The Two Faces of Mickey
EBM HUMPHREYS
In Bong Joon Ho’s latest screwball sci-fi adventure, the eponymous Mickey has unwittingly signed up to be an ‘expendable’ – an employee on a space mission whose job is literally to die whenever it’s considered helpful, by ‘science’, for him to do so. He doesn’t get sent on especially dangerous errands. Rather, he’s a living lab-rat, deliberately exposed to every threat that the science team on his interstellar mission can think of, to be reproduced every time … for the greater good. The human-duplication technology making this possible is at the heart of the story, and its philosophical implications underpin the narrative, as they always do in the genre.
But this is also wildly entertaining satirical comedy. Robert Pattinson has gone down famously with critics for this performance as the unluckiest man ‘alive’, and it’s easy to see why. When Mickey is accidentally doubled, his double doubles down on opposing his personality because he discovers that he dislikes his former self. This gives Pattinson perhaps his most entertaining role ever: arguing and fighting with himself, and in doing so attempting to create the most different possible versions of the same person. Way more fun than twins.
Provided that you’re not too squeamish, this is all-round solid (15+) family fun. Nothing feels overdone or gratuitous, although the film is hardly spare on the detail, and along the way we are treated to some violently funny dialogue.
Mickey 17 is based on a book by Edward Ashton, but Bong has significantly altered the narrative to expand the roles of Mickey’s friends. And there is a slice of ethical wrangling here which returns us to Okja, another Bong hit exploring the deep friendship between a young girl and a kind of giant super-pig; here, though, it’s the indigenous population of Niflheim that calls the human conscience into question.
This movie is a circus-ensemble of villains, cops, religion, exploitation and colonisation – almost too much at times. But in this bonkers future, being sentenced to death for being alive easily brings the serious edge needed to balance it all out. If you’ve enjoyed the insanely daft Snowpiercer, the tender-hearted Okja, or the 2006 monster epic The Host (or Starship Troopers), you’ll love this film. If you only know 2019’s Parasite, be aware this is a very different monster – you’ll recognise elements that made that film great, but this is the work of an altogether more light-headed Bong Joon Ho.
Independent cinema Kino-Teatr screened Mickey 17 on April 5th & 6th (Saturday & Sunday). Book at kino-teatr.co.uk and find them at 49 Norman Road, St Leonards.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply