Story
In this modern version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Snow White (Lily Collins) isn’t a helpless girl who needs rescuing by a handsome prince. Instead, she is the very active and capable heroine of the story. When Snow White’s adored father the King (Sean Bean) disappears, the wicked Queen (Julia Roberts) takes over the kingdom. The people are starving and desperate, and must also pay more taxes to support the Queen’s lavish lifestyle.
Snow White has been kept in her room for 18 years. She discovers what’s going on and challenges the Queen. The Queen gets very angry and orders her butler, Brighton (Nathan Lane), to take Snow White into the woods and kill her. Brighton can’t do this, so he leaves Snow White in the woods instead. She befriends a group of renegade dwarves who teach her how to survive, fight and take care of herself. She puts these skills into practice when she has to fight off attacks from the Queen’s guards and rescue the handsome Prince (Armie Hammer) from the Queen’s clutches.
Themes
Wicked stepmothers; good versus evil
Violence
This movie has some violence. For example:
Sexual references
None of concern
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
This movie shows some use of substances. For example:
- The dwarves drink wine with their meals.
- The Queen uses potions and magic.
Nudity and sexual activity
This movie shows some sexual activity. For example, the Queen tries to seduce the Prince. But after she gives him a potion, he starts to act like a dog. He bounces all over her body and licks her face and neck.
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
None of concern
Ideas to discuss with your children
Mirror Mirror is a modern version of the classic fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It’s a comedy that mixes some good laughs with fantasy and some stylised violence. It’s too scary for very young children but will appeal to older children, adolescents and adults.
The main messages from this movie are that good eventually wins over evil and that you must stand up to evil.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include courage, strength of character, honesty, fairness and justice. It’s also worth noting that the movie has a very strong female lead character.
This movie could give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life questions such as: what should you do to defend or protect yourself? And what might happen when you stop people from being able to work honestly? For example, the dwarves are outlaws and thieves because the Queen banishes them from the kingdom and they can’t work.