By John Mulderig , OSV News
Following its 2019 release, helmer and co-writer Bong Joon Ho’s dark comedy “Parasite” won accolades for its intriguing approach to social commentary. In fact, it was awarded both the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or and the Oscar for Best Picture.
Reprising his role as director, but working from a script he penned on his own, Bong returns to the same genre, albeit with the addition of science fiction elements, with Mickey 17 (Warner Bros.). The new arrival doesn’t reach the pitch of wild mayhem with which its predecessor concluded. Yet gritty ingredients are still present while artistic returns have diminished.
On the run from a brutal loan shark, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), a hapless misfit, finds an opportunity to escape his pursuer by joining the crew of a space mission to a distant planet. To do so, however, he must agree to become an “expendable,” someone who can be repeatedly killed and recreated via advanced 3D printing technology.
The title refers to the subsequent iteration of Pattison’s character we follow through most of the plot.
During the course of his journey, Mickey falls for Nasha (Naomi Ackie), a security officer. Mickey also gets caught up in the machinations of Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo), a villainous politician whose schemes are wholeheartedly backed by his equally ruthless wife, Ylfa (Toni Collette).
Lest anyone miss the obvious real-life prototype on whom Marshall is based, wardrobe has thoughtfully supplied some of the extras playing his supporters with red hats. As for the deaths and resuscitations to which Mickey is continually subjected, they’re presumably meant to symbolise the lack of respect with which many workers are treated by their employers.
Mickey and Nasha give physical expression to their feelings for each other within moments of their first meeting. Though their relationship ultimately proves a durable one, its kick-off will likely prove distasteful even to grown viewers. Together with incidents of sometimes bloody action, it certainly precludes endorsement for youngsters.
Hard-edged and downbeat, Mickey 17 offers observations on class, colonialism and corruption. While some moviegoers may appreciate these messages, human interest and entertainment value are wanting.
The film contains mostly stylised but sometimes gory violence, considerable sexual content, including a casual encounter at the start of a premarital relationship, rear male nudity in a nonsexual context, narcotics references, several uses of profanity, about a dozen milder oaths, pervasive rough and frequent crude language and an obscene gesture. The OSV News classification is L – limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.
The Motion Picture Association rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian.