"You read through the paperwork?"
Parasite. Snowpiercer. Okja. Mother. Boon Joon Ho has long been a force within the film world. His newest outing, the Robert Pattison-led Mickey 17, sees the dynamic filmmaker venture back into familiar territory. However, though at times entertaining, the mashup of previous projects doesn't leave the desired impression.
In what few were expecting as Ho's Parasite followup, Robert Pattinson stars as Mickey Barnes, a sluggish human who, with his back against the wall, applies to be an "expendable," offering the utmost service to his employer: to die, every day, as he embarks on a dangerous journey to help colonize an ice planet. But as he ventures through the rigors of the position, losing more of the fear and emotional tug with each demise, he unearths a greater purpose when, by accident, a multiple is printed, leaving him in a dire dilemma.
Adapted by Ho from Edward Ashton's novel Mickey 7, the film is eccentric and strange. The expedition, set in 2054, is led by failed politician Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo) and his wife Alfa (Toni Collette). The voyage to the planet is four and a half years. The trip is long, so to ensure a safe arrival, they monitor every calorie you consume and every sexual encounter you engage in. Though everyone has bought into the expedition, Mickey is the lone expendable. He is the human guinea pig, a fascination with his colleagues who all want to know what it feels like to die.
Robert Pattison continues to craft a notable career for himself. His work as Mickey, our down-on-his-luck, somewhat pathetic protagonist continues that journey as he offers up one of his most profound, complete, and unexpected performances to date. Embodying contrasting incarnations of himself, he successfully showcases his acting range, merging comedy and drama to give the film a centralized heart and soul.
In many ways, Pattinson's performance marks Mickey 17's most reliable element. Though a strong supporting cast surrounds him, his portrayal yearns for our investment. It is a harrowing task, especially considering how disconnected he is from the world around him.
Amidst all the sci-fi and dark humor, Mickey 17 is unfortunately quite applicable to today's society. Though shot in 2022, you cannot downplay the story's relevancy to today's political climate. Outside of Ruffalo's apparent Trump-inspired turn, the film satirically hits on life, politics, and the pursuit of exploration, notably the lengths we will go to succeed.
But for all that Pattinson does right, Ho's latest project struggles to maintain a consistent equilibrium. Often jockeying between tones, it fails to capture a balance, forcing viewers to ebb and flow as we navigate a small, constricting set with otherworldly large ideas.
Hampered by an uneven pace, the film struggles early due to a long, drawn-out build-up. And though there are a few moments of entertaining action, the film is ultimately set upon Pattinson's shoulders. He does well with the job. Tremendous actually. But a feature of this magnitude needs other endearing qualities. Sadly, those are few and far between.
There is no denying that Bong Joon Ho is a groundbreaking filmmaker. His past work has more than confirmed his genius behind the camera. Mickey 17 is a rare moment to acknowledge him as mortal. When it is good, it is exceptional. That is undeniable. But when it lags, which it often does, it is sluggish, uneventful, and, it pains me to say it, boring.
