- Release year: 2025
- Director: Bong Joon Ho.
- Producers: Dooho Choi, Dede Gardner, Bong Joon Ho, Jeremy Kleiner.
- Screenplay by: Bong Joon Ho.
- Cinematography by: Darius Khondji.
- Music by: Jung Jae-il.
Synopsis: the human colony tries to figure out how to survive in an alien planet by using a replicable man as a guinea pig.
Shotgun Commentary: hilarious, gory, extra, and so creative.
Review
Mickey 17 is a gory comedy that follows the future of humanity as outer-space colonisers. In pure human fashion, the colony followed by the film utilises cloning technology to print the same man over and over, using each copy to test the atmosphere of the planet, different medicines and science experiments, and other tasks that require a disposable person. Whenever one of the copies dies, they make another one, leading to Mickey 17 (Robert Pattinson), who, as the name states, is the 17th copy of the same man: Mickey.
Behind the jokes
As expected from a Bong Joon Ho film, there is a healthy amount of societal critique, mostly focused on colonisation and all its inherent issues. There are clear jabs at the current US government and their immigration policies in the form of a ridiculously ignorant dictator who refers to the native beings of the planet as aliens, refusing to acknowledge that it is the humans who have that status.
Additionally, of course, a strong commentary on cults and their hive mentality. This comes as no surprise considering the first colonisers always used the excuse of “bringing (their) faith to the ‘savages’”. In the same manner, the leader of their expedition dreams of a purely human world, which makes no sense from any perspective, yet people encourage him as they have been severely brainwashed by their cult, referenced in the movie as Church or Company.
The depression of seeing this dystopian world that sadly resembles more and more our current reality (science advancement aside, that is), is balanced by hilarious characters and great acting. If anything is able to lighten up a dystopia where human colonies are run by incompetent clowns, that is the people who go through it and their different levels of insanity. If one doesn’t stop to psychoanalyse, it is funny, but mostly fascinating, to get to know the different characters of the feature, as each of them has delivered their own mechanisms to cope with reality.
The good guys
The most obvious attraction of the film are Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, played by Robert Pattinson. This is one of his least serious roles ever, and it is an absolute delight to witness. Do you like sweet, innocent characters? Are you more into psychos? No problem, there is a bit of everything thanks to both Mickeys, who couldn’t be more different nor more entertaining.
The horrible experiences that Mickeys suffer stay with them copy after copy, meaning that each copy will be slightly different as the trauma of dying over and over piles on. This concept is absolutely marvellous, hooking you from the very beginning and creating an almost instant empathic reaction to Mickey and his suffering.
As for Mickey’s love interest, Nasha (Naomi Ackie), her complexity creates a tricky relationship with the audience. Her morality is incredibly grey. She is narcissistic and greedy, yet noble and brave when need be (and sometimes when she shouldn’t be too). Love her or hate her, she is superbly portrayed by Ackie, who keeps her streak of great roles after Blink Twice (2024).
The really bad guys
A story is only as good as its villains and, in this case, they are just as ridiculous and pathetic as the movie needed. Mark Ruffalo seems to have got comfy in the role of idiotic villain, cranking it up as Kenneth Marshall, a man who would manage to make even Duncan Wedderburn (Poor Things, 2024) cringe at the sight of him. As for Toni Collette, she plays an even more unhinged version of her Joni Thrombey (Knives Out, 2019). Pretty much Joni if she had unlimited power.
All in all, Mickey 17 is a crazy feature that exudes originality and charms with each and every exaggeratedly comedic character. One can easily see that this was a fun project to shoot, and that mood spreads to the audience. If you like fun dystopias, this one is definitely a must.
Thanks to Warner for big screen access! Mickey 17 will be released the 7th of March.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Humans can’t enjoy scientific advancement without trying to weaponise it.
- Mark Ruffalo is definitely capable of being revolting if necessary.
- Repeating a stupidity many times doesn’t make it any more logical.
What’s your take? Have you watched Mickey 17? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀
Quite enjoyable indeed! The only catch for me is that Colette and especially Ruffalo are a bit too in-the-nose for my taste, but I get it: smarter, subtler statements don’t reach that many people… Other than that, as expected from this fantastic director. And I gotta say, Pattinson can really pick awesome roles!