MICKEY 17
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo
Director: Bong Joon Ho
ADRIANO
After finally watching Mickey 17, I'm glad all the delays, reportedly due to director Bong Joon Ho's refusal to adhere to studio notes, paid off. It's not another masterpiece, mind you, and audiences might be put off by the film since it's not always structurally sound. However, Bong's knack for scathing political satire and grand ideas is still intact, as it's not only outrageously funny, thanks in part to an excellent physical performance from Robert Pattinson, but also a brilliant punch to corrupt power-hungry politicians who use Catholic values as a shield. As a longtime fan, this was worth the wait.
AMARÚ
Mickey 17 is absolutely outrageous and a whole lotta of fun, but what else do you expect from the imaginative mind of Bong Joon Ho? Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, Steven Yeun, and Toni Collette all understood the weird assignment tasked to them, and it results in a hilariously interesting tale with an unabashed reprimand of the abuse of groupthink. Its runtime allows the plot to meander too much, making this one of Bong’s most unfocused narratives, which creates some anticlimactic endings for its otherwise enthralling premise. But that doesn’t dampen a captivating experience that I would gladly watch again.
ROBERT
What truly makes someone human and establishes their value to society? Bong Joon Ho explores that idea, along with political cultism, militaristic occupation, and the ethics of technological advancement in Mickey 17. Through the prism of the hilariously dark concept of “expendable” humans, we are privy to see Robert Pattinson’s Mickey Barnes come to terms with all the sides of himself, demonstrating that no matter your societal role or what you have done before, it doesn’t restrain your ability to evolve. This movie is weird, and the actors deliver on the satirical farce without hesitation. Breathe in all its beautiful toxins.
PAIGE
While Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 is a lively and over-the-top sci-fi satire, its tone and pacing are a bit inconsistent. The movie attempts to incorporate too many genres and themes, which causes it to lose focus on what it is trying to convey to its viewers. However, because of Robert Pattinson's performance, which allows him to continue showcasing his range, the movie has a captivating zaniness to it. I enjoyed what I saw on screen, overall, but it's apparent that Mickey 17 never fully commits to the story it's attempting to tell.
QUENTIN
Mark Twain said that humor is tragedy plus time, and Mickey 17 — at least for me — is the wrong movie at the wrong time. With what is currently happening to federal workers in the United States right now, I take no pleasure in watching a sci-fi satire about a tyrannical buffoon and the dehumanizing expendability of those beneath him. But even if that wasn’t the case, Mickey 17 plays like an overlong and wildly uneven mashup of director Bong Joon Ho’s previous works Okja and Snowpiercer, which means it really isn't offering any fresh ideas. The performances are terrific, though.
BODE
Don’t go into Bong Joon Ho’s latest film, Mickey 17, expecting another Parasite, because it’s more in the vein of his last English-language feature, Okja, in that its critiques are bigger in scope (capitalism, fascism, and religious fanaticism are just some of what it tackles) and wackier in execution. It does a lot, and as a result, its narrative is a bit scattered, resulting in pacing that can be fairly uneven at over two hours; however, with one of Robert Pattinson’s most inventive performances, as well as Bong’s distinctive visuals and humanism, there’s still enough to like. Pretty good, as is.
BRYAN
Bong Joon Ho reminds us why he’s one of the great modern auteurs with the long-awaited Mickey 17: a gut-busting, sci-fi, black comedy that slowly transitions into a terrifying political satire. In typical Bong fashion, the film masterfully balances tone to present itself as something you didn’t expect when walking in. As a result, it’s easy to feel disappointed by the film, yet it worked for me on nearly every level. The visual language, as well as Robert Pattinson’s incredible performance, make the film the first great one to come in 2025.
KATIE
Mickey 17 is a lot of fun, but contains too many competing ideas for its own good. I loved the mix of sci-fi, romance, pathos, comedy, and political satire, but I was frustrated by the uneven pacing and plethora of ideas that are established but not explored enough to matter, which results in a muddled and unfocused plot that left me with a lot of questions. However, I still really enjoyed it. The visuals are immersive, it’s thought-provoking, and it's held together by incredible performances, especially Robert Pattinson, who infuses the film with his offbeat charm.
