May 11, 2025

MICKEY 17: Bong Joon Ho's Big Lebowski


MICKEY 17 (Blu-ray)
2025 / 137 min
Review by Princess PepperđŸ˜ș

Mickey 17 could end up being Bong Joon Ho’s The Big Lebowski


To elaborate, 1996’s Fargo was the Coen Brothers’ biggest, most critically acclaimed film to date, nominated for a slew of Oscars and winning an award at Cannes. Their follow-up was The Big Lebowski, and while it did decent business, accolades weren’t quite as forthcoming at the time. But these days, who the hell doesn’t love The Dude?


Similarly, Mickey 17 is Ho’s first effort since his brilliant, Oscar-winning Parasite. While reviews were generally positive (though nothing approaching the same level of attaboys), it was a box office disappointment. However, like Lebowski, I think this one has the potential to become a cult classic. Mickey 17 isn’t perfect, but there’s too much to love about this movie for it to disappear into comparative obscurity.


Returning to sci-fi territory, Ho’s penchant for blending unique concepts, engaging characters, creative eye candy and (of course) plenty of social commentary is here in abundance. Robert Pattinson plays the title character, a dimwitted slacker who, along with shifty buddy Timo (Steven Yeun), escapes a criminal loan shark by joining a space colony travelling to Niflheim, a distant ice planet. With no particular skills, he signs up as an “expendable,” whose job is to do all the work that would get others killed. Each time he dies, Mickey is immediately cloned (memories intact) and goes back to work. His lowly status among the crew (and their indifference to his suffering) is made more tolerable by his relationship with security agent Nasha (Naomi Ackie).


Once the ship arrives on Niflheim, Mickey falls into an ice cave during a mission to capture an indigenous creature dubbed “creeper.” Timo assumes Mickey is as good as dead and returns to the ship. Instead, a herd of creepers throw him out of the cave, which actually saves his life. In the meantime, Mickey 18 has already been cloned and takes his place. Two copies of the same person (aka “multiples”) is illegal, and not only do both Mickeys want to live, they do not like each other.


Their individual personalities are different, too, with Mickey 18 being far more aggressive and angry over how the colony is run by megalomaniacal narcissist Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo). Meanwhile, a baby creeper is captured (somewhat accidentally), which results in the ship being surrounded by thousands of others. Egged on by sycophants and his conniving wife, Ylfa (Toni Collette), Marshall sees a historical opportunity by declaring war on these creatures.


"I dunno...I think two of us can handle that light bulb."
To reveal more about the plot would spoil some of the film’s best surprises, both narratively and thematically, but unlike Ho’s comparatively dour Snowpiercer, there’s a big emphasis on comedy, sometimes broad comedy. As such, Mickey 17 is often very funny, especially the characters and performances. Pattinson once again demonstrates remarkable range as two separate characters, further distancing himself from his dreamy vampire days. And Ruffalo looks like he’s having a blast as Marshall, a thinly disguised portrayal of a certain self-absorbed world leader we’re all familiar with (who isn’t a particular challenge to poke fun at).

Speaking of which, the timely satirical elements of Mickey 17 are far less subtle than they were in Parasite. One might even consider them heavy-handed at times. Still, it’s these aspects that elevate the whole thing above being just another sci-fi action film (Ho is too smart and observant to let that happen). But even taken at face value, Mickey 17 tells a good story. After a somewhat meandering opening act (perhaps spending a tad too much time establishing the premise), things kick into high gear once the ship reaches its destination. The action sequences, special effects and production design are all first-rate. The creepers themselves resemble a cross between potato bugs, woolly mammoths and armadillos
grotesque yet oddly adorable (and yes, they are available as plushies!). 


Whether or not it ever does become a cult classic, Mickey 17 certainly deserves to find the audience it never had in theaters. I wouldn’t put the film in the same class as Parasite or Snowpiercer, but it’s a lot of fun, as both social satire and sci-fi action. 


EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Behind the Lens: Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 features behind the scenes footage and interviews; Mickey 17: A World Reimagined is about the special effects,  costumes and production design; The Faces of Niflheim is mostly about the characters.

TRAILERS

DIGITAL COPY


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