Mickey 17
review by Bobby Blakey
Director Bong Joon Ho already has an impressive resume with films such as Parasite, Snow Piercer and my personal favorite Memories of Murder. Now he is teaming up with Robert Pattinson for this latest trek into the world of sci-fi with Mickey 17. The film co-stars Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. Could his latest return to the sci-fi genre bring more of his unique vision or will it not be worth repeating?
Mickey 17 follows the unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes who has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.
My love for Bong Joon Ho made me instantly want to see this film, but not knowing much about it still left it open ended on what it was brining to the table. The result is a film that left me pondering at first and realizing I really dug most of it in all its strange glory but still has some issues that kept it from being the masterpiece it might have been otherwise.
The entire world created here could easily exist in the same place as Snow Piercer. It has the same style of grey tones, bleak lives and plenty of snow and ice. This isn’t a knock, but a stylistic choice that even if it is all its own made it feel connected somehow. Not to be confusing as it has nothing to do with that other film nor is there any connection, just gave me that feeling. The attention to detail makes it easier to buy into the bleak futuristic vision and a beautifully depressing visual world is created.
The story is all over the place, which is part of the issue. The main focal point
of the cloning of Mickey is intriguing and not only an interesting plot direction but offers up some hilarious moments of his rebirth and fun deaths. It also lends itself to the unexpected direction of the rest of the film and gives Pattinson the chance to shine on so many levels as the shining point of the entire film. He does a great job bringing all the varied personalities to life and a simple innocence that makes the character likable during all this chaos.
The rest of the cast are good as well with Ruffalo’s over the top performance being a favorite, but also one I can see that annoys some people. It is a little much at times with the rest of the film, but it worked for me. I felt like Yeun’s character was wasted and there was more there to build on but seemed to be quickly sidelined and forgotten.
The final act is easily the best of the film with some great moments, excellent creature designs and more strange chaotic violence and laughs that perfectly hinge into what came before it. It is far from a perfect film, but one I am glad is out there even if only to give us another unique vision of original sci-fi that we just don’t get that often.
In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including featurettes taking audiences behind bringing this unique journey to life. Grab your copy of Mickey 17 available now on digital and then on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on May 13th from Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment.