Mickey 17
March 3rd, 2025
MOVIE: MICKEY 17
STARRING: ROBERT PATTINSON, STEVEN YEUN, NAOMI ACKIE, MARK RUFFALO, TONI COLLETTE
DIRECTED BY: BONG JOON HO
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 137 MINUTES
Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho is anything but subtle in his storytelling. His films are defined by intricate world-building, powerful messaging, and a staunch critique of class systems. Parasite encapsulated this within a glass house; Snowpiercer depicted an entire society on a train, from the impoverished at the caboose to the elite at the front. Okja focused less on class and more on the vulnerability of animals, critiquing an industry that profits from their exploitation. Mickey 17 continues this tradition, set in a distant future where Earth is uninhabitable and cloning humans has become a means of creating expendable workers.
What emerges is a sharp, darkly comedic piece of science fiction, filled with commentary on the depletion of natural resources, the cruelty (and incompetence) of leaders, the rise of fascism, religious dogma, and the moral quandary of repeatedly killing a person. Mickey 17 is a one-of-a-kind film.
We meet Mickey 17 (Robert Pattinson) after he falls through a cave, breaking multiple bones and bleeding profusely from his arm—yet somehow, he survives. As he narrates his story, we learn that he’s an Expendable: a low-ranking worker aboard a space station, assigned tasks that are likely to result in his death, only for him to be cloned again, with his memories and identity intact. The crew is headed to the ice planet Niflheim, under the leadership of the failed politician Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo) and his self-important wife, Ylfa (Toni Collette). Their mission is to colonize the planet with what Marshall calls his “great white race of super beings.” But when Mickey 17 survives his mission, things take a turn for the worse—17 encounters 18, and having multiple versions of oneself is considered a serious crime. The two Mickeys must now work together, hoping to prevent a war with the planet’s insect-like inhabitants.
A love triangle complicates matters when 18—a slightly cooler version of Mickey—begins to bond with Nasha (Naomi Ackie), a military agent who has taken a maternal interest in Mickey. This creates tension for 17, who’s been in love with Nasha from the start. Meanwhile, old friend Timo (Steven Yeun) reveals his true nature: less a friend and more an opportunist exploiting Mickey’s expendable status. He’s partly responsible for Mickey’s current predicament. Those around Mickey often aren’t looking out for his best interests, and it builds to a climax where the Mickeys are used as pawns in a war with the alien creatures. As is often the case in Bong Joon Ho’s films, it’s the little guy we root for, and no one escapes unscathed from their comeuppance.
The writing by Bong Joon Ho, adapted from Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey 7, is what elevates Mickey 17 with its unpredictable style. At times, the film can be dizzying, with jokes that fly under the radar as you marvel at Pattinson’s vocal choices or Ruffalo’s conspicuously white teeth. This is a wonderful collaboration of artistic decisions, all contained within the world Bong Joon Ho has created. Pattinson’s performance is nothing short of wild, with a voice that evokes Jerry Lewis and physical movements reminiscent of Buster Keaton. His portrayal of Mickey is a character we remember with every death, a complex creation born from the inside out. If audiences leave with one lasting impression, it’s the versatile and impressive talent of our current Batman.
At its core, Mickey 17 is another classic Bong Joon Ho film. It’s one that’s difficult to fully judge after just one viewing, reminiscent of films like Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, or more recently, Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin. There’s a rich mix of political satire, science fiction, and environmental commentary that leaves a lasting impact. Mickey 17 will spark thought-provoking conversations and raise questions about what it truly means to die—or perhaps, more peculiarly, what it means to be alive. That’s the Bong Joon Ho way.
3 ½ STARS
MICKEY 17 IS PLAYING IN THEATERS FRIDAY MARCH 7TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
