Based on the fairy tale “Snow White,” “Mirror, Mirror” tries to put a comical spin on the story and falls short.
The “Snow White” story has been done more than a few times, and will be done once more this year as “Snow White and the Huntsman” later in the summer.
In “Mirror, Mirror” the basic premise of the original tale is there, as Julia Roberts dons the crown and scowl of the evil queen. Lily Collins takes on the role of the ever “up” Snow who is banished from her castle when the evil queen has had enough of her.
As the film progresses, the story line splits in two as we follow the now banished Snow who meets up with seven dwarfs who make a living robbing from the rich.
The dwarfs take her in and train her in all sorts of martial arts and swordplay, etc. In return Snow begins to teach the dwarfs about giving back to the poor and about forgiveness, kindness and other stuff like that.
While Snow is in the forest training, the queen is trying to seduce a young prince (Army Hammer) who has traveled into the kingdom. On his journey he passed through the forest only to be robbed by Snow and her gang.
OK. Add in some sorcery and Nathan Lane rolling his eyebrows and you get the picture.
Plain and simple, “Mirror, Mirror” needed to be funnier. There are some smiles in the film as well as a few chuckles.
But there are no big laughs to be found.
That’s not say it isn’t an enjoyable film.
It is.
Although Julia Roberts makes an exceptionally sinister queen, she seems to be holding her presentation back.
Lily Collins made a charming “Snow White,” but was a bit too stiff in some key scenes.
The real saving grace of the movie, and the reason it gets an extra half grade, were the performances by the actors playing the dwarfs. Their interaction and enthusiasm is worth the ticket price in.
“Mirror, Mirror” gets a B- and is rated PG.
