Mickey 17 Review: Absurd, Dystopian, Fun

Mickey 17, Bong Joon Ho’s adaptation of Edward Ashton’s Mickey 7 novel, invites us into a dystopian funhouse where expendable humans are the ultimate colonial tools. In this eerily plausible future, the “expendables” die repeatedly on hostile planets, only to be reborn with their pre-recorded memories neatly uploaded into fresh bodies.

Robert Pattinson plays our hapless hero, Mickey, dying and resurrecting his way through an unforgiving alien landscape. Sounds like a mind-bending existential thrill ride already, doesn’t it?

Despite having all the ingredients for a sci-fi classic—an acclaimed director, a compelling premise, and a star-studded cast—Mickey 17 stumbles when it should soar. The experience mirrors visiting an extravagant theme park, where you’re dazzled by spectacular attractions and momentarily swept up in the experience, only to exit with a nagging sense of “it could have been better.”

Nonetheless, Mickey 17 is still a wildly entertaining ride worth the price of admission. And speaking of things worth the watch, let’s talk about Robert Pattinson’s performance—easily the most impressive attraction this sci-fi theme park has to offer.

Robert Pattinson Brings His A-Game

In Mickey 17, Robert Pattinson continues his impressive run of excellent acting that we’ve seen in Tenet and The Batman. Here, he pulls off something even more remarkable—playing multiple clones of himself, each with distinct personalities that become instantly recognizable within moments of appearing on screen.

Mickey 17 is a nervous, high-strung pushover with a voice that cracks under pressure—practically folding himself into corners when confronted. Meanwhile, Mickey 18 struts through scenes with newfound confidence, making decisions with conviction and carrying himself with an edge that suggests he’s learned from his predecessor’s missteps. Pattinson doesn’t rely on special effects to make both characters work—just subtle shifts in posture, vocal tone, and micro-expressions that make you forget you’re watching one actor juggle multiple roles.

It’s a testament to Robert Pattinson’s acting chops that he makes these shifts feel effortless, adding layers to a story that, on paper, should be rich with existential weight. But while his performance brings depth, the movie itself struggles to match his commitment. Mickey 17 flirts with big ideas—identity, ethics of disposable labor, and consciousness—but never quite lands on what it says.

So Close To Greatness

Mickey 17 teases some of the most thought-provoking sci-fi concepts we’ve seen in years—then leaves them hanging just out of reach. The premise itself is a philosophical goldmine: What happens to your sense of self when your consciousness is repeatedly transferred between bodies? When Mickey 17 dies and Mickey 18 is “born” with most—but crucially not all—of his memories, are they the same person?

The movie occasionally dips its toes in existential waters, particularly in scenes where the two Mickeys disagree on which one is more “authentic,” but then it hastily retreats to safer ground. It feels like the movie is using the philosophical questions as window dressing for its quirky, fast-paced plot.

Like a rollercoaster that builds and builds only to skip the biggest drop, Mickey 17 repeatedly sets up profound questions about identity, consciousness, and corporate ethics, then seems too afraid to fully commit to its interesting ideas.

Despite these missed opportunities, there’s still fun to be had along this imperfect ride.

Still, Mickey 17 is a fun Ride

For all its philosophical fumblings, Mickey 17 never stops being an absolute blast. Bong Joon-ho injects the film with his signature mix of sharp humor and stylish visuals, keeping the energy high even when the narrative stumbles. The world-building is vibrant and engaging, blending dystopian bleakness with moments of absurd levity—like when Mickey accidentally befriends a supposedly deadly alien creature that turns out to be hilariously misunderstood by the colonizers.

The supporting cast brings vibrant energy to the movie, especially Toni Collette as Ylfa, whose obsession with sauce drives her to ridiculous situations.

Even as the plot begins to unravel in the third act, individual scenes remain so inventive and visually appealing that you’ll find yourself forgiving the film’s larger shortcomings, simply enjoying the bizarre ride for what it is—a flawed but fascinating journey through one of cinema’s most imaginative new worlds.

Like any theme park with a few broken rides, Mickey 17 might not deliver the complete experience its entrance promised, but the attractions do work—Pattinson’s dual performances, the stunning visuals, and bursts of inspired weirdness—make it a journey worth taking. You may exit wishing for what could have been, but you’ll be glad you bought the ticket.