Mickey 17 Review: Messy Story, Strong Themes
Theatrical Movie Review - Comedy/Satire
It can be challenging to tell well-crafted stories about colonization. They often seem heavy-handed and lack the thoughtfulness that makes good storytelling. But Bong Joon-ho is a master filmmaker and storyteller, and Mickey 17 is an excellent example of how to tell a story about this topic without sacrificing the theme or the entertainment value.
To escape a loan shark who specializes in horrific deaths, Mickey (Robert Pattinson) and Timo (Steven Yuen) decide to join a ship heading to a distant planet with failed politician and aspiring fascist, Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo) and his wife Ylfa (Toni Collette). While Timo can secure a job as a pilot, Mickey has no discernible skills and signs up to be an Expendable, a person whose job is to die over and over again and to be reprinted in a human 3D printer. While he serves as a kind of crash test dummy for the colony, Mickey’s only comfort is his relationship with Nasha (Naomi Ackie). But when he accidentally survives an encounter with a native species, the scientists print a second version of him, which is strictly forbidden.
The themes in Mickey 17 are not subtle, though I don’t know that subtlety is necessary when discussing topics like the marriage of religion and politics, environmentalism, and colonialism. Although very clear, these concepts are not presented in a ham-fisted way. Instead, they are woven into the story, making them incredibly accessible.
Unlike Bong’s Parasite, Mickey 17 is a messier story, sometimes veering into subplots that weigh down the overarching story. At 137 minutes, the film feels its length, with some moments feeling unnecessary. But the performances keep it engaging enough that it avoids becoming a slog. Pattinson plays two versions of the same character with different personalities, which is fun to watch. Collette feels slightly stifled in her role, but Ruffalo is leaning into his heel turn and provides the bulk of the humor in the film as the authoritarian leader obsessed with providing good television.
The movie's visuals are striking, particularly the native population, which Marshall dubbed “creepers” because he finds them creepy. In the film's climax, as they swirl around trying to rescue one of their babies, the look is incredible. Despite the lack of color throughout, Mickey 17 always has something interesting on the screen.
Throughout the film, Mickey is asked, “What does it feel like to die?” This is an upsetting question for him, and we see him avoid it as much as possible because it raises the more pressing question of why he thinks it’s okay for the leaders to allow him to die repeatedly. Through the film, we discover that Mickey feels guilty over various wrongs he committed, so he feels like he deserves these repeated deaths. In the end, he suggests that he may need to let go of that guilt. One of the less obvious themes of Mickey 17 is that it’s not necessary to punish yourself forever for mistakes you made. And also to read the terms of service.
Rating: 4/5
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on March 9, 2025.
I agree with you -- I wanted to love it and there is so much to love, but it gets really draggy in spots where it gets distracted by the subplots.