Mirror Mirror

  • Review Date: March 30, 2012
  • PG
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • 2012
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Visually appealing fairy tale lacks oomph but fine for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Mirror Mirror is a kid-friendly take on the Snow White fairy tale. Expect a few (bloodless) sword fights and some suggestive jokes that may go over kids' head (including references to a "May-December" romance and a quick reference to being "taken advantage of"). There's also a chaste kiss, a few longing looks, and a couple of dog-like licks on the queen's face while the prince is under a spell. In addition to the sword fights, the Mirror casts some malicious spells, and there are two killer, giant marionettes that try to destroy Snow White and the dwarfs. Unlike Disney's Snow White, Lily Collins' princess ends up learning how to stand up for herself and fights the queen's (Julia Roberts) evil beast alongside the prince.

  • This isn't an educational film, but there are some lessons in the importance of self confidence, tolerance, and generosity. The queen also teaches kids the dangers of greed and vanity.
  • Prominent messages about the importance of selflessness, kindness, and not basing your assessment of someone on their looks or height or wealth. The evil queen (who's clearly a villainess) is portrayed as power-hungry, uncaring, narcissistic, and uninterested in anyone but herself, while Snow's journey shows young girls that they need to stand up for themselves and what's right, even if it's a scary thing to do.
  • Snow White does eventually learn to stand up to the queen and fight for what's right, but she's a fairly passive character for most of the movie. The dwarfs are intelligent and skilled, but they've been forced to live in exile and steal from rich travelers. The prince is brave and confident, as princes tend to be in stories. On the other hand, the queen is unmitigatedly mean, resentful, and jealous.
  • Some sword fighting (no one is seriously injured) and a sequence in which two giant marionettes try to kill Snow White and destroy the dwarfs' home. Toward the end of the movie, the queen unleashes her pet beast (a flying mythical creature) which nearly kills Snow and the prince. The king dies in the beginning of the movie, but it's not shown. Some threats.
  • A few suggestive jokes. Half-Pint keeps flirting with Snow White, with whom he's clearly smitten. The queen makes several comments about how distractingly attractive the prince is, and Snow White and the prince share a kiss. In one scene, a bespelled prince licks the queen's face. The prince and Snow White have a sword fight in which he "spanks" her with his sword. The prince's shirt is stripped from him, and the queen reacts to his physique.
  • The most commonly uttered insult is "idiot," with a "stupid" and some euphemisms for "short" thrown in aimed at the dwarfs.
  • No product placements, but the movie does have tie-ins like a novelization and chapter book, apparel, and more.
  • Some drinking by grown-ups at parties and receptions. A dwarf behaves in a drunken manner.

What's the story?

Snow White (Lily Collins) has spent the years since her father the king's disappearance imprisoned in the castle, while her greedy stepmother the queen (Julia Roberts) ruthlessly rules over the kingdom. The day of her 18th birthday, Snow escapes to the village and witnesses its poverty. On the way, she encounters two half-dressed men tied upside down to a tree. She frees the men -- who turn out to be Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer) and his valet -- and is instantly attracted to the tall and handsome royal hero. The two reunite at a castle ball, but the queen has set her sights on marrying the prince to have access to even more wealth, so she commands her aide (Nathan Lane) to kill Snow White. As she runs through the woods, Snow stumbles into a tiny abode, which is the home of the seven dwarfs (though unlike the Disney dwarfs, these seven guys are marauding thieves who teach Snow their warrior ways). With the queen still determined to marry the prince, Snow White is in grave danger when it's revealed she wasn't murdered after all.


Is it any good?

 

Roberts obviously had a ball playing the Evil Queen. Dressed in sumptuous, over-the-top gowns and spewing incessantly cruel comments, she's the kind of deliciously evil villain audiences love to hate. Her vanity and self-aggrandizing comments provide some of the movie's biggest laughs -- especially as she attempts to woo the much younger Prince Alcott. The Academy Award winner is funny and charming, even as she's hateful and uncaring. Snow White, on the other hand -- or, more specifically, ingenue Collins -- is quite the opposite. Instead of being adorably innocent like Amy Adams or Anne Hathaway, Collins is beautiful but boring.

