Carl Roberts 
“Although the film contains visual brilliance and is directed expertly, Mickey 17 won’t be Bong Joon-Ho’s next Oscar-winning film.”
Mickey 17 is a science fiction dark comedy film produced, written, and directed by Bong Joon-ho, based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. As you would expect from the Oscar-winning director, the film features a great sense of visual flair alongside some outstanding comedic moments. Starring Robert Pattinson as the aforementioned Mickey, the film contains enough to sustain it throughout its 137-minute run time. It also features an unhinged pantomime villain performance from both Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette. It also looks and feels, at times, as something we’ve seen countless times before.
PREMISE
Academy Award-winning writer/director of “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho, brings us his next groundbreaking cinematic experience, “Mickey 17.” The unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.
Written and directed by Bong Joon Ho. “Mickey 17” stars Robert Pattinson (“The Batman,” “Tenet”). Naomi Ackie (“Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker”). Steven Yeun (“Nope”). With Academy Award nominees Toni Collette (“Hereditary”), and Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”).
THOUGHTS
Despite the humour, the sarcasm and some completely unhinged performances, the film strangely feels old hat. That’s not to say it isn’t enjoyable because it is. It just feels as if we’ve seen this before somewhere. The film gets off to a solid start with an opening that shows us Mickey’s latest predicament. Following this entertaining introduction, we are back into the events that led Mickey to the point where we initially met him.
Alongside his partner Timo (Steven Yeun, good here), Mickey is in debt to a vicious loan shark. Unable to pay their debts, the pair sign up as crew for a spaceship that leaves Earth to colonize the planet Nilfheim. Timo is a pilot and Mickey is an “Expendable”. Each time Mickey perishes he is ‘reprinted’, cloned through the use of prohibited technology. As you’d expect by the title of the film, Mickey is on his 17th body.
TWO MICKEY’S, TWO EMOTIONALLY DIFFERING CHARACTERS
After we see him die several times over, we are brought up to date with seeing how Mickey has escaped from his fate this time. However, the problem now exists that Mickey 17 is thought to be dead, so a Mickey 18 has been created. This is strictly forbidden. If it is discovered, both versions of Mickey in addition to his memories and code will be deleted forever. The only person who knows the truth is Mickey’s girlfriend, Nasha (Naomi Ackie). Mickey 17 discovers her in his room snuggling up with Mickey 18 (also Robert Pattinson), both of whom have inhaled some seriously illegal narcotics. It also doesn’t help that Mickey 18 is a psychopath compared to the mild-mannered Mickey 17.
ROBERT PATTINSON
Robert Pattinson excels in his dual role as Mickey 17 and 18. While we feel sorry for 17, we come to despise 18. The differences in personalities are extreme. 17 wants to think things through logically, and calmly and to reach the right decision. He is, in reality, a complete pushover. While 18 is nothing short of angry, aggressive, violent and uncompromising. When the two meet, 18 knocks 17 out and tries to murder him. Throughout the rest of the film, we are waiting for him to try once again.
The way Pattinson plays both versions of the same character shows his acting prowess. It is amusing at times to see him playing opposite of himself, like chalk and cheese, oil and water. He also gives great performances as each Mickey, having us both like him and hate him at the same time. Pattinson makes the film, carrying it on his shoulders with relative ease.
NAOMI ACKIE
Naomi Ackie makes for a stellar sidekick to Pattinson. At first, we think she’s there just to make up the numbers, to be the obligatory female who has little to do. You couldn’t be more wrong. The actress more than holds her own throughout the film, becoming a strong and resourceful female character in her own right. The way she stands up to the rest of the characters during proceedings and becomes a kick-ass heroine is a joy to behold. As Nasha, Naomi Ackie gets her own story, one that ties in nicely with what else is going on in the film.
MARK RUFFALO AND TONI COLLETTE
The pairing of Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette brings the film’s hilarity. Both don’t chew the scenery, they consume it completely. As Kenneth Marshall, an egomaniacal politician with sinister designs for Nilfheim, Ruffalo gives us an unhinged performance that wouldn’t be out of place in a pantomime. Every time he appears on screen, we feel the urge to boo and hiss. The same goes for Toni Collette. As Ylfa, Marshall’s devious and controlling wife, the actress gives a hilarious performance. All Ylfa wants to do is butcher the local creatures, known as ‘Creepers’ so she can make sauce out of them. She is obsessed throughout with making new sauces and getting everyone she demands to try them. Again, this wouldn’t be out of place as a pantomime villainess.
WRITING AND DIRECTION
Bong Joon-Ho does a wonderful as usual with his directing. Every frame is used, and not one is wasted. He directs his actors, the story and events with a keen eye. The colours are vibrant, and the comedy almost all lands. Even when he is portraying the surface of Nilfheim, a white, icy oasis not that different to Hoth from The Empire Strikes Back, the visuals and the style shine through.
But herein also lies a problem. The director has adapted the film from Edward Ashton’s novel. And, as you can understand from the planet of Nilfheim, it is TOO similar to The Empire Strikes Back. Throw in some scenes, like an icy cave and several that remind us of the Ugnauts on Cloud City in Empire, and you feel sometimes you’re watching a virtual remake of those classic scenes. And that isn’t good. When you’ve got a visionary director almost remaking certain scenes, it feels like you’re watching something inferior.
VERDICT
Although the film contains visual brilliance and is directed expertly, Mickey 17 won’t be Bong Joon-Ho’s next Oscar-winning film. It can’t be. It doesn’t deserve to be. Instead of being the director’s brilliant follow-up to Parasite, we’ve been given a watered-down, westernised version of the director. It isn’t his fault. It is the material he has to work with that lets him down. Yes, he wrote the adaptation of the novel for his screenplay. But those elements that let the film down were already there, to begin with. For what could have been a masterpiece, it is a rerun of Empire, Starship Troopers, Alien and The Thing. Even the classic original 1990 version of Total Recall isn’t spared, nor is Blade Runner.
Despite its faults though, the film is a superior piece of movie entertainment. It just isn’t the one we’ve been led to believe. Much has been made of the delays to the films’ release. Maybe now, we can understand why. Instead of a piece of original entertainment, we sometimes feel we are watching a retread of science fiction’s greatest hits. While I enjoyed the film, I couldn’t help but feel let down by it. The film deserves to be seen on the big screen, there’s no doubting that. Just don’t expect to be rewarded with next year’s big Oscar winner. Enjoyable but flawed entertainment.
Mickey 17 will be in cinemas from Friday, March 7th, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
