Mickey 17: Double the Clones, Double the Fun

Launching into Orbit

Wire up the machinery and grab the nearest spacesuit, because it’s time to prepare for a treacherous mission! Mickey 17–based on Edward Ashton’s science fiction novel Mickey7–is the latest feature from acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho, after the success of the 2019 psychological drama and Best Picture winner, Parasite. Following that movie’s success, Bong decided to take a different approach for his next outing, aiming for more of a fantastical tone compared to Parasite’s overarching dread. This ultimately led to the creation of Mickey 17, which had a script ready to go even before Ashton’s novel was officially published.

This feature has seen quite an interesting journey, having swapped release dates multiple times before its nationwide premiere in March. It was originally slated to come out in early 2024, before ultimately being delayed a full year due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Afterwards, it jumped between different release dates in 2025, before it finalized its theatrical premiere on March 7. Now, Bong’s latest vision has finally hit the big screen, albeit to less-than-pleasing end results. 

Both critics and audiences have responded positively to the film, but much of the trouble comes from the box office. Despite strong word-of-mouth, it has only grossed $94.6 million worldwide as of Sunday, March 23. Against a production budget of $118 million, the movie is tracking to be a major box office bomb. 

I had been ecstatic to check this movie out ever since it was first announced. Though I have not read Ashton’s original novel, I love Bong’s previous work as a director. In fact, Parasite ranks among my top five favorite films of all time due to its genius direction, clever writing, and tense tone. I was curious how he would handle his next outing, especially with a much different atmosphere from his predecessor. 

Eagerly, I headed to the Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in Mansfield–a less than ten-minute drive from campus–on Thursday, March 6 and booked the earliest screening I could. Leaving the theater, only one question was left on my mind: was this movie a worthy successor to one of my favorite films, or was it it a mission that was never worth accepting?

Tinkering with the Equipment

Set in the year 2054, this film follows a man named Mickey Barnes, who signs up to join an intergalactic voyage to the ice planet Niflheim as an Expendable. In this position, Barnes is sent out on many assignments with lethal consequences; when killed, he is regenerated with all memories intact through technology banned on Earth. However, it is soon revealed that the 17th and 18th clones of Barnes are both simultaneously alive. Once others on the voyage find out, chaos erupts which risks Barnes’s permanent death.

Supporting this bizarre premise is a talented cast of big-name actors, including Robert Pattinson, Naomie Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, among others.

I am pleased to report that this movie is a worthy addition to Bong’s filmography, and one of the most unique films I’ve seen in some time. This is largely because of the writing, which works really well due to the sheer unpredictability of it, perfectly corresponding with the bizarre premise. The movie is consistently engaging, with many twists and turns in the plot that prevent it from blending in too much with other science fiction films. These moments become especially prevalent in the second half of the film, even leading to a tense climax once all is revealed about certain characters and their motivations. 

Additionally, I was surprised at how well the movie handled its tone. It found the right balance between dramatic and funny, leading to many moments which have stuck with me even weeks after my initial viewing. I was particularly impressed with the humor, which there is no shortage of in the film. Even amid all the dark moments and plot twists scattered throughout, there were still a plethora of jokes which left me laughing aloud. Bong approaches this movie in a way which keeps viewers curious as to where it will go next, while keeping them consistently entertained. 

There’s also a lot of genuinely tender moments throughout the runtime, courtesy of the relationship between Barnes and his love interest, Nasha Barridge. Their bond is actually the subject of a heartfelt side plot, making way for slower emotional moments that correspond well with the craziness of the main concept. 

However, I had one nitpick with the plot: I do wish they delved more into the cloning aspect. The movie centers on a man who is regenerated every time he dies, but it does not do very much with that idea. In fact, once it is revealed that Barnes’s 17th and 18th clones are alive together, that concept is barely touched upon as the story moves on to cover a new idea. While the plot’s direction still made for an engaging and unpredictable final product, I do wish they explored the cloning a bit more. Whether through experimenting the process on other characters, delving more into its conception, or even having it play a role in the climax, there is plenty of potential with this idea. Make no mistake, I still loved the movie’s story and how Bong approached it, but I feel like there is some wasted potential in the cloning idea. 

