Mickey 17 Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

A low self-esteem Robert Pattinson, Bong Joon Ho helming the premise, quirky humour & a space adventure. This must be a hit, right? 

Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Sci-Fi 

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Naomie Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, Steven Yeun, Anamaria Vartolomei, Toni Collette, Patsy Ferran, Daniel Henshall & Cameron Britton.

Run Time: 137 min.

US Release: 07 March 2025

UK Release: 07 March 2025

German Release: 06 March 2025

Another movie that was on my “Most Anticipated” list of this year, simply because it is directed by the genius Bong Joon Ho, who gave us the brilliant Parasite, as well as the captivating Snowpiercer. This time, he took the sci-fi novel “Mickey 7” by Edward Ashton, which I have not read, and adapted it into a visual spectacle. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the masterpiece I anticipated. Bogged down by too many side arcs, to his usually chesive pacing, Mickey 17 is good, but not great. So, double down with me through this icy review. 

In the distant future, Mickey Barnes boards a colonisation spaceship as an “expandable” - a disposable crew member, selected for dangerous tasks, because his body can be reprinted if he dies, with his memories mostly intact. During one regeneration cycle, things go wrong. 

As stated before, this is an adaptation of Edward Ashton’s 2022 science fiction novel “Mickey 7”. Unusual is the fact that plans for a silver screen conversion had been in the works by the regisseur before its publication date. Intrigued by the concept, he began transcribing an early draft of the book in early 2021, making a few changes, especially to the persona of Mickey himself. The marketing campaign also failed to sell the picture, with the first trailer conveying horror vibes, while the second trailer was more humorous.

As with his last film, Mickey 17 defies once again the conventional genre labels; it is a little bit of everything, feeling like an independent flick blended with blockbuster grandeur, but still with Bong Joon Ho’s clear fingerprint all over it. However, compared to a Parasite, Okja or a Snowpiercer, this feature feels, for the first time, a little conflicting, muddled and unclear. 

Let me explain in detail what I mean. The narrative follows several subplots, all with a certain level of complexity, which makes it at times overwhelming to follow. The nonlinear storytelling doesn’t help it either, as it further muddles the core subject of the script, making it more difficult to trace the progress of specific events. It also means that particular beats don’t link as smoothly together, making the overall experience inconsistent. 

That said, the story still manages to entice with an amusing spin on the science fiction genre, adding critical socio-political commentary such as classism, focusing on the inequality between the rich elite and the expendable labour force. Then there is the disapproving eye he sheds on authoritarianism, American colonialism, as well as environmentalism in terms of space reconnaissance, as we continue ravaging our planet. All of this is explored with a satirical undertone, through the eyes of different characters.

Lead actor Robert Pattinson helped the South Korean director with the dialogue, improving on the slang plus comedy. The dialogue is at times a little iffy, possibly due to cultural differences, though not terrible.

I am not quite sure what Robert Pattinson went for in his portrayal, but it was absolutely enjoyable! The personification of Mickey is one of the few things that was drastically changed, deciding to turn him into a simpler-minded persona. Also in the books, there were only seven clones, while here he has been printed out ten times more. Pattinson gave each of his clones a specific speech pattern to differentiate them from one another.

Mark Ruffalo plays the political antagonist Kenneth Marshall. Having assembled a cult like following, he decided to leave Earth with his followers, after a failed political career, to establish his vision of the perfect society. Ruffalo based his role on several authoritarian politicians, just like dictators. He has drawn mostly inspiration from current President Donald Trump, though it is not solely a parody of the head of state. 

Naomie Ackie as Nasha brings in more depth as Mickey’s girlfriend. Both have a solid, quirky chemistry. Then there is Anamaria Vartolomei, whose role as Kai is severely underdeveloped for the importance she is given in the feature. 

Finally, Toni Collette accentuates Marshall’s egomaniacal behaviour, as his wife Ylfa, who seems to be pulling the strings from the shadows. Colette fully embraces her role as a power-hungry megalomaniac with exaggerated flair. Steven Yeun plays Mickey’s supposed best friend, Timo, though he is also severely underwritten.

The crown jewel of this sci-fi drama is the camera work by renowned cinematographer Darius Khondji. Composition and framing are reflections of the protagonist's fragile psyche, using disorienting angles, just like claustrophobic textures, to convey some of the feelings. The colour palette employs different tints, depending on the scenery. Steel blues are utilised for the ice world of Niflheim, while greys reflect the oppressive, industrial interiors of the spaceship. 

The production design lends the narrative subject more depth. As an example, the spacecraft is designed to look industrial, in reflection of the labour force. The special effects for the planet Niflheim were created by Framestore, DNEG, Rising Sun Pictures, plus Turncoat Pictures, looking convincing, fleshing out the alien planet. The smooth interaction between multiple “clones” of Mickey looks realistic. 

The music, composed by Jung Jae-il, reflects very much the genre-defying plot, using classical music for socio-critical themes, or slow, romantic piano themes for the growing relationship between Mickey plus Nasha.

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Verdict: Bong Joon Ho’s newest flick is good, yet nowhere near the quality of Snowpiercer or Parasite. As such, I was somewhat disappointed, possibly due to high expectations, but also because of the weird marketing for this movie. The defiance to tie it down to one genre, as well as the socio-political critique, are trademarks of the director, being among the best facets of the screenplay. The sarcasm is fantastically blended into the subjects displayed. Sadly, there are too many side arcs distracting from the core premise, so the whole product feels bloated. The ending, compared to the regisseur’s other releases, is bland. Nonetheless, the dialogue is funny, the cinematography is among the best work I have witnessed, and the colour palette adapts to settings and topics. So, even if it ain’t perfect, its originality alone is worth checking it out in cinemas or paying for it in home video format. Mickey 17 obtains a 7.5 out of 10. 

Have you seen this new release by the legendary South Korean movie maker? What are your thoughts on this satirical sci-fi premise? Leave a comment below & thank you for reading!