Mickey 17 can’t clone success
Film Review: Mickey 17
Review: Bong Joon Ho’s new film delivers on quality, but not at the box office.
Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s latest film, Mickey 17, mixes comedy and seriousness well at times, but still comes off as goofy while tackling mature political themes. Robert Pattinson stars as Mickey, the unlucky, mundane Earthling who signs away his bodily rights to be cloned and killed repeatedly for the advancement of a company’s space exploration to a new planet.
Loosely based on the book Mickey7, Ho’s film is clear about the messages it wants to send. As he does in several of his acclaimed films, such as Snowpiercer (2013) and Parasite (2019), Ho critiques capitalism and its effects. This film comments on worker exploitation and animal rights under a corrupt and heartless leader. A serious story combined with sci-fi nuttiness can still emphasize a point well, and Ho is evidently intent on that.
The best aspect of the film was the dual role played by Robert Pattinson. He predominantly plays Mickey 17 and 18, giving each clone a distinct tone. Pattinson’s ability to differentiate between multiple iterations of Mickey fosters a stronger emotional connection between the audience and the characters, as each clone’s experience is both unique and connected. Pattinson’s chemistry with co-star Naomi Ackie is a welcome addition to the great character roster. It is also great to see stars like Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, and Steven Yeun trying something new and special by collaborating with Ho.
To aid the performances, the technology used to seamlessly mirror Pattinson was nearly flawless. It all looked so real – the continuous shots with both characters walking in and out of frame, bouncing dialogue back and forth, and even coming within inches of each other. The effects team went above and beyond, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see an Oscar nomination for it.
Ho’s directing and vision are as expected, bringing a level of comfort into many scenes. Even though the story is set in space, with extraterrestrial animals and barren planets, the world still feels familiar and grounded. However, the film occasionally comes off as artificial and odd in spots. That sense of comfort is disrupted at times, either by the heavy CGI used to create interactions between characters and the animals or by uneven story pacing. I enjoyed the film, but found myself pulled out of the experience at times. This could have easily been a generic or forgettable sci-fi movie, but Ho’s unique style ultimately saves it.
One element I did not enjoy was the overuse of narration. Yes, an abundance of context was needed, but Pattinson’s continuous nasally, whiny voice explaining what we were seeing or could have inferred quickly became grating. While it offered clarity throughout the film, the plot and message were spoon-fed to the audience.
Following the historic awards success of “Parasite,” Ho could virtually direct whatever he wanted, and chose a story rooted in commentary on capitalism and identity. Mickey 17 has underperformed at the box office, so far earning only $100 million on a $180 million budget. The film was released on digital platforms just 18 days after its theatrical debut with a staggeringly short run.
I would recommend this film for its fantastic visual effects, strong sci-fi plot, and captivating performances. I’m sorry to see it leave theaters so quickly, but I am glad it delivered standout performances, advancements in filmmaking technology, and, most importantly, a powerful message that can draw attention to serious issues in our society today.