Mickey 17

Mickey 17 is like strictly okayish and that's a huge disappointment given the expectations!

Bong joon-ho returning in director's chair after an Oscar, with Robert pattinson, a sci-fi genre and huge budget, it could have been so much better! But this is just okay.

Pattinson's acting is great, even the premise and structure were very juicy. But for some reason Bong joon-ho doesn't fully capitalise it. Atleast the crazy energy of Okja would have elevated the screenplay, but it was mostly bland and trying to be politically aware.

Especially with that trailer being so much fun, the bar was really high, but this doesn't even comes close.

Written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, "Mickey 17" is a new sci-fi comedy starring Robert Pattinson as Mickey, an expendable. Mickey signs up for a space voyage as an expendable, which means he'll be remade after each death that occurs while doing taxing work. The movie also stars Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, and Naomi Ackie. "Mickey 17" was one of my most anticipated movies this year because Bong Joon Ho is an award-winning director who has made unique movies.

Bong Joon Ho seems to get the very best out of his actors, and they want to bring Ho's vision to life. Robert Pattinson was amazing in this dual performance as he gives unique identities to each character. Mark Ruffalo as the petty dictator was very entertaining. After seeing him in this and "Poor Things", I want to see him in more weird roles. The themes around classes, politics, and colonization were entertaining and impactful despite those themes occasionally being beaten into our heads. I enjoyed the unique experience from this movie, and I am glad it was a goofy, satirical movie unlike "Parasite."

Despite amazing performances, there were some flaws in this movie that bothered me. The beginning was very slow in my opinion because we went back in time to see how he got there. During this, we get a voiceover to narrate what was happening. They easily could have started there. With this beginning, I thought the movie had some pacing issues, mostly due to this. Some elements in the movie seemed to be important, such as the side romance plot, but they were never mentioned again. The climax was entertaining and contained the most action; however, the ending included a dream sequence that felt very unnecessary.

Overall, I found this movie to be enjoyable, but it was slightly disappointing compared to expectations. I am glad I got to see this relatively soon after it came out. I recommend checking this movie out on HBO Max.

Nothing incredibly groundbreaking, and a little heavy handed with the satire, but a fun ride and well shot, with all of the "I shouldn't laugh at this but I am" that you'd expect

I am guilty, as many others will be, of comparing this to Parasite. Doing so is doing the movie a disservice. From Bong Joon Ho I was not expecting a silly black comedy that would have the whole theater laughing. Accept and enjoy it and you'll have a great time.

Although I felt like I was getting slapped in the face with the Trump satire, it still hit pretty well and got a good few laughs out of me.

After all this, I'm still wondering what the sauce is about...

Mickey 17 is such a wasted opportunity and for me the first big disappointment of 2025. It's 140' of nothing! A movie that constantly talks but doesn't actually say anything of value. It just has all these big ideas that end up nowhere and at times its only saving grace is some moments of levity that are really funny.

It's a science fiction movie that never explores its themes. What does it say about cloning? About colonization? It touches these subjects, sure, but it's so shallow.

Robert Pattinson is fine but I think he's wasted in this. All the different versions of Mickey are also supposed to have different personalities but aside from 17 and 18 (as seen in the trailer) the previous 16 all act the same, even though the movie says that have different characteristics. But even that doesn't matter because we never get to see all the different Mickeys aside from a quick montage.

Also, let me say that the use of narration in this movie is egregious. It doesn't enhance the experience, it's just filler to cover the silence.

Finally, it's so boring! Boring visuals, boring sci-fi elements, boring creature designs, no unique aesthetic, no nothing.

For being a sci-fi flick it does ok. It doesn't introduce anything groundbreaking but it is something different. Does it hold up to other sci-fi films? I'd say no, but if you're looking for an average film to burn 2 hours with this does the job.

I will say that considering who it was written and directed by, there was a much higher expectation. After watching a film like Parasite, which was very well done, this was rather tame. I think part of it is the narration and the other part was the writing. Acting wise I think everyone did a fine job, there were themes that were put out there that didn't quite hit or didn't really matter as the story unfolds, and while I could sympathize with the characters and the situations, the actions and consequences of them didn't carry much weight.

This didn't seem to be set up for a sequel and probably for the best, but I'd be curious to see if a part 2 would have more to offer. Overall I gave it a 6 and likely wont see it again.