Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

In his first feature film since his Academy Award-winning Parasite, Bong Joon Ho, returns with Mickey 17. This genre-bending space adventure stars Robert Pattinson as an expendable clone tasked with humanity’s survival as it forges a new path into the unknown. When Mickey refuses to accept his replaceable status, existential chaos ensues in this film that blends dark humour with sci-fi ridiculousness.

Mickey 17 is packed with Bong’s signature wit and visual inventiveness, but the emotional depth never quite lands. Pattinson, who is really proving himself as a chameleon actor, delivers another strong performance, but it’s Naomi Ackie who steals the show. She brings warmth, determination and badass-ness to a role that, refreshingly, allows her to exist as a Black woman without the tired weight of stereotypes.

That said, while the film raises intriguing questions about identity and purpose, it often coasts on charm and overcooked satire rather than fully unpacking its ideas. Sure it’s fun, and it’s quirky, but with so much charm, there was barely any room left for substance.