Robert Pattinson Shines in Mickey 17, But Steven Yeun’s Unhinged Performance Steals the Show

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Absolutely, I greatly enjoyed “Mickey 17”, but there’s one aspect that I felt could have been developed further in the movie.

It seemed like an unattainable dream for Mickey 17, given all the promises and updates over the years. However, it found its place in the 2025 movie lineup, and I had the privilege of watching it ahead of time (even in IMAX!), and let me tell you, it was an absolute blast.

Whenever Robert Pattinson uses his humorous, slight voice, I believe the film has a strong chance of being successful. Yet, there are numerous other elements that contribute to making this movie enjoyable. However, there was one aspect it lacked significantly more of – and we’ll discuss that now.

The Film Itself Is Creative, And Robert Pattinson Was Great In The Lead Role

If you’re present, I think it’s safe to assume you’ve watched “Mickey 17.” If not, let me briefly explain the storyline: It centers around a character named Mickey Barnes who enlists in a spaceship mission where individuals are deemed expendable – essentially, they can die and be cloned multiple times. However, an unusual event happens when it appears he’s deceased, but they’ve already created a new clone – Mickey 18. This twist results in both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 existing simultaneously.

Mickey 17 offers an entertaining experience, despite a few puzzling scenes and scientific anomalies that may leave one scratching their head. The plot’s creativity is commendable, as it’s not every day you find yourself watching something unpredictable from the mind of Boog Joon Ho. His films are consistently engaging and delightful to watch.

Robert Pattinson excels in this role, earning him a tremendous amount of praise. It’s as if he’s one of the rare actors who spearheads a massive franchise (like the Twilight films) and has impressively regained his footing in Hollywood as an incredibly versatile actor, avoiding being typecast altogether. His roles span across such diverse genres, and truthfully, this could turn out to be one of his finest performances yet. He’s indeed exceptional.

Playing multiple roles requiring distinct personalities can be quite challenging, but he manages it effortlessly, leaving you convinced that you’re watching two separate individuals. These characters seem like polar opposites, which is no small feat when they’re played by the same actor. There was one character, though, that I wished had more screen time.

But I Needed A Lot More Unhinged Steven Yeun

I’m sorry, I needed to see Steven Yeun so much more in this film.

I, in turn, am acquainted with Timo, a chum of Mickey’s dating back to their childhood days on Earth. It was this very individual who inadvertently got Mickey into the predicaments he faced initially on our planet. In a bid to escape from the ruthless clutches of loan sharks, Mickey chooses to embark on an interstellar journey with Timo. To put it mildly, Timo can be a bit of a challenge to get along with, if you catch my drift.

He refers to the loan sharks as Mickey, which lands him in serious problems. Despite this, he continues to treat Mickey abhorrently. At a certain point, he reaches a breaking point and reveals his true, unstable nature by capturing Mickey and his loved ones in cages for the loan shark and other misdeeds. To put it mildly, he’s truly despicable.

And man, I wanted so much more.

It’s important for you to realize – I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Steven Yeun. Watching him evolve from his role on The Walking Dead (and the emotional rollercoaster of Glenn and those gut-wrenching TWD deaths) to tackling various other roles has filled me with immense pride as a fan. From Minari, Beef (a must-watch series on Netflix), all the way to Invincible – he’s been everywhere!

Seeing him in the movie “Mickey 17” was like a startling surprise for how different it felt from all his previous roles, as he portrayed a character almost completely opposite of what we’ve seen before. Even in “Beef,” where he played a somewhat unpleasant character, this role was far more jarring and intriguing because he delivered it so convincingly. I couldn’t wait to see it even more due to his exceptional performance.

I Would Have Loved To See Him More By The End Of The Film

In the scene where Timo (Yeun) gets knocked out by Mickey 18, he isn’t seen prominently afterwards. To be honest, I don’t believe I saw him again at all, except in the epilogue. There might be some confusion on my part, but it seems like we barely see him after that point.

I find it frustrating that despite being heavily promoted, the character didn’t have a significant role in the climax of the film. It seemed unfair to the character since he was third billed, and his absence during the crucial part felt like an oversight. A small act of redemption for him could have been to assist the Mickeys in their mission for peace with the Creepers as a token of gratitude for not being killed off. Instead, his storyline remains unresolved until the end.

To clarify, I’m delighted we got to see him as often as we did, but I can’t help but wish for more opportunities to witness his unconventional performances. Here’s hoping that this experience leads to him being cast in similar roles again in the future – that would be fantastic!

If you haven’t caught “Mickey 17” yet, I strongly recommend going to catch it at the cinema for a wonderful viewing experience. As I eagerly anticipate the release of Bong Joon Ho’s next movie, I might as well spend my time watching some other fantastic science fiction films in the meantime.

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2025-03-11 03:07