Mickey 17 Review: The Sci-Fi Satire We Need Right Now
Words & Graphics by Emma A. Walker
Mickey 17 the highly anticipated sci-fi/comedy from the Academy Award-winning director Bong Joon Ho, starring Robert Pattinson, after four release date delays is finally hitting theaters this week. Supporting cast including Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, and Steven Yeun. The film is adapted from the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. The story follows Pattinson’s character, “Mickey” who’s job is to die for a living. After running away from his problems on earth he signed up to be an “expendable”, a disposable crew member on a space mission selected for dangerous tasks because if his body dies he can be regenerated with his memory intact. The following review of the film is courtesy of the Warner Brothers early screening event that of which, Never Mind’s editor-in-chief, Emma Walker attended on February 19th.
The film is being received rather well by audiences, currently sitting at 89% on rotten tomatoes ahead of audience scores and a nearly 4 stars on Letterboxd, (precisely 3.8 out of 5). Reviews range from imagining the wonderful implications of existing in a world with two Robert Pattinsons to commenting on how scarily accurate and idiotic Ruffalo’s character “Kenneth Marshall” is to current President Donald Trump. In a time of a strained political climate this film had people laughing, and clapping in the theater. It was not only funny but incredibly heartfelt. Ruffalo’s performance was so irritating and unlikable similar to his comedic and controlling character in last year’s
Academy Award winning “Poor Things”, with a career previously defined by family friendly Marvel movies and rom-coms it’s a testament to his acting how truly appalling and funny he is in this role alongside his neurotic sauce loving wife and first lady played by Academy Award Nominee, Toni Collette.
Pattinson’s performance was one of comedic and loveable duality. An undeniably interesting aspect of his Mickey 17 performance is the unique high voice that if you managed to go without seeing a trailer of the film beforehand, may be of a shock but makes for a stark comparison to his “evil clone” counterpart Mickey 18, as when a regeneration goes wrong his personality is more violent and spontaneous. Watching a split screen parent-trap style sci-fi movie with two Pattinson’s is most certainly as fun as it sounds. When he’s not playing alongside himself, Nasha, his love interest, is played by Naomi Ackie who is an exceptionally high ranking character that’s equally as funny as cool.
Co-stars Pattinson and Ackie recently reflected on their experience filming with Bong and what a unique experience it was. “I loved it. Everyone has such a reverence for Bong, so in the build-up I was really nervous, and he does have an unusual way of working. It was one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had.” (Pattinson, Heroine 22 Mag). Ackie also commented “the crew were crying [at the wrap party] like, ‘This is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.’ Because he’s super smart and a great leader, but he’s also super warm and surprisingly chill for the scale of the movie we were making.” (Ackie, Heroine 22 Mag).
The uniqueness of Bong’s directing styles and the stories he tells like the 2020 Oscars winning film Parasite prove to be a success. One of the most unique aspects of the film was the “Creepers” creature design, an intelligent life form native to the planet the mission lands on, are simultaneously terrifying and adorable serving as one of the most important vehicles for the message of the film about class warfare and colonization.
Overall I’d give Mickey 17, 4.5/5 stars, The only part I felt left more to be desired were plots that I imagine were more thoroughly explored in the book, with most adaptations there’s normally a character or side plot part that gets shortened. In my opinion Mickey’s problems on earth and the Gemma character fell a little short and I wanted more from but not enough to damper the chaotic bizarre and fun nature of the film. It’s most certainly worth a watch and came out at the best time it possibly could. The film’s political satire feels so close to our current reality it’s a much needed laugh right now. The cast is stacked with talent, bringing the humorous story to life. Mickey 17 only in theaters (not a streaming premiere) this Friday, March 7th.
