Knowledgeable’s Score
Our Verdict
Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi epic has some wonderful satire and spectacular visuals, and Robert Pattinson is the proper actor for the forlorn protagonist. Nonetheless, Mickey 17 finally takes on two separate, formidable tales that don’t have the house to actually flourish.
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In the event you’re planning on watching Mickey 17 since you adored 2019’s Parasite, Bong Joon-ho’s groundbreaking Oscar winner, then let it’s identified that this movie is very totally different, to say the least.
The Korean director returns to his science fiction roots of The Host, Snowpiercer and Okja with this epic, which is licensed bonkers. It’s set in house, the place mankind is making an attempt to colonise a frozen planet known as Niflheim as folks try and flee Earth. In an effort to transfer to the brand new house, scientists want a take a look at topic to check out the environment and guarantee it’s protected for everybody else.
Enter socially awkward Mickey, who indicators up for the function of an expendable – a being who can primarily be killed (in numerous horrific methods) earlier than being ‘reprinted’ – introduced again to life with recollections intact.
Whereas some critics are declaring it a masterpiece, I got here out of my screening barely baffled… as a result of this movie is made up of two promising tales, haphazardly stitched collectively.
However let’s begin with the positives. Any movie that revolves round reanimating a dork, and includes alien planets requires some severe particular results, and Mickey 17 delivers. At no level was I taken out of the world as a result of a bizarre CGI second – true craftsmanship is at work right here.
Bong Joon-ho makes some daring decisions for this movie, enjoying round with construction and musical motifs that take you abruptly. Regardless of the dystopian topic at its core, this can be a genuinely humorous movie that made me chuckle in some surprising locations, a standard theme in his work.
The performances in Mickey 17 are exceptionally dedicated, with Robert Pattinson standing out above all. His stilted, nasally tone is virtually unrecognisable from any function he’s performed earlier than.
Pattinson captures his pitiful nature splendidly, including a touch of madness that will be current for anybody keen to die repeatedly within the identify of a company
Mickey is the largest people-pleasing pushover you’ve ever met (much more than me, shockingly), taking horrific experiments and invasive questions with nothing greater than a thumbs-up and a shrug of the shoulders. Pattinson captures his pitiful nature splendidly, including a touch of madness that will be current for anybody keen to die repeatedly within the identify of a company.
He’s complimented by the – additionally barely unhinged – Nasha, performed by Naomi Ackie. Her introduction scene stands out, charming Mickey and profitable the viewers over, even with the dialogue absent in favour of the rating. However I really feel that her nuanced character might have been explored additional. Extra on that later.
Picture: © 2025 Warner Bros. Leisure Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Most individuals who watch Mickey 17 will keep in mind Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall, a petty, simple-minded and ego-driven politician who’s the important thing antagonist. That’s primarily all the way down to his grating voice, blindingly white shark-like tooth and outlandish mannerisms, that are very a lot impressed by Trump, as confirmed by the actor himself.
Gwen Marshall, performed by Toni Collette, is the actual brains, fairly actually whispering in his ear and telling him what steps to take subsequent when somebody throws him a curveball. The husband-and-wife duo are splendidly detestable as villains.
Due to the kind of narcissistic character Marhsall is, he takes over many of the scenes he’s in… and that additionally applies to the core story itself.
Picture: © 2025 Warner Bros. Leisure Inc. All Rights Reserved.
I believed Mickey 17 was going to go in a unique path from the best way it turned out, as essentially the most attention-grabbing half is the idea of ‘multiples’ – in different phrases, when copies of 1 particular person are alive on the similar time.
We get to see a number of the ethical quandaries that plagued governments over a number of variations of 1 particular person. Do they each have a soul? Who’s accountable if against the law is dedicated? Does one need to reside greater than the opposite?
When multiples lastly get to satisfy on-screen, there’s a gripping rigidity that’s insanely complicated. We see character clashes between the 2 beings, with one anger-fuelled model resenting the opposite weaker, extra passive self.
There’s additionally the query of affection. How can a romantic relationship perform if two copies of the identical particular person exist and have the identical needs? We get a style of a method it’d play out, in a really awkward trend – a warning should you’re planning on seeing this movie along with your mother and father/offspring.
Sadly, earlier than we will delve into these meaty subjects, the movie adjustments tack – specializing in political parallels and invasion. Whereas the multiples are nonetheless current within the story, they largely serve to drive negotiations and motion. We don’t attain a satisfying conclusion for these beings.
…this movie is made up of two promising tales, haphazardly stitched collectively
That is the place the movie leans into its alien setting, and I can’t simply assist however really feel that, whereas we spent a number of time with adventurous pictures of Niflheim and its inhabitants, we might have as a substitute been constructing extra on the intriguing dynamic between Mickey and Nasha, a dynamic that was so sturdy within the former a part of the film.
Some followers might disagree, loving the mishmash of ideas and concepts – particularly should you’ve learn the unique Mickey7 ebook by Ashton Edward. However should you’re a sucker for character-driven tales like me, and don’t have time to learn the supply materials, chances are you’ll discover the tempo of Mickey 17 jarring and be left wishing for extra.
Picture: © 2025 Warner Bros. Leisure Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Do you have to watch Mickey 17?
There is no such thing as a doubt that Mickey 17 will definitely keep on with you, with its bananas premise that strikes a stable stability between bleak and chaotically humorous. Robert Pattinson but once more proves his versatility, taking up a wildly troublesome function with an unimaginable degree of depth.
Like Companion, this movie displays a number of the horrors we’re dealing with in the actual world in a weird sci-fi package deal. Nonetheless, in taking up such formidable storytelling, it looks like two tales mashed into one. It’s not the identical masterful tempo seen in Parasite.
Maybe there’s a world the place this might have felt extra cohesive as a TV sequence… however it is best to decide that for your self.
Mickey 17 is out in cinemas this Friday, 7 March 2025. In the event you’re within the UK, you will get tickets from Cineworld, Vue and Odeon. These in America can get them from AMC Theatres, Fandango and Atom Tickets.