In Mickey 17, Mickey Barnes lives on Earth during a time in the future when it's not a safe or clean place to live. He and his friend Timo (Steven Yeun) owe money that they don't have to a loan shark, so rather than be killed by the shark's goons, they decide to sign themselves up for a space voyage to an icy planet.
Timo gets a job as a pilot but Mickey isn't that bright, so when he's offered a job as an "Expendable," he agrees to it. It doesn't sink in when the admittance officer is extremely surprised he wants to enroll as one. When he's asked several times if he's read the contract all the way through, he seems to think he's being called stupid, so he answers "yes" each time. As soon as he signs the document, his fate is sealed.
Expendables are people who are tested like lab rats in dangerous, deadly, and even torturous situations. He dies over and over, but technology is so advanced that his memories are kept in storage, and his body is 3D printed as a new iteration whenever he dies his latest horrible death from being infected with painful diseases or inhaling poisonous gas. As Mickey 17, he's blown up and falls down into an icy cave, but survives. When he sees creatures that open up to show teeth all through the insides of their bodies, he shuts his eyes and wishes for a quick death. Instead, the creatures push him up and out of the cave. He chalks that up to his body not being tasty enough for them, rather than the true reason.
The expedition to the icy planet is led by Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo) -- a nasty, egotistical politician with unkempt hair and a pudgy face. Ruffalo was apparently worried he was playing his role too "big" and being too much of an insane dictator. However, given recent political events in the U.S., he realized afterward that his portrayal was spot on -- and he's right. There's nothing redeeming about this two-time loser for mayor back on Earth and his equally toxic wife, played by Toni Collette.
When we first see Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, much of what we hear from him is delivered in a whiny, New York-accented voiceover. It was so unlike Pattinson's actual voice that I began to believe another actor had been hired to do his voice. When we do actually hear him speak, it becomes clear that Pattinson is very adept at performing vastly different voices. Another version of him speaks differently -- more forcefully and with more confidence. The different versions of Mickey have a strong, dynamic girlfriend named Nasha, played by Naomi Ackie. But when Mickey 17 doesn't die as he was believed to have been, and Mickey 18 is printed, a new problem is presented.
There are twists and turns along the way, and the film, directed by Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho (Parasite), is captivating. Despite how crazy the turn of events seems to be, the audience is kept engaged and rooting for the good guys, although we're not always sure who's on the side of good.
The creatures are as equally intriguing as the humans, and the humor and social commentary make for a mix that is gratifying. ~Alexandra Heilbron
4.5 out of 5 stars
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