After nearly six years since his critically acclaimed film “Parasite” debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, Bong Joon Ho has returned to the limelight with “Mickey 17.” The long-awaited follow-up premiered on Thursday evening in London, drawing significant attention and praise. Adam McKay, known for his work on “Anchorman” and “The Big Short,” applauded the film, calling it “a perfect allegory for the hellscape stage of capitalism we’re in right now.”
The anticipation surrounding “Mickey 17” was palpable, especially among fans of Bong Joon Ho, who noted the film’s relevance in today’s socio-economic climate. Karen Han, a notable culture writer and supporter of the #BongHive fandom, shared that “Mickey 17” is “worth the wait” and highlighted the film’s impressive performances, particularly from Robert Pattinson. Her remarks added to the enthusiasm surrounding the movie’s release.
IndieWire’s chief film critic, David Ehrlich, has chosen to withhold his full evaluation pending the review embargo set for Saturday. However, he assured fans that “rest assured that Bong Joon Ho is still very good at making movies,” reflecting the general excitement about the director’s latest work. Fandango managing director Erik Davis echoed these sentiments, labeling the film an “absolute riot” and commending the first half for its brilliance before noting the transition into a more profound narrative typical of Bong’s style.
Emily Murray, the entertainment editor at Games Radar, described the feature as both “thrilling” and “zany,” emphasizing its timely urgency. On a different note, Barry Hertz, the film editor for Globe and Mail, offered a more tempered response while affirming his belief that Bong “got final cut on this deeply chaotic tour into humanity’s worst instincts.” Hertz also praised Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal of the film’s villain, asserting that he embodies “the best Trump of our generation,” which rings particularly significant in current cultural discourse.
Concerns regarding the integrity of “Mickey 17’s” final cut had emerged among Bong fans, particularly following some movements in Warner Bros.’ theatrical release schedule. Principal photography occurred in 2022, and although the original release date was set for March 2024, delays were announced to accommodate an Imax release window and to ensure sufficient post-production time.
Given these early reviews, it appears that “Mickey 17” retains the idiosyncratic qualities that characterize Bong Joon Ho’s prior films. The movie is based on the 2022 novel “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton and features Robert Pattinson as an “expendable” recruit sent on dangerous missions on an ice planet, where he is “reprinted” with most of his memories intact after each mission. Alongside Pattinson, the cast includes notable actors such as Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, and Toni Collette.
“Mickey 17” is scheduled to screen at this month’s Berlin International Film Festival and is set to release in U.S. theaters on March 7, with a debut in Bong Joon Ho’s native South Korea on February 28. As audiences prepare for its arrival, the buzz surrounding this film showcases how Bong Joon Ho’s innovative storytelling remains a compelling force in contemporary cinema.
