‘Mickey 17’ Movie Review: Robert Pattinson Pulls Double Duty In A Mixed Bag, Kooky Sci-Fi Tale

Photo from Warner Bros.

From Joe Peltzer

Sci-fi films are inherently divisive, tailored towards those moviegoers who are adept at suspending belief upon theater entry and open to engaging in whatever reality is set to unfold on screen. Bong Joon Ho’s follow-up to the Oscar-winning Parasite follows much of his penchant for subtle humor and social commentary while bringing the source material to life. Mickey 17 will not be everyone’s cup of tea, and it certainly is flawed, but for those open to a sci-fi adventure packed into a zany outing flush with over-the-top performances and dark humor, you’re in for a treat.

Set in the year 2054, Mickey 17 follows Mickey Barnes, an expendable worker dispatched time and time again for dangerous and laborious jobs that often result in his death. Thanks to an ethically questionable technology, each time he perishes, a new body is regenerated and most of his memories remain present. As part of a human expedition to colonize the frozen world of Niflheim, the 17th print of Mickey is wrongfully believed to have ceased existence, leading to the printing of 18 and thus creating the problem of multiples. Bong Joon Ho’s approach early on in the film is to feed the audience as much information as possible to establish the foundation upon which the story is to unfold, from the technology at play to the dubious individuals involved. Mark Ruffalo plays Kenneth Marshall, a failed elected official who spearheads the colonization efforts with the aid of the printing technology (after arguing for its efficacy off world) who at times feels infused with characteristics of both Elon Musk and Donald Trump. It’s not hard to see why this film was moved away from the November 2024 election. Together with his encouraging sauce-obsessed wife Yifa (Toni Collette), devoted followers eat up every word and theatric displayed in a blind devotion to a suspect vision for the future. 

In a sly satirical look at a dystopian society future, Mickey 17 is a mixed bag. Humorous moments are sprinkled decently far apart with a rather simplistic premise not earning the full runtime dedicated to it. Pattinson is spectacular, his reincarnations each slightly different with him taking every opportunity to flex his acting muscles. This is arguably the best Pattinson has ever been, followed closely by Good Time. Ruffalo revels in the unhinged nature of his character, never wilder on screen than here. It’s a schtick that becomes somewhat exhausting, especially when he and Collette get all lovingly awkward, but an effective mirror to modern society, although exaggerated. Naomie Ackie is only other actor here that matches the stellar level of Pattinson, a force on screen in every scene with a confident character brought to life. She leans into the humor, especially in a seen with both 17 and 18, a breath of maturity amongst the silliness. Steven Yeun, sadly, is lost in the chaos for me, a forgettable character that isn’t much of a value-add.

Look, Mickey 17 shares a lot of DNA with other works. Take a dash of the political class warfare of Snowpiercer, mix it with the craziness of The Fifth Element, simmer after adding the fantasy of Okja, and top it with the wartime vibes of Starship Troopers… yeah, that’s the stuff. There’s a lot at play here in terms of theming, the least of which is the ethicality of the science at hand. In the end, however, it turns into a creature feature of sorts that is fun enough, but certainly not what I expected upon entering the theater. Joon Ho could have gone deeper with the messaging, exploring the layered storytelling that we have come to expect. Instead, the Oscar-winning filmmaker seems to be handcuffed by the source material of Edward Ashton’s novel “Mickey 7.”

What I did expect was a master class in cinematography and Darius Khondji delivered, as did frequent Joon Ho collaborator Jung Jae-il with the score. The story itself left me wanting to know more about the world from which these colonizers departed. Perhaps the scope is so small here that it works against itself, leaving the audience wanting more.

Still, Mickey 17 is an example of filmmaking that I want to see more of, sci-fi tales that take risks and send audiences on a journey. The cast certainly rose to the occasion, and the talent is there behind the camera, but there was certainly money left on the table with what this film could have been. 

And let’s be clear…more Robert Pattinson in everything, please.

Rating: 2.5/5

Mickey 17 is now playing in theaters.Follow Joe