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(Rating: PG, 106 mins) Written by Zen Terrelonge

Starring – Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Sean Bean.

I think you can guess what this is about.

Unless, of course, you think its some sort of sequel to Kiefer Sutherland’s Mirrors horror flick, it isn’t.

Nope, this reflective-titled wonder is a reimagining of the Disney classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The film begins with quirky narration from Julia Roberts, who plays the evil queen and step mother of Snow White (Collins).

It’s adult-focused humour, with quips that only a cynic that has left their childhood behind would conceive.

One such example I enjoyed was when the queen suggests Snow was named Snow because her parents couldn’t think of anything more pretentious if they tried.

It’s great because it showcases the utter loathing the queen has for her stepdaughter, while providing the laughs and setting up the story.

As Snow approaches her 18th birthday, we learn that she has led a sheltered life ever since her father (Sean Bean) disappeared, which left her in the questionable ‘care’ of the queen and her bungling boot licker Brighton (Lane).

Snow is a stunning girl, skin like, well, snow, rosy cheeks and an innocent and kind heart, the complete opposite of the queen, who is loud, conceited, and tyrannical.

As chance would have it, Snow discovers a prince (Hammer), who she hopes will help to restore the kingdom to its former glory, though the royal chap is utterly bewildered when it comes to choosing an allegiance between the princess and the queen.

Snow escapes to the sanctuary of the seven dwarfs – played by real dwarf actors – and these fellows are neither bashful nor happy (see what I did there), for they too have been altered in keeping with the adult audience the film hopes to capture.

The dwarfs are great fun and their personalities are just slightly darker than the Disney counterparts, which works superbly.

It turns out their bark is worse than their bite – if they like you – which in Snow’s case works out well as she finds herself with a new roof over her head and her first group of friends.

Together the eight band together to end the queen’s rule and find out where the prince’s loyalties truly lie.

Roberts is superb as the queen, truly ruthless and cutting, her acting makes up for her not having an obviously cruel demeanour.

Meanwhile, Collins does well as the damsel in distress that finds her feet in the world with the help of her seven boisterous buddies.

While this is a family film and children will probably enjoy it for the swashbuckling, romance and pretty dresses, the adults will also find it ticking their boxes too, finding an abundance of repartee and playful clichés.

8/10

Mirror Mirror is in cinemas now.