by G. E. Uke, Reporter
Most movies these days try to impart a moral lesson, or at least provoke the viewer to think about important life issues. Some do it better than others. At the low end of the spectrum you have things like The Expendables, while at the high end you have things like Inception, Fight Club, Avatar, and now Mickey 17.
Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 is one of those movies that certain people will innately dislike, because it contains a political message. It shines a spotlight on unpleasant issues like fascism, sensationalism, groupthink, elitism, bigotry, and all the other bad stuff that happens when a selfish narcissist takes power over a group of cultish followers. Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner from Avengers) fills this role as the politician Kenneth Marshall, and despite the fact that the movie was written and shot before Donald Trump’s presidency, the career and behaviors of this character draw many disturbing parallels.
The basic theme of Mickey 17 is one of dehumanization. Mickey is a timid young man with poor self esteem who joins a cult expedition to colonize another planet, hoping to escape a sadistic money lender who wants to kill him and his sleazy manipulative friend. The only role he’s eligible to fill is that of an “expendable”: a person who has accepted a contract allowing them to be sacrificed in perpetuity by the ship’s officers and science team on the condition that they are reprinted from a super science machine afterward with memories intact. Mickey is then subjected to various absurd and unethical situations that get him killed, including human experimentation and biological weapons testing. Eventually the expedition reaches the planet they mean to colonize, and a mishap results in two copies of him existing simultaneously. This is illegal, and considered grounds for his total termination. Hijinks ensue.
The best thing about Mickey 17, in my opinion, is its ambiance. The dark halls of the ship, the bunk rooms, and the stark contrast between the opulence of “management” and the crew quarters and mess-hall really drive home the iniquities this movie exists to highlight. It is marketed as a “dark comedy”, but I didn’t think there was much to laugh about. You really feel bad for Mickey, and when his successor (Mickey 18) begins to show rage and self-determination at his prior treatment the audience can empathize.
Robert Pattinson (The Batman) is very much the focus of the movie. The abuses he suffers impart a sort of empathic introspection in the viewer, which grows over time as the film explores themes of exploitation, pity, mercy, and nobility. Robert has come a long way from Twilight, and Mickey 17 gives him the opportunity to showcase the depth of his acting skills. This is particularly true in his portrayal of Mickey 18, who is very different from his “predecessor”. You get the sense that you are watching two different people, and I imagine this was a fun exercise for him.
I also really liked Naomi Ackie, who plays the security officer Nasha Barridge. The film skillfully prevents the viewer from fully seeing her moral quality until the halfway point, when a series of flashbacks reveal the true extent of her compassion for Mickey. There’s also some dead sexy mixed ethnicity relationship development that I found particularly heartwarming. Ackie really distinguished herself in this film.
Most of the other actors had ancillary roles, and the screen time they got limits my ability to fully comment on their performances. I will add that Kai Katz (Anamaria Vartolomei, aka Haydee from Count of Monte Cristo) was refreshing in her neutrality. Her mix of compassion for Mickey while also ultimately commoditizing him was interesting to watch, and it made the ending between her and Nasha more grounded.
Despite its black humor undertones and grim content, I consider Mickey 17 an important growth movie. It’s up there with V For Vendetta and Fight Club: something that needs to be seen not only for it’s entertainment value, but also because of the issues it addresses.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Mickey 17 – 5/5 Mickeys.
Please take a moment to FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to our updated ComicsOnline social channels.
We appreciate your support!
INSTAGRAM – COMICSONLINE
THREADS – COMICSONLINE
BLUESKY – COMICSONLINE
YOUTUBE – COMICSONLINE
FACEBOOK – COMICSONLINE
Join up with the cult expedition at ComicsOnline for more reviews, more exclusive interviews, and everything geek pop culture!
