‘Mickey 17’ Delivers Sharp Political Satire

In ‘Mickey 17’, Bong Joon Ho continues his trademark examination of issues like as authoritarianism, economic injustice, environmental degradation, and the abuse of capitalism.  Although the film is comparable to ‘Snowpiercer’, ‘Okja’, and ‘Parasite’, it is more satirical in nature and has more overt political content than his other films.

Despite this, ‘Mickey 17’ is nonetheless a compelling and skillfully made movie, primarily because of Robert Pattinson’s outstanding performance.  The protagonist of the story is Mickey, a 2054 space mission “Expendable” who keeps dying and being reprinted with his memories unharmed.  The movie delves deeper into the themes of acceptance and self-worth when he meets Mickey 18, a new version of himself.  They represent personal development and learning to accept all aspects of oneself through their dynamic—one shy and people-pleasing, the other aggressive and confident.

Image Courtesy: People

Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal as Kenneth Marshall, a conceited, power-hungry leader, feels excessive and occasionally detracts from the primary plot, despite the film’s strong political satire in certain scenes.  Toni Collette’s outrageous portrayal of his wife and his character both make overt allusions to contemporary American politics, which can seem superfluous in a story that is already full of ideas.

 In the end, ‘Mickey 17’ works best when it concentrates on its central emotional theme, which is the quest for self-acceptance and the recovery of individual agency.  The film succeeds in telling a profoundly human tale through Pattinson’s captivating dual performance, despite its sporadic humorous undertones.

–Farheen Ali