Mirror Mirror parents guide

Mirror Mirror Parent Guide

Strangely awkward throughout, the brightest spots in this movie are the costumes and art design. Nathan Lane's unabashed performance also goes a long ways to save this flailing film.

Overall B

In this retelling of the classic fairytale, Snow White (Lily Collins) uses girl power to take back her kingdom after the Evil Queen (Julia Roberts) tries to get rid of her and marry the handsome prince (Armie Hammer) herself. Of course the dethroned princess is willing to take a little help from seven male friends.

Release date March 30, 2012

Violence C+
Sexual Content B
Profanity A-
Substance Use B-

Why is Mirror Mirror rated PG? The MPAA rated Mirror Mirror PG for some fantasy action and mild rude humor.

Run Time: 106 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

There’s a good chance a sampling of people asked about the legend of Snow White would recite the songs and names of dwarves from the 1937 Disney animated feature. However this tale of a wicked queen and poison apple dates back long before Walt’s adaptation, and that makes it ripe for the retelling.

In the live-action version Mirror Mirror, the wicked queen of the land (Julia Roberts) is broke and the only way she can see to fix the problem is to squeeze more taxes out of her already impoverished subjects… or find a rich suitor. When the handsome Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer) passes through the kingdom, the ruler figures her financial problems are solved (with added benefits).

However what she doesn’t know is that her stepdaughter Snow White (Lily Collins) has wandered out of the castle for the first time since the death of her father. It’s her 18th birthday and during her inaugural venture into the woods, she happens to meet Prince Alcott. Needless to say the foreigner is more attracted to the young princess than the desperate older monarch. Sensing she is losing her royal opportunity, the Queen summons her assistant Brighton (Nathan Lane) to take Miss White for a fatal walk in the forest. However his soft heart gets the better of him, so he releases her instead, telling her never to return.

Yes, the banished maiden does bump into seven height challenged men who, in this script, make a living using less than honorable methods. But the dwarves association with the endearing princess makes them better people and Snow White learns some basic self-defense moves that increase her own confidence.

It’s difficult to pinpoint what age range this story is trying to appeal to. Slapstick violence abounds, yet the confrontations become more serious in a rather frightening scene where magic puppets are used to attack the little people in their home. Fortunately sexual content and language are sparse—although the queen often lusts over the frequently shirtless Prince Alcott. A couple of other veiled moments of innuendo are heard as well.

Strangely awkward throughout, the brightest spots in this movie are the costumes and art design. Nathan Lane’s unabashed performance also goes a long ways to save this flailing film. Without this, adults may be bored, young children might be scared and those few left in-between would be only mildly amused.

Directed by Tarsem Singh. Starring Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer. Running time: 106 minutes. Theatrical release March 30, 2012. Updated

Mirror Mirror
Rating & Content Info

Why is Mirror Mirror rated PG? Mirror Mirror is rated PG by the MPAA for some fantasy action and mild rude humor.

Violence: Characters are subjected to slapstick violence throughout the film, some involving bladed weapons. Thieves ambush travelers in the forest on numerous occasions. A gang of men admits to dishonest and illegal behavior. A woman uses bee stings to enlarge her lips and employs other insects and bird dung for beautifying her body.

Sexual Content: A man is frequently seen without a shirt and other characters are shown in modest undergarments. A woman fawns over a topless man. A couple of moments of veiled sexual innuendo are heard. A man and woman kiss.

Language: A single term of deity is used. A character calls another person a “twit”. Derogatory comments are directed toward little people (followed later by an apology).

Drugs/Alcohol: A character is drunk in one scene. A magic potion is secretly put into a person’s drink.

Other: Themes of “dark magic” are presented, including poisonous potions.

Page last updated

Mirror Mirror Parents' Guide

How are gender roles reversed in this movie? Do you think this change will have greater or lesser appeal to female viewers?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Mirror Mirror movie is June 26, 2012. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Mirror Mirror

Release Date: 26 June 2012

Mirror Mirror releases to home video in either DVD or Blu-ray.

Mirror Mirror on DVD includes:

- Looking Through the Mirror

- Prince and Puppies

Mirror Mirror on Blu-ray offers all of the DVD Special Features, plus:

- Dance-along: I Believe in Love

- Mirror Mirror Interactive Storybook

- Deleted Scenes (Alternate Opening, So You Are From Valencia?, I Need Meat, Snow White is Dead and Thank You For Coming)

- Digital Copy of the film

Related home video titles:

This fairytale has enjoyed many silver screen adaptations including the Disney’s classic animation Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the half animation/half live-action Enchanted, the modern up-date Sydney White and the action/adventure drama Snow White and the Huntsman (releasing June 1, 2012).

Related news about Mirror Mirror

10 Famous Faces We Lost in 2014

10 Famous Faces We Lost in 2014

{parents:pull_quote}