Hammer, who was excellent in The Social Network, was born to play handsome princes. He's all broad shoulders, twinkly eyes, and gleaming teeth, but even he can't elicit much chemistry with Collins. To say their romance is underwhelming is an understatement. The only redeeming scene is when the two have a brief sword fight with some zippy dialogue. Otherwise, it's really the queen and the prince who have better rapport. And as for the dwarfs, they're probably the coolest part of the movie, because they're nothing like you'd expect. They're rogueish stick-up artists who've been forced out of the village to live on their own in the woods. They teach Snow White how to be more assertive and confident, and she encourages them to stop their thievery. This Snow White is dazzling to watch from an art direction and costume perspective (with the bonus Roberts' villainy), but the princess' personality is as flat as her skin color is fair.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how this take on Snow White compares to other versions of the beloved fairy tale. In what ways is this Snow White more assertive than other representations of her? How are the dwarfs a bigger part of the story?

  • What does Mirror Mirror have to say about vanity? What are the literal and figurative costs of the queen's vanity? Should it matter if you're the most beautiful person around?

  • Why are princess tales so popular? Does this spin on the princess story have a more progressive message for girls than previous versions?


This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Teen, 14 years old
March 30, 2012
 
Classic Fairytale for the whole family!
This is a wonderful movie. A classic fairy tale but with a twist. This movie takes place from the queen's point of view :) It is a wonderful movie for the whole family to see. Snow White is a really good role model, showing how stealing is bad and how to give to the poor. Great Movie!

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Parent of 7 and 7 year old
March 30, 2012
 
Upon reflection, it was pretty good
I've seen some of the mixed reviews of this movie, but I have to say that I and my 8-year-old daughters enjoyed this film. I'm always sensitive to the messages that a movie sends to girls, and I'm pleased that "Mirror Mirror" has a strong heroine, one who rises above adversity to become a wise leader. (The fact that she can hold her own in a sword fight is a plus.) I also was happy to see that there was a diverse cast (e.g. among the villagers and even with the "dwarves.") And while it may not be for all adults, the broad humor did elicit a fair amount of chuckles from the grown-ups with us in the theater.

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Teen, 14 years old
March 30, 2012
 
Good movie, but a few scary scenes
I went to see this movie for our school's AR field trip and it was really good. It has some potentially scary scenes, mainly towards the end, but nothing too bad for young kids. Plus, Snow White is a great role model, as she's nice, brave, and selflessly helps others. OK for kids 8+. Violence: Some small battles, including a scene towards the end where Snow White and the prince take on the queen's dragon, but nobody gets hurt. One scene shows evil marionettes trying to destroy Snow White and the dwarfs, but nobody is hurt. The dragon could be very frightening to younger kids. At the end, the queen tries to give Snow White a poisoned apple, but she doesn't eat it. Sex: Some sexual jokes that will probably go over kids' heads. One dwarf falls for Snow White and lightly flirts with her. The prince is shown shirtless twice, but nothing too graphic. The prince and Snow White kiss in some scenes. Drinking: Adult drinking at parties, but no excessive drinking.

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Kid, 11 years old
April 5, 2012
 
good for the whole family
It was a good movie that the family might like. The thing is that it was a bit dull. Like how many movies have to be about fairy tale, but it was a enchanting movie.

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Teen, 16 years old
March 30, 2012
 
k
boring stupid slapstick humor sucks with unfunny humar and Juli Roberts charecter gets annoying, boring MOVIE

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Kid, 10 years old
April 1, 2012
 
meh.
i thought it stunk.

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Kid, 10 years old
April 6, 2012
 
Wow
Some violence I would watch out! Some sexy scenes like when the prince slaps snow's bottom is v.ery inappropriate

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Parent of 6 and 10 year old
April 8, 2012
 
A Mom's Review
Just finished watching this. Educational value: Kids learn that beauty isn't everything, but this film was not directed to be educational. Positive Role Modelss: Snow White is courageous, while the queen is very greedy. Violence: A few sword fights- nothing too bad Sexy stuff: A few flirty jokes and a kiss at the end This movie was a bit boring for me, but my 10 year old and six year old were pretty entertained(though I had bought them popcorn!)

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Teen, 13 years old
April 6, 2012
 
Good
It's good. Puts a twist on a classic fairytale.

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Parent of 10, 11, and 13 year old
April 7, 2012
 
get a popcorn refill during the beauty treatment
The queen gets a revolting "beauty" treatment that involves bird poop, snakes, and a variety of bugs which are put on her or that she eats - we (my 11 year old daughter & I) could have lived without seeing that. Otherwise movie has some funny moments & we liked how Snow White stood up for herself, the poor townspeople and the dwarves.

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This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Topics:magic and fantasy, princesses and fairies, great girl role models
Studio:Relativity Media
Director:Tarsem Singh
Cast:Armie Hammer, Julia Roberts, Lily Collins
Genre:Fantasy
Run time:102 minutes
Theatrical release date:March 30, 2012
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:some fantasy action and mild rude rumor

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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