Mirror Mirror (PG)

Hollywood’s captivation with fairy tales has led to many re-tellings of these classic stories over the years. From a slew of Disney animated movies such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cinderella,” and “Sleeping Beauty,” to productions such as “The Brothers Grimm” and 2011’s “Red Riding Hood,” recreation of these ageless classics have become a challenge to filmmakers and actors alike. The tradition of producing these movies has become a staple in a sea of ever-changing Hollywood films.

With the trailer for “Snow White and the Huntsman” several months back, it seemed that the legend of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was the latest fairy tale slated for Hollywood recreation. Planned for release in June, the movie had enough big-budget feel and dramatic potential to bring the legend to life on the big screen. However, audiences looking forward to experiencing the legend of Snow White need not wait until June; “Mirror Mirror,” starring Julia Roberts and Lily Collins, hit theatres this April. The movie, while drawn out and ambiguous during many sections, offers a decent amount of entertainment for kids, and probably adults who enjoy these classic re-tellings.

The plot of the film sticks fairly close to the legend of Snow White. The Queen (played by Julia Roberts) rules the kingdom with a tight, albeit lackadaisical fist. She commands people in her employ according to her whim, and seems to get joy out of being difficult and, in many scenes, downright nasty. However, her most pointed contempt if saved for Snow White (Lily Collins), who, hoping to attend a gala event in the castle on her 18^th birthday is chastised for daring to leave her room and interrupt the Queen’s proceedings. Roberts does a fairly convincing job alerting us to the fact that she absolutely despises Snow White.

The movie takes a turn when Snow ventures out of the palace gates unbeknownst to the Queen. She ends up in the dark woods, where she meets Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer, “The Social Network“) and his compatriot, who are hung upside down from a tree after being robbed by a group of bandits (The Seven Dwarfs). Alcott quickly becomes smitten with her before she cuts the two loose and disappears. However, it is the sights she sees before discovering Alcott – namely a starving, oppressed town struggling to survive under the Queen’s heavy taxes – that change her mind and her apathy regarding her place in the Queen’s palace. The town once thrived under the rule of her father, the King, who is now presumed dead. Collins (daughter of singer Phil Collins) does a good job at highlighting Snow’s shock of discovering things are not all as they appear in the kingdom.

By the time she returns she has confided in her friend, Baker Margaret, that she wishes to overthrow the queen and take back her Kingdom. However, learning that Snow White now opposes her, the Queen has one of her minions, Brighton (Nathan Lane, “Stuart Little 2,” T.V’s “30 Rock”) take her to the dark woods to be dispatched. However, a fear of the forest and affection for Snow lead Brighton to leave before the job is done, setting up the rest of the film.

One of the strong points of the film is absolutely the look of the kingdom, and the dark woods, which, coming from Director Tarsem Singh (“Immortals”) is no surprise. The eerie feel the woods have, as well as the opulent, ostentatiously dressed palace-goers adds a layer of brightness to the proceedings that pleases the eye. Additionally, special effects bring the legend to life in fairy-tale fashion: monsters the Queen uses to threaten Snow White are believable and well managed CGI, and the fight scenes, while lacking dramatic urgency, act as engaging entertainment.

The movie’s major fault is that it tends to lose the audience’s attention during the first half. While the legend of Snow White tells us why certain things must happen to the movie’s protagonist, the film assumes we know these things. Also, while only at 106 minutes in length, the films’ ending takes a seeming long time to get there. We do not get a clear progression of the plot of the film. There are to be confrontations and there are to be battles – we’re just not often sure when they are going to happen.

However, “Mirror Mirror” does have much to offer for all audiences alike, though it will probably appeal most to kids, parents, and young adults. Its visuals are striking, and its actors deliver believable and fun performances. Roberts is convincing as the evil Queen, Hammer is humorous as the manipulated Prince, and Collins is sweet and funny as Snow White as she comes to realize her destiny. Possibly the most fun of the entire movie, however, rests in the hands of the seven dwarfs – some scenes with them will make you laugh, others will make you smile, and still others will have you rooting for them above all the rest. They are the heart of the movie. It is a credit to the film that it indeed realizes this and gives audiences numerous scenes with these lovable heroes.

– by Mark Ziobro