Tuesday, March 27, 2012

New Release Review: Mirror Mirror (Tarsem Singh, 2012)

Tarsem Singh (The Fall, Immortals) gets his chips down first in the battle of the Snow White reboots released in cinemas this year. With Snow White and the Hunstsman, which actually looks pretty good, arriving later this year, there has been plenty of speculation as to whether campy comedy, or dark thrills will be better received by audiences. Mirror Mirror didn’t promise much considering the promotional material, and I now can declare, the modernisation of the 1812 Grimm fairytale has little to praise. Technically over-indulgent, poorly cast, embarrassingly unfunny, and far too proud of itself, Mirror Mirror might please some youngsters – and fans of the awful spoof series' that have plagued cinemas for a decade – but what about grown-ups?



Firstly, why was it even called Mirror Mirror? Oh, who cares.

Snow White (Lily Colins) has spent most of childhood imprisoned in the castle with her evil stepmother, The Queen (Julia Roberts), after her loving father passes away. The Queen has ruled with malice, sending most of the residents in her realm into poverty, and continues to demand taxes to fund her lavish social gatherings. Snow, having just turned 18, and the rightful heir to the throne, is urged to see how the people are living, and is appalled how the realm has fallen into disrepute. Banished to the woods and ordered to be killed, she manages to escape and is taken in by a merry band of Dwarves. Together they start an uprising.

At the same time, The Queen is trying to woo Andrew Alcott (Armie Hammer), a wealthy Prince from a neighbouring Kingdom, to appease her dire financial situation. The problem: on the road to the Queen's castle, he meets Snow White and has become infatuated. The Queen will stop at nothing to prove to Alcott that she is the fairest, but Snow, fueled by her enthusiastic cohorts, is determined to both win her Prince, who has also captured her heart, and take back the throne.

Sure, youngsters may have some fun with the film, and may be mesmerised by the beauty of some of the sets and costumes - the latter impressively designed by the late Eiko Ishioka - but one of the most charming features of the Snow White story, and the highlight of this film, are the Dwarves. I liked the idea to change them into social outcasts who now make a tough living as bandits and thieves, but will this really wash with the kids? I don’t think so. I'm glad Mirror Mirror isn't in 3D, because it makes recommending this film a little bit easier. In addition to enduring it, parents would have had to cough up the outrageous price for the addition of 3D.


It is a baffling film, and nothing makes much sense. Apart from a series of extended, interrelated gags, there isn't much driving the narrative, which is full of wayward, groan-inducing sequences. It felt like the Dwarves were on stilts so that later there could be a joke about ‘Giant Dwarves’. There was more than one. There are a few mentions about a Beast that haunts the woods throughout the film – and this is the Queen’s scare tactic to the townsfolk (all eleven of them) - and it was inevitable it would end with Snow White’s confrontation. It serves no purpose in the story, however.

Julia Roberts appeared to have fun in her villainous role, but she was very miscast, and provided few laughs through her over-the-top and unconvincing delivery. I don’t want to delve into the trailer, but my main fear was that Roberts’ ‘funniest’ moments were used in there. The thing is, they weren’t actually funny. There are a few surprises, but beyond being a bitching and conniving irritation, these same jokes fail in the context of the film, and she is a very weak villain. 

Nathan Lane has seen better days, but is amusing. Armie Hammer (excellent in The Social Network, effective in J.Edgar) is a talented man, and while he balances the dimwitted with the charming quite well, the role results in him behaving like a puppy at one point. He can, and will, do better. I enjoyed the dwarves and despite growing tired of hearing seven subsequent one-line responses to everything, and I wish there was more time spent with them. 


Better was the radiant Lily Collins, well suited to the role and giving a sweet performance. I like the fact that Tarsem switched the role around and made Snow White the heroine – not waiting for the Prince to come and save her, but learning how to defend herself, and going on the offensive. All this is undone when Snow White proudly announces the film’s subversion. Thank you, we know you’re being clever, but lets not waste any more time.

The work that has gone into the design of the sets and costumes is very impressive, and can’t be dismissed, and while the look and style of the film is intentional; the fact that every scene felt so staged (the Queen’s bedroom and ballroom, the Town Square, the clearing in the woods where every battle is staged, and the Dwarves’ home, to name most of them), severely limits the scope of the film. I think Tarsem went way too indulgent with his production design, and on the one hand it wasn't used effectively within the story (merely as a backdrop, and rarely playing a direct role in any scene) and on the other, one is constantly distracted by the silliness of the story and the scenery-chewing performances. Also, most sequences didn’t last long enough and were pointlessly shot from peculiar angles, for the vibrant atmosphere to be conveyed.

