The Wasteland Reviewer

Mickey 17 (2025) Written Review

These six years have been a long wait for Bong Joon Ho’s follow-up to Parasite, hasn’t it? Joon Ho took the cinematic world by storm with his “eat the rich” dark comedy/thriller that tore it up at the Oscars. His ability to take impressive concepts, inject plenty of thematic threads, and tell a compelling story is unmatched. After a few delays, Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 is finally hitting theaters as adapted from Edward Ashton’s “Mickey 7”. Robert Pattinson leads the way as the titular Mickey who takes a horror job as an “Expendable” on a voyage to a brand-new world. When you have a life of death, print, repeat…there is plenty to explore there. 

Knowing Joon Ho…what are all the variety of ideas and themes tackled in Mickey 17? There are plenty of ideas centered around human condition, animal rights, our current geopolitical landscape, and more. Unfortunately, Joon Ho might be trying a little too much with this science fiction tale. Like Okja, Mickey 17 feels a little too overstuffed as any of the given themes could have had this science fiction film dedicated to it. The political elements (most definitely drawing from the current United States presidential situation) are certainly funny and biting in many ways. There are some elements of this piece of the narrative that feels half-baked and under-utilized. A whole group of additional characters come into the film that are mostly narrative devices or exposition dumps. The idea of being killed and reprinted over-and-over again works well for the laughs but, more importantly, is leveraged for its effects on a human being. Mickey lives after death and carries an experience that no one else could ever have. This is certainly reflected in the consistent and unwarranted question that Mickey is asked through the film. The animal rights elements of the film become significantly more essential to the plot as the film goes on. There are moments where it feels tacked on, but the creature designs and behavior make for some compelling elements. The personal journey and romantic relationship of Mickey certainly serve as the heart and soul of the film. 

Do these elements translate well into a compelling and engaging narrative experience? Since the film is trying to navigate so much, we do some narrative threads that are more effective than others. The political elements with Mark Ruffalo’s Kenneth Marshall’s tyrannical reign work well with the rising concerns about the indigenous creatures on this new planet. Marshall’s target of the “Creepers” as his scapegoat is quite impactful (especially in context of the United States’ own policies now. The fate of these animals as well as Marshall’s reign are connected in an impactful and significant way. Then you have Mickey and his romance Naomi Ackie’s Nasha. This is the key to the story as Nasha gives Mickey plenty to live for and someone to strive for in his life. His role as an “Expendable” takes aways so much of his self-worth as he just dies for the good of others and has that future pain looming over him. The idea of Mickey having two prints at the same time (with one of them diverging in personality) is genius and is leveraged well in the context of the story and its different aspects. The central elements of the story are effective and engage you, but Joon Ho just attempts to tackle so many themes and ideas that they distract from the core elements of the film that are really working. 

Story and thematic go a long way but what about Joon Ho’s work behind the camera? This is an impeccably crafted film for sure. Joon Ho makes the most of his budget and crafts a giant ship, an alien world, and a new creature that all feel so real and tangible. There are a few moments where any computer-generated effects feel distracting. The technical prowess on display is top notch. There are some key slow-motion moments that capture the power and impact of the scenes. There are plenty of intimate close-ups that are quite impactful (in tandem with the authentic and earnest performances of the cast). There are some interesting choices with the blocking and framing of shots that might be showy but deliver something unique and engaging to watch. The film has a great look at it in general with well-thought-out costumes (which reinforce thematic elements) and a production design that is so tactile and lived in. The score from Jun Jae-il is quite unexpected as it delivers a somber and emotive atmosphere that breathes weight and emotion in so many of the scenes throughout the film. The tone is fantastic as well as Joon Ho can nail the awkward and dark sense of humor with a splash of bombast and absurdity (especially with Ruffalo and Collette’s characters). There are heartbreaking moments that mesh well with those moments that will leave you in stitches. 

What element of the film is just a beautiful ingredient that elevates every moment? The cast. Robert Pattison…he is so darn talented. His range is impeccable as he crafts a reserved, nervous, awkward, and mousy protagonist filled with empathy. We care so much about Mickey and Pattinson, who are the driving force behind empathy and connection. The physicality, expressions, and vocal cadence are so well thought out. THEN he makes a wholly different Mickey who is unhinged, angry, and aggressive. Then he acts perfectly with himself. Perfection. Ackie is a wonderful addition as she is sexy, alluring, powerful, and loving all rolled into one. Her chemistry with Pattinson is so great who brings the Mickey/Nasha relationship to life. The dynamic duo of Ruffalo and Collette are insane for what they do in this film. They are hilarious in every scene but there are so many more underneath the surface. They have wild demeanors but both actors imbue their characters with malevolence underneath the surface. These performances are HUGE…but they work so well in the madness of this film. There are a few standouts in the supporting cast worth highlighting like Steve Yeun (who gets a big yet tertiary presence), Patsy Ferran, Cameron Britton, and Anamaria Vartolomei. 

Was the post-Parasite wait worth it? Mickey 17 is a darkly funny, rich, and entertaining cinematic experience. Pattinson delivers a dynamic and fascinating performance(s) which is bolstered by a talented supporting crew. Joon Ho explores plenty of themes in this science fiction flick (even if some are more equally explored than others). This will certainly entertain, get you to think, and even dig in a bit to get you to feel.