It’s always tough to outdo competitors, but outdoing yourself is another matter entirely. Enter Bong Joon Ho, who nearly six years later had the daunting task of following up his previous four-time Oscar-winning film, “Parasite”, with “Mickey 17.” The result? A delightful film that explores some of the same themes as “Parasite” but tackles them in a completely different way.
This film is science fiction, vibrant imagination and a meditation on class and our current political situation. “Mickey 17,” however, manages to be widely entertaining and surprisingly funny, with Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo stealing nearly every scene they’re in. It takes what could be a complicated issue—getting a whole new body post-death, consciousness and all—and turns it into a fun, charming endeavor.
No one delivers a poor performance in this film. In fact, the entire cast taps into the old Star Trek school of acting. Their performances are almost over-the-top but are contained enough that you’re never pulled out of the experience. As a package, Bong Joon Ho delivers a fresh sci-fi film that people will be talking about long after it leaves theaters.
Do yourself a favor and watch this film.
Back of the DVD Summary:
“Mickey 17” is an adaptation of the novel: “Mickey 7” by Edward Ashton. In both book and film, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) is a member of a group of “expendables” on a mission to colonize the ice planet Niflheim after Barnes ran into some bad luck with loan sharks on Earth. “Expendables” are sent on perilous tasks, knowing that if they die, their bodies can be regenerated with most of their memories intact. On the way, Barnes meets Nasha (Naomi Ackie) whom he falls in love with. Upon arriving at the new colony, trouble arises, when Barnes doesn’t die as expected, leading to two of him, which means extermination for the both of them.
If a person can be replicated in their totality and at no consequence, where are the stakes supposed to reside? Why should you invest in Mickey’s story if there is no danger or cause to fear for his life? Introduce a doppelganger whose very existence threatens both of them with complete and total eradication — no resurrections. What “Mickey 17” does well is as the world and its rules unfold so do the danger and stakes. Every wrinkle and detail creates a more interesting world. Moreover, while attention is paid to the moral and ethical implications of this reincarnation or replication of a human, because we’re following Mickey’s point of view and he doesn’t think about it much, we aren’t expected to either. Essentially, we’re positioned to identify with Mickey in such a way, big philosophical questions don’t distract from the story but are meant to elevate it.
Robert Pattinson plays two versions of Mickey at the same time: Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, and impressively, at no point was I ever confused as to who was who. The duo occupied a great deal of screen time together, so there wasn’t really a chance to hide them. At once Pattinson plays a lovable rogue and a sweet pushover who just wants to hang out with his girlfriend Nasha. Both are distinct, memorable and neither boring to watch nor chew up the scenery.
Another dynamic duo that never fails to entertain is Mark Ruffalo’s Kenneth Marshall and Toni Collete’s Yifa — the villainous antagonists of the story. The pair are hilariously evil throughout every scene and almost make you like them by the time the credits roll. A testament to the talent of both actors. Ruffalo’s character can be compared to Trump, not in any surface-level way, but in certain mannerisms and how he speaks. It’s important to note that the film was delayed a few times, so the comparison could be down to poor timing, but I found it to be fairly funny. Kenneth Marshall is an evil, wannabe unserious dictator who caves to flattery. Yifa is the more cunning and sinister of the two, constantly pulling the strings of Marshall.
“Mickey 17” was one of my more anticipated releases of the year and I am glad to report it did not disappoint whatsoever. I look forward to owning this film when it comes out on Blu-ray.
