Last November, that incomprehensible Greek Mythology film, Immortals, was released. Its director, Tarsem Singh, now has a new film out to make up for it. It's Mirror Mirror, the first of two Snow White films out this year.
Yes, there are two Snow White films. The similarities end there.
The Evil Queen (Julia Roberts) has run her peaceful kingdom to debt and beyond. Her stepdaughter Snow White (Lilly Collins) is supposed to be locked away in the tower. But thanks to kindly castle staff, she's able to go freely to her kingdom and see what's become of it.
And she's not happy with it.
She runs into the Seven Dwarves, who are named Half Pint, Grub, Grimm, Wolf, Chuckles, Butcher and Napoleon. They rob from the rich and give to themselves, but Snow White convinces them to give to the poor. They decide to help her get rid of the Queen, take back the Kingdom and also to win the dimwitted Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer).
As with Singh's previous films, the biggest star is...was costume designer Eiko Ishioka. She passed away in January, but her trademark extravagance at least got one more film to display it in. Together with the sets, her costumes succeed in providing eye candy for the masses.
The stars who wear that wardrobe provide capable performances for their roles. Especially with Roberts, who is both reliably humorous and nasty as the Evil Queen. Nathan Lane, as her yes-man Brighton, provided some good comic relief, as did Hammer as the Prince. And at least the story they were given was intelligible and straightforward, even if it felt too long at times.
For those seeking a good family time, this fairy tale will do just nicely. Just don't expect the same with Snow White and the Huntsman, a certainly "Grimm" film in every sense of the word.
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