Mickey 17 Movie Review: A bold and sincere attempt by Bong Joon Ho, but ultimately baffling
Mickey 17 Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.5 stars, click to give your rating/review,Mickey 17 works well as a black comedy, but when it shifts into more serious territory, it struggles
Critic's Rating: 3.5/5
Story: On the run from a loan shark, impoverished Mickey Barnes joins a space expedition. He is selected for the mission solely because he can be endlessly reprinted to take on the most dangerous tasks.
Review: Mickey 17 marks Bong Joon Ho’s return to filmmaking six years after the phenomenal success of Parasite. While Parasite offered a deep exploration of social disparity and class divide, this film takes a completely different approach—an ambitious sci-fi adventure that grazes the theme of social disparity in a subtle, understated manner. Based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey 7, the film revolves around an impoverished worker who enlists in a space mission to escape a relentless loan shark. Once onboard, he is assigned life-threatening tasks–chosen solely because he can be endlessly replicated even after death.
The film explores multiple themes, including human printing technology, disparity, and environmental concerns, with an ambitious politician at the heart of the conflict. It starts strong, establishing Mickey Barnes’ journey and how he becomes part of the space mission. However, as the story progresses, the second half takes an unexpected turn, veering into territory that feels somewhat disconnected from the first. With the introduction of Creepers—the film gradually shifts into a tone reminiscent of Ho’s ‘Okja.’
Mickey 17 portrays the horrors of space in a unique way, with fear stemming not from extraterrestrial threats but from the unchecked greed of the powerful, embodied by Mark Ruffalo’s character. The second half, along with an extended climax, takes an unexpected turn into entirely new territory. While intriguing on its own, when tied back to the film’s earlier events, it leaves you wondering what exactly is happening. Ultimately, it feels underwhelming, with multiple plot points converging by the end—by which time, the focus on Mickey’s journey has already become muddled.
Robert Pattinson delivers a compelling performance as Mickey 17, showcasing a humane depth while balancing vulnerability with ease. When he appears as Mickey 18, he transforms into a completely different persona, showcasing his versatility. Naomi Ackie portrays Nasha Barridge, Mickey 17’s lover and security agent, and is in fine form, exuding confidence in her performance. Mark Ruffalo gives a dedicated performance as Kenneth Marshall, but his character doesn't come across as truly menacing. Instead of being a strong, intimidating antagonist, he fluctuates between feeling exaggerated and simply seeming like an easily angered person. The inconsistency in his portrayal is evident, making it seem like he’s trying too hard to leave an impact.
Mickey 17 works well as a black comedy, but when it shifts into more serious territory, it struggles and feels oddly quirky. The film gives the impression that Bong Joon Ho lost direction midway, and by the time it reaches the climax, it seems uncertain about where to go. While it excels in many aspects of filmmaking, a more structured narrative that stayed in sync with the film’s strong opening could have made it a far more engaging experience.
Review: Mickey 17 marks Bong Joon Ho’s return to filmmaking six years after the phenomenal success of Parasite. While Parasite offered a deep exploration of social disparity and class divide, this film takes a completely different approach—an ambitious sci-fi adventure that grazes the theme of social disparity in a subtle, understated manner. Based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey 7, the film revolves around an impoverished worker who enlists in a space mission to escape a relentless loan shark. Once onboard, he is assigned life-threatening tasks–chosen solely because he can be endlessly replicated even after death.
The film explores multiple themes, including human printing technology, disparity, and environmental concerns, with an ambitious politician at the heart of the conflict. It starts strong, establishing Mickey Barnes’ journey and how he becomes part of the space mission. However, as the story progresses, the second half takes an unexpected turn, veering into territory that feels somewhat disconnected from the first. With the introduction of Creepers—the film gradually shifts into a tone reminiscent of Ho’s ‘Okja.’
Mickey 17 portrays the horrors of space in a unique way, with fear stemming not from extraterrestrial threats but from the unchecked greed of the powerful, embodied by Mark Ruffalo’s character. The second half, along with an extended climax, takes an unexpected turn into entirely new territory. While intriguing on its own, when tied back to the film’s earlier events, it leaves you wondering what exactly is happening. Ultimately, it feels underwhelming, with multiple plot points converging by the end—by which time, the focus on Mickey’s journey has already become muddled.
Robert Pattinson delivers a compelling performance as Mickey 17, showcasing a humane depth while balancing vulnerability with ease. When he appears as Mickey 18, he transforms into a completely different persona, showcasing his versatility. Naomi Ackie portrays Nasha Barridge, Mickey 17’s lover and security agent, and is in fine form, exuding confidence in her performance. Mark Ruffalo gives a dedicated performance as Kenneth Marshall, but his character doesn't come across as truly menacing. Instead of being a strong, intimidating antagonist, he fluctuates between feeling exaggerated and simply seeming like an easily angered person. The inconsistency in his portrayal is evident, making it seem like he’s trying too hard to leave an impact.
Mickey 17 works well as a black comedy, but when it shifts into more serious territory, it struggles and feels oddly quirky. The film gives the impression that Bong Joon Ho lost direction midway, and by the time it reaches the climax, it seems uncertain about where to go. While it excels in many aspects of filmmaking, a more structured narrative that stayed in sync with the film’s strong opening could have made it a far more engaging experience.
