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Since Bong Joon-ho took Hollywood by storm with his Oscar-winning film, Parasite, audiences have been eagerly anticipating his next project. In Mickey 17, the South Korean filmmaker delivers a genre-defying work that blends dark comedy, sci-fi, and biting political satire. With Mickey Barnes (played by Robert Pattinson) as our reluctant, “expendable” protagonist, the film explores themes of identity, death, and the human condition. It’s a journey through absurdity and tragedy, questioning what it means to truly be human in a world where lives can be printed, memories are repeatable, and one’s very existence feels disposable. True to Bong’s style, Mickey 17 blends and bends genre and tone, offering an unpredictable adventure that often proves challenging to get on its quirky wavelength.
The film is set on the icy, inhospitable planet Niflheim, where humanity’s future is being tested through a bizarre process of human printing – bringing the dead back to life with freshly created clones made of waste. Human beings aren’t cloned in the traditional sense; instead, they are printed like documents, their memories and DNA transferred into identical bodies. This process is reserved for those who work as “expendables,” people assigned to increasingly hazardous tasks. The film’s titular protagonist is one of them. He’s essentially a test experiment, one where his body is exposed to the extremes of radiation, loss, and even physical harm; losing a hand during one job leaves him with a reminder during another. “What’s it feel like to die?” his best friend, Timo (played by Steven Yeun), bluntly asks.
As Mickey’s journey unfolds, he begins to grapple with the psychological and emotional cost of being reprinted over and over. While his body is replaced, the toll it takes on his mind would have benefited from greater exploration; however, his changing personalities, based on the different versions of Mickey, provide Robert Pattinson the opportunity to play a multitude of roles. From the timid, self-doubting Mickey 17 to the more aggressive and battle-hardened Mickey 18, Pattinson flexes his acting muscles in ways we’ve never seen before. The film’s humor – a biting blend of dark comedy, wacky situations, and even some slapstick – provides a backdrop that can feel disjointed but it makes for a unique exploration of death, trauma, and identity.
The film is also a satirical take on the nature of colonialism, political power, and the expendability of the working class. Kenneth Marshall (played with caricatured flair by Mark Ruffalo) is a failed political figure who embodies the worst of authoritarianism, while Nasha (played by the fiercely charismatic Naomi Ackie) gives a powerful speech calling out the moral bankruptcy of colonial endeavors. The film, which veers from comedic absurdity to moments of deep existential reflection, offers sharp commentary on our treatment of human beings as commodities to be discarded, reproduced, and remade.
It’s also about love, oddly enough. Amidst the absurdity of this space mission and human printing, Mickey finds an unlikely connection with Nasha. Their relationship defies traditional gender roles, with Nasha acting as the more powerful, dynamic force. The love story is unconventional but heartfelt, providing a tender contrast to the otherwise chaotic, dark humor of the plot.
A lot of the same VFX teams reunite with Bong after previous collaborations, like on Okja, a film about a young girl who raises a genetically modified “super pig” and must rescue it from the United States meat industry. Much like Okja, the VFX creatures in Mickey 17, called “creepers,” are characters of their own, adding another layer of intrigue to the story and representing the film’s offbeat, unpredictable nature, but also a deep moral examination.
Mickey 17 certainly defies expectations. It’s not the kind of sci-fi space opera we’re used to. Instead, it’s incredibly silly, often unserious, and it embraces that. Equal parts comedy, political satire, and humanist drama, its tone is a delicate balance that often falters with the mix of offbeat absurdity and deep poignancy. However, it brings about tough questions concerning humanity. Pattinson’s performance, especially in his voice work, cements his status as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.
Mickey 17 may be a wild, wacky ride, but underneath the comedy and sci-fi madness lies a deeply human story about grief, identity, and survival in an increasingly fragmented world. You may not always be sure what to make of it, but if you’re willing to dive in, there’s a lot to discover.
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Grade: B
Mickey 17
Unlikely hero Mickey Barnes finds himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.
Release Date: March 7, 2025
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Cast: Robert Pattinson , Naomi Ackie , Mark Ruffalo