Ultimately, Mirror Mirror is unashamedly cartoonish and certainly not sluggish in its pacing. Collins was convincing, and the Dwarves worked well together. I was never bored, I’ll give the film that, but the few times I found myself laughing I had to question whether I was laughing at moments within the film, or the mediocrity of the film itself. A couple of amusing montages (featuring the Dwarves) and bursts of inventiveness (the Queen’s beauty treatment, the giant marionette puppets), and some cheeky pokes at the original fairy tale, isn’t enough to save a low-shooting Tarsem from delivering an overly stagey, hack job of a mess. Leaving a comedy feeling this frustrated is not fun, and while I understand that this is meant to be a PG, family-friendly outing, I can’t justify recommending this at all. This farce is far too ridiculous and far from universally appealing.

My Rating: ★1/2 (D+)

17 comments:

  1. It's so confusing when you hear polar opposite reviews- just yesterday, a lot of people from UK tweeted that they loved the movie and that it's worth seeing. It seemed like you had fun and you said you were never bored, so why D? anyway, good review! I might see it, who knows?

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    1. There have been a lot people who have enjoyed the film. Here in Australia too. I wasn't bored -but I did not have fun. I looked on with bemused interest, varying between states of disbelief and anger. I was so mad when I walked out, though.

      I have warmed to it a little bit, hence the 1 1/2 - because there were some good moments, but that doesn't guise the fact that this indulgent mess just did not sit right with me. I love to have fun in a cinema, but this didn't provide it. It is great to see that plenty are enjoying it, however.

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  2. Great review! I thought the trailer looked absolutely awful, so I won't be watching this one. It's a shame Hammer makes such bad choices lately.

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    1. Thanks for reading, Sati. Though it doesn't sound like it, the film is actually better than that original trailer suggests - which might explain the surprise of a lot of people. I was surprised too, but not enough to refrain from struggling through this embarrassingly unfunny film. I thought Hammer was really bad here. Roberts too. The jokes were either never funny or were initially amusing and then got old. Most of them are in the trailer - and that's why the scenes with the Dwarves, who weren't in it much, were the most refreshing part.

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    2. That's the problem with trailers these days, I feel sometimes instead of encouraging to see the film they actually put audiance off because it is quite clear they use the "best" scenes in it and if you don't like it then why bother with the movie.

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    3. Definitely. It can work either way. I hoped they weren't the best scenes. In Roberts' case they were, unfortunately. Still, I saw Wrath of the Titans tonight, and suddenly MM doesn't look so bad.

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  3. Is it another case of "Red Riding Hood"? =X That one didn't make sense either.

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    1. I haven't seen RRH, but from what I hear about it, I imagine this is slightly better. Different. Child-orientated, but not something I would take my child to see, haha.

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  4. This was a fun review to read, Andy. I dare say more fun than going to see it in the theater.

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    1. I'm glad it was enjoyable. It was fun to write. It is bizarre, because I am in the lopsided minority on this film. I left halfway through the closing credits song. Had enough.

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  5. I didn't see any Tarkovsky influence. Actually, it is better than that first trailer suggests - but because I was surprised by some moments didn't make the experience a good one.

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  6. What an odd review - why not call it after the item most associated with Snow White. And since the film's all about the inner person, not the image, it seems perfectly appropriate.
    Listen the movie is no great shakes but I thought Lily Collins undistinguished and Julia Roberts was pretty great and in her sly bitchy performance a very strong part of the film.
    How can you say that the costumes distracted from the silliness of the story? Collins had a swan on her head! How daft is that? They were as over the top as we expect in any panto. Also, rather gorgeous. Credit where it is due.
    Maybe if you think first, then write, you'll make a fist of this reviewing lark.

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    1. Firstly, thank you for the comment and the feedback, but I feel like you misread what I meant. One of the features I found impressive about the film was in fact the costumes and sets, but their importance within the film was so minimal, and as a result felt pointlessly indulgent, that it felt like a waste. The silliness of the story and the over-the-top performances did distract me from the costumes - though, I admit the swan was a nice touch - and that disappointed me. I did give credit to the costumes. Also, your point about calling the film Mirror Mirror is an acceptable one, but i don't think it is ever justified in the film.

      I did think before I wrote this review. I actually processed a lot of different features of the film, and as a result maybe thought into it too much. I called it how I experienced it, and I honestly hope people enjoy it more than I did. It sounds like you did, and that is great. Sure, I may get things wrong from time to time - but I work hard viewing the amount of films I watch each week, and it is disappointing to find one's enthusiasm and time reduced to being described as a lark.

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  7. I read an interview with Tarsem about how the trailer for this film really misrepresents what the film is like. Apparently, it PERFECTLY represents the film. Nice bash, my friend.

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    1. Actually, the film itself is better than that original trailer suggests, and it does misrepresent the film. But, there are other problems with this film than a bad trailer - and I hope I brought them to the attention of readers while remaining fair. It just doesn't hit the mark in any way - not even on the technical side, which is often very impressive, but pointlessly indulgent. Thanks man. I didn't expect to enjoy it, but one always goes in optimistic. No deal.

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  8. i really liked this movie, julia was funny and lily collins is sooo beatiful.

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed it. I thought Lily Collins was well-suited, but I didn't like Roberts in the role, unfortunately.

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