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Mickey 17 sets up a fascinating premise—cloning, sacrifice, alien diplomacy, and the question of identity—but then decides to throw the entire sci-fi kitchen sink at you. And it’s not just the kitchen sink—it’s weird alien fauna, religious extremism in politics, and yes, Toni Collette furiously flavor-testing some truly disturbing sauces.
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There’s no shortage of ambition here, which is both the film’s strength and its downfall. Instead of diving deep into any one theme, Mickey 17 skims the surface of several, leaving each one underdeveloped. The alien creatures, initially positioned as minor plot point end up becoming the whole climax. The moral implications of cloning stay front and center for the most part but the plot is constantly distracted – wondering in different directions.
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The acting is slightly underdeveloped and no one really has a backstory worth caring about. Robert Pattenson is mostly great as Mickey, though with an occasionally odd accent and cadence that purposely changes with each clone iteration. Mark Ruffalo on the other hand… well… he’s just a version of Mark Ruffalo. For better or worse.
Then there’s that daydream sequence. Not a trippy dream or a hallucination—just a random, major narrative fake-out that nearly derails the ending. It’s meant to be clever, but it ends up feeling like the story is gaslighting its audience.
Still, the film isn’t without merit. The world-building is visually striking, and there are moments of genuine intrigue. As a sci-fi outing, it’s… fine. But despite all the big ideas, it struggles to stick the landing.
NerdScore
6.8/10
Mickey 17 Review
Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi adventure adapts Edward Ashton’s novel with striking visuals and an intriguing premise, but uneven pacing and muddled tone keep Mickey 17 from fully realizing its potential.
In a future where disposable human clones are sent on perilous missions, one iteration of Mickey begins to question his place in the cycle, setting off a battle of identity, morality, and survival.
IMDb
6.7/10
Metacritic
72/100
Rotten Tomatoes
77%