Crewmates on Deck

When embarking on a treacherous journey through space, a lot of the entertainment comes from the crewmates onboard the vessel. Thankfully, the characters in Mickey 17 are thoroughly developed and entertaining, making them a delight to watch on screen. 

The strongest characters in this picture are none other than the titular Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, the clones of Barnes who find themselves at odds after they discover each other. Despite being identical in looks, the two sport vastly different personalities, with 17 acting worried and suspicious while 18 is more hands-on and violent. Barnes himself has a strong arc which is translated through his clones, as he questions the morals behind the voyage to Niflheim while trying to bond with Barridge and ultimately survive the trek. 

Another standout character is Barridge, who acts as the heart of the feature. She serves as someone who Barnes can find solace in after being treated as lethally disposable due to his occupation. Even after she discovers 17 and 18, she remains enthusiastic and eager to help them out, developing their romantic side plot and making way for many of those tender moments in the tone. 

The characters are all portrayed brilliantly by their corresponding performers, particularly Pattinson as Barnes and all of his clones. Playing a dual role can be challenging, especially when depicting two different personalities of the same character. However, he takes on the challenge and portrays them all fantastically through giving 17 and 18 vastly different personalities with common goals, while showcasing great physical comedy and line delivery. 

Additionally, Ackie portrays Barridge with strong levels of enthusiasm, kindness, and toughness. Without giving too much away about the plot, I can say that these traits are amplified as the story progresses and she begins to realize the grander scheme as to why the voyage was conceived.

Even with this talent, there are two performances in this film which have been subject to controversy: Collette and Ruffalo as the movie’s main antagonists, Ylfa and Kenneth Marshall, respectively. The polarizing nature of their roles come from their immensely over-the-top line delivery, which many have stated as the worst part of the feature. Personally, I found myself a bit mixed on their performances. While the two had strong villainous motivations and were generally well-written, I would be lying if I said I was fully onboard with the way they acted. 

When first introduced, the two of them came off as cartoon-like due to their over-exaggerated voices and dialogue, especially Ruffalo. As the runtime progressed, I got more used to their performances, which somewhat matched with the over-the-top nature of the movie’s premise. Still, it’s not hard to see why these characters have received backlash. I feel like they could have been performed a bit more subtly opposed to the weird approach they ended up committed to.

A Freeze Approaches

Accompanying all the unexpected events and colorful crewmates on screen is an eye-catching array of visuals. The movie explores many different locations ranging from a secluded spaceship to open environments on certain planets. Every location has its own unique style of lighting and color scheme, making for a visually appealing movie that succeeds in transporting the audience into its world. 

Once the crew makes it to Niflheim, the visuals really shine even more as they traverse through the icy tundras and caves filled with mysterious creatures. The shots on the snow-filled wasteland are among my favorites in the film, especially when the characters travel outside their vessel and into the unknown, since it also lets the sound design shine. Bong captures the vision of Niflheim with strong winds and non-stop blizzards, and increases the stakes by introducing lifeforms known as Creepers, inhabitants of Niflheim who attack when provoked. These sequences brought about some of the best thrills in the picture, primarily in the third act where it is revealed what the Creepers are and what they want. 

The extraterrestrial Creepers serve as strong additions to the story, not just because of their creative designs and overarching threat, but also because of a certain subplot involving them. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that something is hinted at early in the runtime, but subverts viewer expectations in the third act, adding to the unpredictable nature of the story. Mixed with the engaging character moments and stunning visual style, the unexpected approach to the creepers makes way for a fantastic climax once all is revealed, allowing the visuals and cinematography to shine even further.

An Unexpendable Experience

Overall, despite some wasted plot potential and a few odd performances, Mickey 17 is a brilliant take on science fiction due to its engaging plot, well-developed characters, beautiful visuals, funny humor, and fantastic dual role from Pattinson. It might not fully live up to Parasite, but it still serves as a strong addition to Bong’s filmography which left me smiling as I exited the theater.

For those who are science fiction fans, enjoy Ashton’s original novel, or just want something fun to watch, I’d highly recommend checking out Mickey 17. The film is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including Hackettstown’s own Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas. If you’re looking for a fun adventure with big names and high stakes, this movie has you covered. 

This film stuck the landing and made its mark, resulting in a unique approach to science fiction which cannot be cloned. 

My Rating