Bong Joon Ho’s latest sci-fi film, “Mickey 17”, is a mixed bag that fails to live up to the director’s previous success with “Parasite”. The film boasts an all-star cast, including Robert Pattinson and Naomi Ackie, but ultimately falls flat due to its lack of focus and poor execution.
The story follows Mickey Barnes, played by Pattinson, who signs up for a space colony program as a “guinea pig worker” – essentially, a clone who can be deployed in perilous experiments before being replaced with a new version. However, things take an unexpected turn when Mickey number 17 survives a fatal accident and finds himself face-to-face with his duplicate, Mickey number 18.
Despite its intriguing premise, the film struggles to explore the philosophical implications of human cloning, instead opting for broad satire that falls flat. The supporting cast, including Mark Ruffalo as the colony’s leader and Toni Collette as his wife, deliver forgettable performances that add to the overall sense of disappointment.
The film’s biggest misstep is its shift towards conventional blockbuster earnestness in its climax, which feels out of place for a director known for his subversive style. With a reported budget of $150m, “Mickey 17” has high stakes, but it seems unlikely to find an audience despite its unique premise.
Overall, “Mickey 17” is a serious disappointment from Bong Joon Ho, a director who has yet to recapture the magic of his Oscar-winning “Parasite”.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250215-mickey-17-oscar-winning-director-bong-joon-hos-confused-sci-fi-blockbuster-is-a-serious-disappointment