Title: Mickey 17
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Bong Joon Hoo
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo
Runtime: 2 hrs, 17min

What It Is: In the not-so-distant future, Mickey (Pattinson) signs away his body and mind to science, becoming the lone human participant in a radical deep-space mission. His task: to explore an alien planet so hostile, survival is impossible. But death isn’t the end—it’s part of the plan. Each time he dies, a new, identical copy takes his place, complete with his memories, his thoughts, his fears. It’s supposed to be seamless. Controlled. Safe.

But then Copy Seventeen doesn’t die. And what was once a clean cycle of death and rebirth spirals into something far darker. Alone on a world that defies understanding, Mickey begins to unravel the truth about the mission, the copies, and the unsettling possibility that he may not be the original—or the only one who remembers.

As the planet reveals its secrets, Mickey must fight to hold on to his identity—before he loses himself entirely.

What We Think: Ehh. It was okay.

Don’t get me wrong—the concept? Cool. Robert Pattinson’s acting? Stellar. The production design? Absolutely phenomenal. Creature design, special effects, sets, costumes? Top notch. This movie had a lot going for it, and I wanted to love it.

There were genuinely great elements: Pattinson gives a powerhouse performance, convincingly playing two distinct versions of Mickey. His range is on full display, and he basically carries the entire film. The alien designs struck the perfect balance of eerie and endearing. And the sci-fi aesthetics? Incredible. Every visual detail felt rich and thoughtful. There were moments of humor that landed really well and gave the film some much-needed levity.

But despite all that, something didn’t quite click.

Our Grade: C, The pacing felt uneven, plain and simple. Mickey’s backstory could’ve been told in a quick, stylish montage instead of dragging out and slowing the momentum. The film’s tone was all over the place—it swung wildly between dark comedy and serious, melancholic sci-fi, and never quite found the right balance. It made the experience feel disjointed.

Steven Yeun’s character, while fun to watch, didn’t add much to the overall story and felt like he got more screen time than necessary. His subplot could’ve been trimmed without losing anything essential.

And then there’s Mark Ruffalo.

His villainous role came off like a not-so-subtle Trump parody. I like Ruffalo, but the performance felt more like a skit from SNL than a grounded antagonist in a big-budget sci-fi film. It was a heavy-handed, almost caricature-level choice that didn’t mesh with the rest of the movie’s otherwise imaginative worldbuilding. A more original or nuanced take would’ve gone a long way.

As for the third act, it veered into familiar territory. At some point, it basically turned into sci-fi Princess Mononoke. Not bad, just… done before. The ending didn’t feel as fresh or impactful as the film’s setup promised.

Bottom line: this movie had all the ingredients for greatness—great acting, stunning visuals, and moments of brilliance. But a wobbly script and tonal confusion held it back.

I wanted to love it. But despite its strengths, I walked away feeling unsatisfied.