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.

It starts well, some dark humor. Made me laugh quite often during the first half. The problem from the beginning is Mark Ruffalo. While most other characters act like real people with measured slapstick elements. Mark Ruffalos performance which purposely mocks Elon and Trump as kind of a merged version of both, goes way over and beyond into an insufferable disgusting cartoonish figure. He tries so hard to portrait a terrible Trump version that the show looses all the subtle fun. Moreover the last third of the movie turns into lame political satire. If you want to watch it my recommendation would be leave when Mark 17 gets invited to dine with the boss (Mark Ruffalo), from there on its a waste of time. It is sad that Hollywood so desperately tries to shame everyone around Trump that they are willing to ruin an otherwise fun movie experience.

Mickey 17 had the potential to be an innovative sci-fi/comedy film, and it starts off in an engaging and original way. However, as the story progresses, it loses focus and ultimately turns into something generic, with an uninspired and rushed conclusion.

Robert Pattinson delivers a solid and well-rounded performance, proving his versatility even in a film that leans more towards comedy - something outside his usual genre. Despite the lighter tone, Pattinson brings depth to his character, making the story feel more grounded and adding an emotional layer to the film that otherwise would feel empty.

Cloning is a fascinating subject for a sci-fi movie because of all the moral and practical dilemmas it presents. Mickey 17 introduces these ideas but doesn't fully engage in them, shifting focus to a less compelling storyline midway through - the Creepers.

It feels out of the place compared to the film's promising start and even the trailers- The initial mix of humor and originality is lost, and by the end, the movie feels like it was hurriedly wrapped up just to deliver something, lacking any real creativity or impact.

That said, the film excels in its production design. The setting and character outfits are well-crafter, adding to the immersive sci-fi atmosphere. Additionally, the visual effects are compelling, bringing the futuristic world to life in a convincing and visually stunning way, which helps maintain engagement even when the story fails to do so.

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.

The trailer was incredibly promising, compelling all of us to watch the movie at least once. I was expecting a "Lost in Space"-type adventure, where Mickey repeatedly dies for a meaningful cause and comes back to life to fulfill his purpose. However, the story didn't quite take that route. For those who usually claims a plot to be very much predictable, this movie is not like those.

The first part of the film was quite good, filled with dark comedy. We witness Mickey's suffering, understand why he chose his job, and see how indifferent everyone is to his recurring deaths. This tone persists through about two-thirds of the movie.

The expedition leaders were the most disappointing characters. They should have been more responsible and sensible, but the story chose to depict them as foolish jesters. The ending and climax was not very satisfying and was quite unpredictable, with numerous plot points, such as communication with the planet's inhabitants, that felt chaotic.

As for the acting, Robert Pattinson delivered an excellent performance, showcasing distinct personality shifts between his versions of Mickey. The other actors also did a commendable job, but the story itself was the primary letdown.

Spoilers:

I am left with two major questions after watching the movie:

First - How did the leader of the planet's inhabitants know Mickey's name?

Second - How was Mickey confident that detonating himself wouldn't also destroy the other Mickey?