A Mickey 17 Review
While the Bong Joon-ho written and directed sci-fi flick had me worried with its ever changing release dates (notably never a good sign for a film), it seems to be it was not the quality of the film that made the studios unsure.
It is simply the tone.
A Satire with a capital S, this romp through a not-so-decent future that takes place mostly between an industrial style spaceship and an icy planet is all at once strange and earnest, dark and hopeful. It gently guides you through all the genres, jumping from comedy to romance to action and back again, all encased in an off-kilter whimsy that will not be for everyone.
It was, however, for me, as well as the handful of others that I saw it with.
Films can create their own reality no matter how absurd. Mickey 17 is not short on absurdity, and from the beginning scene I was ready for something off-balance. I had only ever seen Parasite from Joon-ho before, an incredible film that is much more grounded in reality as it gives the popular themes I’m aware Joon-ho loves to show such as class and wealth disparity. I understand though that directors are indeed not locked in their styles, and went in openly, understanding that this was an in-your-face comedy, and some of my favorite comedies are ones that a little weird and little sappy. This provides just that.
While some find it over the top, beating you over the head with the satire of it all, I am delighted by things so in your face that it becomes a wild ride on the rollercoaster of the theme, much like the extravagant message of women’s beauty standards in The Substance. Maybe it doesn’t always need to be knee deep in metaphors but screaming at you in a way that makes you wide eyed and laughing out loud in the theater.
Robert Pattinson is a master at his craft once again, pulling off not one but two roles as dual Mickeys. You could tell the two apart just by looking at their faces, held just slightly differently and yet holding two totally different attitudes. As the mild Mickey 17, Pattinson is the goofy soft boy who is scared of his own shadow. As the spicy Mickey 18, he is harder, and more ready to face his fears and take matters into his own hands. While both are played excellently, Pattinson puts a deep care into our main guy Mickey 17, the silly little guy who guides us on this adventure through space, through spaceships, through ice and snow. The one who must find his own confidence, his own self through all the turmoil around him.
The supporting cast is astounding, with Mark Ruffalo and Toni Colette at their comedic best, and the charismatic group of Naomi Ackie, Steven Yuen, and Anamaria Vartolomei rounding it out. While I do wish there was more time for Ackie’s character to be more than Mickey’s so called soulmate (she also didn’t really speak until what seemed like halfway through the film), Ackie and Pattinson had lovely chemistry and she is an essential badass.
While I first groaned at the over two hour runtime, it practically flies by. There are parts towards the third act that slow it down, but for the most part it definitely didn’t feel like all that time had passed. There is something entertaining happening at just about every moment, from some fun action sequences, to a hilarious line reading from Pattinson, to a shot of the incredibly adorable ‘creepers’ that are a big part of the film’s plot.
All of this takes place in some wonderful production design, with a spaceship that looks truly lived in and a new planet that makes you feel the chill in your bones. The costume design made sense, matching with the surroundings and allowing us to easily understand the status of different members of the colony. The effects are fine, just grounded enough that I can focus on how cute the Creepers are instead of if the CGI is wonky. The sound was kind of crazy, with certain scenes making me think a someone was talking behind me for a moment before realizing it was a character speaking off screen.
While I don’t have a lot of critiques here, this film is by no means perfect. It is, however, fun. This is a film you go to the theaters for, laughing with your fellow theater goers and enjoying the journey. It’s nice to just have a great time at the movies, something essential to spark your cinema. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but I do want it to be an experience where I’m glad I went, and Mickey 17 provides just that.
My Letterboxd rating: 4.5
Does it spark joy?
A good romp at the theaters if you want to have a laugh at an adventurous sci-fi satire with a talented cast. This definitely sparks joy.
