Mickey 17: Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho's confused sci-fi blockbuster is a 'serious disappointment'14 hours agoHugh MontgomeryWarner Bros Entertainment Inc

Robert Pattinson stars as multiple clones in the South Korean film-maker's big-budget follow up to Parasite – and while the star himself is entertaining, the film as a whole is a mess.

No best picture winner at the Oscars has been as exciting in recent years as Bong Joon Ho's Parasite – and not just because it was the first ever victor not in the English language. A scabrous takedown of the complacency of the rich, it was subversive in the way few awards players truly are, while its celebration within the gilded denizens of Hollywood added an extra layer of irony.

For fans of the South Korean film-maker, the good news is that despite his added commercial stock, his long-awaited follow-up is no less mischievous: a large-scale sci-fi filled with Hollywood stars and big themes it may be, but it mostly eschews the grandiose self-importance typical of such an endeavour. The bad news – and possibly an explanation for its delays in release – is that it doesn't really know what approach it wants to take instead. All in all, it must be considered a serious disappointment from the director.

At least Robert Pattinson fans will be happy to get multiple (well, mostly two) versions of the actor for the price of one. He plays Mickey Barnes, a down-on-his-luck guy in a dystopian near-future, where floods of citizens are desperate to leave Earth, who signs up to a space colony program as an "expendable" – that is, a guinea pig worker who can be deployed in various perilous experiments for the benefit of humanity, only to be "reprinted" every time he inevitably dies, as a new cloned version of himself. Which is all well and good, until version number 17 of him unexpectedly survives after falling down an ice shaft on the planet Niflheim – and finds Mickey number 18 already installed in his living quarters. The question is: how do two versions of the same person learn to get along – or not?

The "reprinting" or human cloning premise is certainly one that should have plenty of narrative potential. It could be a rich source of philosophical inquiry, given what it raises about the nature of the self, death, and more besides. It could also, of course, be the basis for some decent satire, casting as it does its "expendables" scheme as the logical endpoint for a society that desires to exploit people without consequences. Yet on the former front, the film seems peculiarly uninterested in dealing with the questions it throws up, while in the latter respect, the comedy is so broad as to be completely toothless.

More like this:

•10 of the best films to watch this February

• Six ways the Berlin Film Festival will make waves

• Why 'category fraud' is causing Oscars anger

The colony is run by Mark Ruffalo as a veneer-toothed, bouffant-haired, callous showman – and it's a groaningly obvious performance, from start to finish; just as tiresome is Toni Collette as his equally despotic wife, flashing a Cheshire Cat-sized grin of insincerity throughout. The brilliance of Parasite lay in how it took apart the superficial "niceness" of its privileged characters: here, however, they are so obviously and uninterestingly awful – characterisations worthy of a bad Saturday Night Live skit – that the effect is to defang the story of any genuine bite. That might be forgivable if the film was at least funny – but again and again lines and scenes strain for comic effect, but fail to deliver the goods.

Mickey 17

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette

Run-time: 2hr 17m

Some of the actors fare better with the material: as Mickey's lover Nasha, Naomi Ackie is enjoyably sweary and makes the most of a rousing anti-authoritarian speech, while Pattinson has fun with the antagonism between Mickey 17, a nebbish type with a touch of Steve Buscemi, and the surly, more rebellious Mickey 18. But then that, too, becomes sidelined as the pair put their animosity aside and join forces for an epic action climax, involving them meeting the planet's native cockroach race the Creepers – think Dune's gapingly-mouthed Sandworms with legs. Suddenly, Bong does indeed go for a conventional blockbuster earnestness he has hitherto rejected – and fails to make that fit too; like its hero, this is a film with a major identity crisis.

With a reported budget of $150m, it would certainly be a surprise if this curio can find the kind of audience it needs to succeed. In these risk-averse times, it's good to see an expensive studio film that is at least deeply idiosyncratic – but you have to hope such a folly doesn't make the money men even more cautious in future.

★★☆☆☆

--

If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news delivered to your inbox every Friday.

For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Film ReviewsBerlin Film FestivalFeaturesWatchMarkets digest week of mounting tariffs - 14 Feb 2025

Expert says it's difficult for investors to discern what the best course of action is.

2 days agoOpening BellThe insulting 'Vinegar Valentine' of Victorian England

Valentine’s Day is thought to celebrate romance but rude cards soured the holiday for its recipients.

