Filmmaker Bong Joon Ho (Parasite, Snowpiercer) directed and co-wrote Micky 17 with Edward Ashton, the author of the novel (Mickey 7) that is adapted for the film. While the trailer gives you an idea of what this Sci -Fi adventure comedy is about, I found there is so much more to it. Anyone who has seen the trailer may think they know all there is to know about what happens to Mickey, will be in for a few surprises.
The performances by Robert Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, are top notch and well worth the admission fee for entertainment. Naomi Ackie and Steven Yeun also add great performances to the story with many great characters.
Mickey’s situation in the world is not going well and he hears of an opportunity to get a job on a space mission. He was not in a good frame of mind, didn’t read the details of the job titled “expendable.” He just wants a change in life and leaving Earth doesn’t sound half bad. Said space mission is headed by a failed political candidate, Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight, The Avengers) and his wife, Ylfa (Toni Collette, Hereditary, Juror #2). Once Mickey is on the spaceship, he soon learns that he will be required to work repeatedly, different duties and responsibilities, with each being a different version of himself but with the same memories that have been stored for each “reprint” of his body. Yes, since he is off planet Earth, the rules of human reprinting no longer exist on the spacecraft.
There are glimpses in the trailer of what some of his job assignments are, where he is at and what happens. His different duties will have some results that the spaceship scientists will be monitoring and recording in support of having future travelers and/or residents on the planet they land on. His friend Timo (Steven Yeun) also was accepted on this space mission, but he has a very different job.
Life on board is harsh for Mickey, but when he meets Nasha (Naomi Ackie), a strong independent woman, she makes his life good and keeps him going as his girlfriend.
The scenes with the Marshall couple, their assistant and many dedicated staff begin to give the audience the real story of these extremely outlandish characters and their agenda, followed by many supporters.
One of Mickey’s assignments leads him face to face with the planet’s native animals that the humans decide to call “creepers.” They do not eat him alive as he expected, and this is cause for the scientists and others to question why they did not. Then comes Mickey 18, adding to the chaos and both versions trying their best to survive what is to come as “multiples” are not allowed. It is a blast to watch!
Rated R for violent content, language throughout, sexual content and drug material. Running time: 139 minutes.
Source: Warner Bros.