive princess to to kick-butt princess is not believable.  Hammer is suitable for his role, yet from his previous roles in The Social Network and J. Edgar, we know that he is capable of so much more (and deserves to be in a better movie).  The same can be said about Roberts' Queen: ever since her Best Actreswin 12 years ago for Erin Brockovich, she has fallen into the typical post-Oscar slump of terrible to mediocre films (with a few exceptions).  In Mirror Mirror, she is clearly having a grand 'ol time, and it is indeed fun to see her play a villain.  I did find it distracting that her accent kept changing: occasionally it was British, other times it was high-brow Titanic-esque, and other times it was just her normal Julia Roberts voice.

Overall, Singh's retelling of the Snow White fairytale is at least somewhat enjoyable -- especially when Snow starts working with the dwarves -- albeit flawed and, I thought, inferior to the Kristen Stewart-starring Snow flick flick that was released not long after this one.  I can see Mirror Mirror amusing children, as it has gags here and there that would appeal to younger audiences, and everything (violence included) is as chaste as can be.  The best part?  The costumes, of course.     
 
  


Grade: B-
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