2 days agoHistoryJanuary inflation results higher than expected - 13 Feb 2025

US wholesale inflation rose more than expected in January, adding to inflation concerns.

3 days agoOpening BellInside Usonia: A 1940s utopian town in the United States

100-year-old Ronald Reisley is the last original member of Usonia, a small visionary community in the woods.

3 days agoThe SpeciaListTracey Emin: 'Making art about rape and sex is important'

Tracey Emin, once the British art world's 'enfant terrible', talks art and life with the BBC.

3 days ago100 Women ExtraUS Fed 'unlikely to cut rates in short term' - 12 Feb 2025

Carol Schleif, Chief Strategist at BMO Private Wealth, says it's unlikely the Fed will cut interest rates soon.

4 days agoOpening BellTheory of Evolution: How did Charles Darwin come up with it?

The British naturalist embarked on an extraordinary journey, did hundreds of experiments, and wrote for 20 years.

4 days agoScienceTariffs 'unlikely to boost US metal industry' - 11 Feb 2025

Scott Lincicome at the US think tank Cato Institute says Trump's steel tariffs could hurt manufacturing.

5 days agoOpening BellWhy 'snowy' New York winters are a bit of a myth

While New York winters are often depicted as snowy wonderlands, the city's never been as snowy as you think.

5 days agoWeather & scienceMikey Madison on learning to pole dance for Anora

Mikey Madison tells Graham Norton that she spent five months pole dance training for her role in Anora.

5 days agoFilm & TVRichard III: The 'accidental' photo of a long-lost king

Why a famous photograph of King Richard III's skeleton was a happy 'accident'.

5 days agoHistoryMarket impact from steel tariffs 'muted' - 10 Feb 2025

Strategist says market impact is muted after steel tariffs, but investors are concerned about long-term effects.

6 days agoOpening BellThe intriguing history of Transylvania

Romania is the latest country to join Europe's Schengen Agreement, making travel across its borders much easier.

6 days agoAdventuresBenjamin Bernheim reveals the secret to captivating crowds

Opera star Benjamin Bernheim says as an artist you have to go to extremes to find out the right balance.

6 days agoArts in MotionErlitou: 'The capital of China's earliest dynasty'

The Erlitou site, dating back to 3,800 years ago, offers crucial insights into early Chinese civilisation.

7 Feb 2025ArchaeologyExpert concerned by level of wage increases - 7 Feb 2025

Expert says the Fed's 2 percent inflation target remains unattainable if wages continue to rise 4 to 5 percent.

7 Feb 2025Opening BellSterling K Brown loves J-Lo, 'professionally'

Award-winning actor Sterling K Brown reveals how he tried to play down his interest in J-Lo in front of his wife.

7 Feb 2025Film & TVIs this the world's first AI powered hotel?

BBC Click's Paul Carter visits the world's first fully AI-powered hotel in Las Vegas.

7 Feb 2025InnovationFocus on bond yields 'a good signal' to market - 6 Feb 2025

US Treasury Secretary says they are focusing on bond yields rather than interest rates to lower borrowing costs.

6 Feb 2025Opening BellHow you can think yourself well

A technique called guided imagery can reduce stress and improve our physical fitness.

6 Feb 2025Health DecodedMore18 hrs agoA rock star's weekend guide to Denver

Wesley Schultz, half of the rock duo The Lumineers, knows all the best places to go in Denver when you're in town for a show at Red Rocks. Here are his local favourites.

18 hrs agoTravel21 hrs ago'Category fraud' is the latest Oscars scandal

Among the many controversies of this year's Oscars race, some believe that favourites to take home the acting awards have been recognised in the wrong category.

21 hrs agoCulture22 hrs agoThe airship that may usher in a new era

Pathfinder 1, bankrolled by a Google billionaire, is an attempt to revive the airship. A century after terrifying disasters, is it a safe-enough bet?

22 hrs agoFuture2 days agoThere's more to Iceland than Reykjavik

This more remote part of Iceland offers visitors a deep dive into its fascinating history and authentic culture.

2 days agoTravel2 days agoBridget Jones: sexist stereotype or feminist icon?

Since Helen Fielding created hapless, middle-class Bridget in the mid-90s, she's divided opinion. As the fourth film is released, women across different generations discuss her impact.

2 days agoCulture