Mirror Mirror (Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer) : Movie Review

The old adage, don’t judge a book by its cover, is true of films and their trailers. If you’ve seen the preview for Tarsem Singh’s Mirror Mirror, you may have found yourself, much like me, cringing with every fibre of your being. However, once given the chance, Mirror Mirror proves to be a lush production and great family entertainment.

Putting a spin on the classic story, Lily Collins plays the fair princess Snow White, who is kept a prisoner in her own castle by her evil stepmother, the Queen (Julia Roberts), after the disappearance of her father, played by Sean Bean. There are magical elements at play here, including the Queen’s magic mirror, but it goes beyond the classic “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”

When the Queen sends her footman, Brighton (Nathan Lane), into the woods to kill Snow he takes pity on her and lets her escape. The Queen, thinking her competition to be dead, focuses on convincing the dashing – and more importantly, rich – young Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer) to marry her, thus saving her Kingdom from financial ruin.

Snow White plans to foil the nuptials and take back her birthright when she meets seven bandits who teach her lessons about courage, friendship and standing up for yourself.

Comparisons to the upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman are inevitable, and compared to Rupert Sanders’ beefed up fairytale, Mirror Mirror is sure to pale in comparison on first glance. What’s so impressive about this film however, is the use of colour, costume and even song and dance at the end, which all combine to create a wholesome children’s film.enjoyed by children and parents alike.

The performances are all impressive, Collins shines as a fresh young talent, and Hammer provides the most laughs of the film, showing he can comfortably handle a comedic role. Roberts as the Queen does become grating as the film gets on, her take on the evil stepmother is at first entertaining yet doesn’t show much development, and one can’t help but feel they’re just watching Julia Roberts “acting”.

Mirror Mirror

Just as enjoyable as Collins and Hammer are the bandits, Napoleon, Half Pint, Grub, Grimm, Wolf, Butcher, and Chuckles.

Tarsem Singh’s Mirror Mirror is a decadent feast for film lovers and young children. The mixture of bright colours; wacky situations, lovable characters and stunning costumes, designed by Eiko Ishioka, all combine for a unique, and definitely surprising, cinema experience. Leave your preconceived judgements at the door and let yourself be pleasantly amazed.

WATCH OUT FOR | RATING : 3.5 OUT OF 5