By Kimberly Grant
These days we’re living in unprecedented time after unprecedented time. Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, it’s been one national breaking news event after another. It’s only natural that Hollywood would begin imitating life. Enter Mickey 17.
Mickey 17 will be in theaters on March 7.
Project 2054
Starring Robert Pattinson as the title character, Mickey 17 is set in 2054 and basically in outer space. Writer/director Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) has adapted Edward Ashton’s dystopian novel, “Mickey 7” as a tale of futuristic tyranny with a zany twist. This story has its own sense of humor about serious issues and pokes fun at some of the worst parts of Western humanity.
In Mickey 17, Mickey Barnes (Pattinson) is an average human who gets into some extraordinary trouble with his friend Timo (played by Steven Yeun) and now they’re on the run from a mob boss named Darius Blank (Ian Hanmore). They find their way onto a spaceship bound for the planet Niflheim in order to colonize it.
Mickey and Timo have two very different roles on this ship. Timo is a part of the aviation department and Mickey is the only fool to volunteer to be an expendable. An expendable is someone who is basically cloned repeatedly, each time he dies. But they’re not called “clones” in the film. Mickey is the 17th version of himself (with all memories intact) when we first meet him.
Unfortunately, he’s about to die when we meet him; or so we think. It’s called Mickey 17 for a reason. Mickey’s survival sets off a chain of events that shape this ship’s voyage forever and creates a duplicate called Mickey 18. The 18th iteration of Mickey is almost his complete opposite.
The Allegory of It All
Joon Ho has created a movie that is unpredictable in almost every way. It’s also very allegorical. The “captain” of the ship is a two-time political loser with a spray tan named Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo), who is worshipped by the masses for a mostly unknown reason. Kenneth and his perfectly manicured yet evil wife Ylfa (Toni Collette) are heading this expedition into space on behalf of a Christian-like religion (read: corporation) to colonize life on a distant planet, which took more than four years to get to.
During the four-year trek, none of the hundreds of inhabitants on the ship are allowed to have intercourse because it burns unnecessary calories for people who are basically eating rations. But it seems more of a measure to control the population of the ship until they arrive to Niflheim.
Some current themes are subtly addressed in the film. A Handmaid’s Tale-like scenario is brought up in order to colonize Niflheim (once it’s inhabitable). Mickey’s status as a walking, breathing lab rat has shades of exploiting underserved populations as human test subjects. There’s a plan to create a master race on Niflheim. The higher ups are obsessed with documenting their journey in 32K cinematic quality for their worshippers; even the really bad stuff. There’s a violent mistrust of the native inhabitants of Niflheim and Russell seeks to get rid of them. All the while, Kenneth isn’t really the one in charge. He’s just the one people worship the most and therefore the face of this cult-like corporation.
Love Story
Like the first Deadpool, Mickey 17 is really a love story about the love that Mickey has for his Nasha (Naomi Ackie). Nasha is an all-around badass who is part of an elite group of enforcers on the ship. She is a police officer, firefighter, and security guard and one of the best. Which brings me to the gender roles theme of the film. Mickey is happy to be her man who helps her prepare for battle, while he stays in the comfort of their rooms. It’s in Mickey’s gentle nature to do this, showing that there aren’t one-size-fits-all relationship tropes.
Ackie is also one to watch! Her previous major role was as an abused woman in Blink Twice. Now, on to Pattinson. His New England/New Jersey accents is an affront to the ears. He and Ackie are both British, yet, only Ackie uses her real accent. Strange. Other than that, Pattinson gives a great performance. This is a different kind of role for him, seeing as he doesn’t usually pick comedy. But it is a nice change.
To be fair, this film should have been called Project 2054 for all of its allegorical references to Project 2025 and the current president’s administration. It is a zany look at what our world could become if we don’t remain vigilant. Unchecked power is never a good thing. What is good (and worth at least one watch) is Mickey 17. It will subvert your expectations, make you laugh, then make you think.
Read more movie reviews from K. A. Grant in her Entertainment Blog.
