Mickey 17: A Weird and Wonderful Dark Sci-fi Comedy

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Written by: Bong Joon Ho, Edward Ashton

Produced by: Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner (Oscar winners for Moonlight and 12 Years a Slave), Bong Joon Ho and Dooho Choi (Okja, Snowpiercer)

Executive Producers: Brad Pitt, Jesse Ehrman, Peter Dodd and Marianne Jenkins

Starring Cast: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette

TV Rating: R

Run Time: 139 min

Release date: March 7, 2025 (US Theaters)

You know that movie The Expendables, starring your favorite “older” action heroes doing highly skilled action sequences? Well, Robert Pattinson plays an “expendable” in Bong Joon Ho’s new film Mickey 17, but it is not the same. Adapted from the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, Pattinson stars as Mickey Barnes, a disposable crew member on a space mission to colonize an ice planet. As an expendable, Mickey is selected for dangerous tasks and expeditions because when he dies, his body can be “reprinted” with mostly all his memories. It was a streamlined process until Mickey’s version 17 goes missing and is assumed dead. Mickey 18 is printed and it’s all chaos from there.

Mickey 17 is such a weird and fun film to watch on the big screen. But while Joon Ho’s Parasite was a big brain activity film, Mickey 17 coasts in with straightforward commentary and nothing to prolong the film after its 139 minutes. It is a sci-fi dark comedy which I think we need more of. Sometimes, it teeters the line between epic studio film and made-for-tv movie, but I’m not mad at it. Overall there are some plot holes, but it had me laughing, which has been hard to find this year.

The standouts in this film are Robert Pattinson and Naomie Ackie. The two of them have pretty good chemistry but also shine on their own. With Pattinson playing multiple versions of himself, the last 2 are so different and well-acted that I forgot that he was playing both characters. It’s a sign of a job well done when a film can truly pull you into the suspension of disbelief. Pattinson also delivers a character that is unlike anything I have seen him play before. Trust me, I have watched plenty of his films, some more than others (**cough cough Twilight). His comedic timing and general idiocy is fantastic. He has some hilarious moments. 

Ackie plays Nasha, a ranking officer on the ship who has a relationship with Mickey (all versions). I enjoyed her character a lot. She had a knack for making the most of every situation. She was smart, a leader, and knew what she wanted. There were some great female empowerment vibes coming through her character, which is great given that this film is coming out at the beginning of Women’s History Month. Nasha is the strong moral compass that Mickey needs. He doesn’t mind doing what he needs to as long as he “comes home to her” and her love and compassion in the end. While Ackie didn’t have as much dialogue, her actions and face say it all. She delivers excellent work across the board. 

The major cast is rounded off with over-the-top characters played by Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, and Toni Collette. Their moments on screen are used to portray the themes of the film more than anything else. They depict a future of casual cruelty, corruption, and colonization. It’s peak political satire. 

The attention to detail is fantastic. When building a sci-fi world, the details are what matters. The production design is incredible. There are some unique and intriguing concepts in this film that I’m sure my fellow nerds will appreciate. While the visuals are impressive, the dialogue is lacking. The majority of the film is filled with montage and voiceover. While I appreciate a good voice-over, there seems to be too much of it in Mickey 17.

Mickey 17 is a fun watch. It will bring you some much-needed smiles and laughter. Sci-fi lovers and casual viewers will both find something to enjoy.