2025 sees the film adaptation of Mickey 7. Made into Mickey 17, a few more Mickey’s on hand, it is fun, but a let down in the end. Not having read the source material; written by Edward Ashton, I’m not sure. So I can’t say whether the book is better than the movie.
I do know that after seeing the trailers at the cinema, I was expecting a lot more. Or at the very least, a slightly different film than what we got.
Bong Joon Ho directs and adapts the Mickey 17 screenplay from Ashton’s book. Don’t get me wrong. The film is good, and I did get a kick out of it. But it was not what I had in mind.
The story
Mickey Barnes is desperate to get off Earth. A loan shark is after him and his best mate Timo. He signs up on an expedition as an “expendable.” 16 lives later, Mickey has to stand up for what is right. He is about to change the future and his life.
The Main Cast
Robert Pattinson is Mickey Barnes.
Steven Yeun is Timo.
Cameron Britton is Arkady.
Naomi Ackie is Nasha.
Mark Ruffalo is Kenneth Marshal.
Toni Collette is Ylfa.
Mickey 17 BTS
Behind the scenes of Mickey 17, we have; as mentioned above, Bong Joon Ho writing and directing. He orchestrates the film with DP Darius Khondji, editor Jinmo Yang, and composer Jung Jae-il.
This quartet works brilliantly together. The soundtrack, the frames; which really are cracking, and the scenes fit perfectly.
The VFX and the FX work well together. The creatures discovered on the planet makes one think of the woolly animal (?) from A Wrinkle in Time. *The book, not the film. Something I have yet to see.*
Death scenes in Mickey 17, do not live up to what was promised in the trailer. Once again, this is the fault of marketing and not that of the filmmakers.
What works *And what confuses*
Robert Pattinson, doing his best Steve Buscemi voice, is amusing as the world’s unluckiest space explorer. He narrates in this tone of voice and it sets the mood nicely.
However:
When he meets Mickey 18, the new version of himself, the voice is different. This is a tad confusing and is never explained. Why is his voice deeper and more gruff? Presumably, all the other Mickey’s sounded like Buscemi.
Mark Ruffalo is great as the bombastic, ego driven, and rich space explorer. It may just be me, but I did feel there was more than a little resemblance to Donald Trump. Ylfa, his wife, does not resemble the First Lady though. *Mayhaps in looks. But not in behaviour. Although it is hard to tell with Mrs. Trump’s minimal public appearances.
Pattinson’s character is amusing but bereft of any attractive traits whatsoever. This makes his attraction to the opposite sex confusing. Mickey 17 has a plethora of women chasing after him.
Cameron Britton kills it as Akady. Steven Yeun is great as the conniving best friend.
The Verdict
Mickey 17 earns a solid 4 stars. It could have swanned its way into a 4.5 but for that disappointing lapse between trailer and film. I do have to say, that even with the good old senior’s discount, I’m glad it was streamed at home.
The film is streaming on Max at the moment.
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