From Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho, based on the science fiction novel Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton, Mickey 17 follows a disposable employee sent on a dangerous interplanetary expedition to an ice planet, where he gets cloned every time he dies. Starring Robert Pattinson as the titular Mickey Barnes, we found the film to be a fun time from start to finish — but is it enough to pull you into the theatres?
While Parasite was always going to be a tough act to follow, Mickey 17 puts up a good fight. It contains all of Bong Joon Ho’s trademark dark humour and class commentary, wrapped up in intriguing world building and a novel take on cloning in science fiction. The idea of an ‘Expendable’ human being that retains all of its memories after death is fascinatingly morbid, and Mickey 17’s humorous spin on this otherwise grim premise only serves to enhance the film’s absurdist tone.
For an actor not known for comedic roles, Robert Pattinson is absolutely hilarious as Mickey Barnes. His performance as both timid Mickey 17 and aggressive Mickey 18 is magnetic to watch, showcasing a versatility to Robert Pattinson that we’ve never had the pleasure of seeing on the silver screen — silly little accent and all. It also presents a main character archetype that we seldom get to see in blockbusters, the naïve optimist and pathetic loverboy who is just happy to be along for the ride.
This brings me to Nasha, who is more like a typical main character than anyone else in the film. Naomi Ackie delivers a refreshing reversal of expectations as Mickey’s love interest, portraying a compelling and layered supporting character without any of the performative “girl power” we’ve come to expect from Hollywood. Their non-traditional love story is central to the story without it overtaking the main narrative, emphasising the lesson of empathy that takes centre stage in the story at large.
However, within it comes a larger question about Bong Joon Ho’s direction with the story. Much like the director’s previous work, Mickey 17 attempts to tell a big narrative in a confined setting. The film has no shortage of interesting ideas in this regard — from colonisation, class differences, ethical dilemmas on cloning, and even the lightest implication of cannibalism — but they ended up getting drowned out by the light-hearted tone of the film.
Admittedly Mickey 17 is not a serious movie, but there is a noticeable disparity between the film’s thinly veiled Trump stand-in and its reluctance to address any of these themes meaningfully. Mark Ruffalo may embody a convincingly exasperating antagonist in Kenneth Marshall, and Toni Collette’s supporting role as Ylfa Marshall is both strange and memorable, but these characters remain one-dimensional from start to finish without even a chance to prove that they’re more than their inflated egos.
That being said, Mickey 17 is a fun romp independent of expectations for its director. Everything about its production design from visual effects to character costumes are top notch, immersing us fully in the frigid world of Niflheim and its claustrophobic dictator-ship (pun intended). It may not be quite the calibre of film that we expected, but we still found ourselves strung along for every comedic and emotional beat.
Also, it’s still better than A Minecraft Movie.
Verdict: Robert Pattinson’s Best Performance Yet
While Parasite was always going to be a tough act to follow, Mickey 17 puts up a good fight. The film contains all of Bong Joon Ho’s trademark dark humour and class commentary, held together by outstanding performances from Robert Pattinson and Naomi Ackie. Although its narrative becomes muddled midway through, its refreshingly absurdist tone and loveable cast of characters makes it worth your time.
