Mirror Mirror (2012)

Mirror Mirror is the kind of fairy-tale retelling that wins you over with sheer delight: Tarsem Singh turns Snow White into a candy-colored storybook come to life, where every frame and costume feels like a playful act of imagination. Julia Roberts clearly relishes the role of the vain, wicked queen, and the movie leans into her comedic bite without losing the warm, family-friendly spirit that makes the adventure easy to sink into. Lily Collins brings an earnest, modern spark to Snow White, and the tone stays light on its feet—more swashbuckling romp than brooding legend—sprinkling in action, mild peril, and a few cheeky jokes along the way. If you want your fantasy glossy, theatrical, and charmingly silly rather than dark and gritty, this one is a sweet ride.

Mirror Mirror is clearly trying to be a bright, kid-friendly Snow White remix with Tarsem Singh’s storybook visuals and a cheeky, self-aware tone. The problem is that the glittery production design does most of the heavy lifting while the story itself feels thin and overly familiar, with pacing that lurches from set piece to set piece and jokes that often land with a polite thud. Julia Roberts seems to be having fun leaning into the vanity and camp, and the movie is generally harmless for families who just want a colorful fairy-tale romp. But if you’re hoping for a sharper script, memorable humor, or a fresh take that adds real depth to the classic, this one may feel like pretty packaging around a very standard gift.