Bong Joon Ho’s new comedy sci-fi feature “Mickey 17,” based on the 2022 novel “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton, leaves viewers filled with laughter, confusion and disturbed thoughts. Taking place in the year 2050, the film captures a dystopian era where Earth is no longer habitable due to climate change. The film follows the main character Mickey, played by Robert Pattinson, a 20-something newly recruited “expendable” tasked with colonizing a new planet. He does this with the help of a newly designed human printer, which produces a new Mickey every time his previous copy dies during his harsh expeditions. 

The South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, best known for directing and producing familiar favorites like the hit horror movie “Parasite,” repeatedly takes the audience’s breath with his complex and unique storylines while encompassing darker and more serious themes. Bong’s thought-provoking films often incorporate political statements and “Mickey 17” is no exception. This includes a jab at multiple politicians with the unlikable antagonist, Kenneth Marshall, played by Mark Ruffalo. These statements seen in the film clearly bvmock and make major digs at America’s government in a comedic way, shedding light on “what could be” through the authoritarian dystopian storyline.

Initially, I was skeptical of this film’s casting mainly because of Pattinson’s role. Reflecting on his career, the role Pattinson plays in “Mickey 17” does not exactly align with the personalities of characters played in the past. In his past roles in movies like “The Batman” and “Twilight,” Pattinson is known to take on edgier characters. Nevertheless, Pattinson’s performance in “Mickey 17” truly impressed me, not only because of his change of character, but also because of the versatility of his characters in this film and his range of emotional expression.

What I was most intrigued by in the movie was the director himself,  Bong Joon Ho. The success of his previous films sets the bar high for “Mickey 17.” As mentioned before, his advocacy for change and awareness commonly shows up in his films and in what I believe to be in very unique ways. “Mickey 17” aligns with real life political affairs, more specifically, American politics. This allows for the readers to reflect on the political world around them. 

The movie overall is well-paced, especially with the placement of dark humor and the scenes of Mickeys’ deaths. While it sometimes struggles with the weight of ideas hidden behind the movie and the tonal shifts, the thematic pacing allowed me to grasp the complex ideas of the movie and the main theme. Despite this, it made some parts of the movie harder to understand because of the shifts in tone, which threw my attention off the main plot and ideas in the movie.

My general opinion on the movie “Mickey 17” is that it is very well done, reaching the expectations of a classic Bong Joon Ho movie. The clever use of dark humor mixed with the range of emotional expressions that Pattinson portrays, creates an enjoyable viewing experience. The movie is worth watching for fanatics of psychological thrillers and those who enjoy Bong’s creative directing. I give this movie 4/5.