Today, the highly-anticipated film adaptation of Edward Ashton’s Mickey7 (film retitled, Mickey 17) hits theaters. She Reads was fortunate to attend a screening of this hilarious space-travel tale and we’re sharing our spoiler-free review and insights so that you can enjoy this new Robert Pattinson-led film.

Mickey Barnes is an “Expendable” worker on a mission to colonize the icy planet Niflheim. Tasked with lethal assignments, Mickey is the guinea pig for the dangerous encounters of their mission, cloned after each death, but retaining his memories. Things take a turn for the even worse when Mickey 17 returns to find his replacement, Mickey 18–a forbidden abomination. ​Directed by Bong Joon Ho, this movie is as absurd as it is poignant with the power to make you laugh and contemplate big social questions. One thing I can assure you, whatever you think this movie is, you’re destined to be surprised.

Robert Pattinson Just Keeps Getting Better

Anyone who has been following this actor since his early (and meteoric) rise to fame knows there has been a concerted effort to shed the heartthrob identity and be taken seriously beyond his roles as Edward and Cedric. From Tenet to The Lighthouse to Batman, he’s bounced from indie films to humungous blockbusters, but I’m not sure we’ve ever seen him this free, funny and endearing.

Playing the role of Mickey himself (all versions of him), Pattinson ceases to be the actor we’ve known him for for so long and ascends to new heights. He is charming and pitiful, heart-filled and sympathetic, and simply put, it’s impossible not to love him. Whether you’re already a fan the A-list actor or have a particular opinion formed about him, it’s guaranteed his portrayal of Mickey will have you questioning what you came to expect from him. And it might even mark the beginning of a whole new era of Robert Pattinson.

Extraordinary Cast of Oddball Characters

From the shady best friend portrayed by Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) to the fantastically ridiculous political leader played by Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers), the tough, loyal and lovable Namoie Ackie and the unparalleled Toni Collette, you get a truly brilliant blend of top tier performances. Ruffalo borders on unrecognizable playing the eccentric and unhinged leader of the mission and is worth the watch just for his outlandish character alone.

For fans of…

When I went into this movie, I didn’t have a ton of preconceived understanding around what it was about. Frankly I wasn’t even aware it was comedic to the extent that it was. But as I watched it, it had the familiarity of so many of my favorites. From The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to Galaxy Quest to Guardian’s of the Galaxy, Mickey 17 brought with it the interstellar travel and the big laughs that I adore from similar stories in this genre that blends science fiction with absurd hijinks. Quirky alien interactions? Check. A crew of less-than-qualified shipmates? Check. A lovable leading man who isn’t your typical hero? Check and double check.

Social Commentary

From the ethics of technological advancements like cloning and space travel to the conversation around indigenous inhabitants and the historical legacy of mankind’s violent attempts to colonize, this movie does a lot of heavy lifting without ever feeling preachy or forceful. Perhaps one of the most prescient topics is the conversation around corporate greed and mistreatment of employees. Mickey’s character is subjected to unimaginable, inhumane horrors all because he’s contracted to do so. Then, of course, there are some less subtle political takes that will feel eerily familiar. Mickey17 has a lot to say, but the ride is entertaining from start to finish.

All We Need is Love

This might be a very mild spoiler, but like so many great movies, the satire, the commentary and the plot wouldn’t be so great without the unexpectedly tender love story at its core. I won’t say much more about that, but I was surprised by just how connected I felt to the romantic storyline that is threaded in. It’s authentic and genuine in a way that catches you off guard and pulls you in close to the otherworldly narrative.

This movie will leave you thinking and chuckling for days after you leave it, trying to unfurl what you just saw and what impact it has. Even if you aren’t a big science fiction fan, it transcends the genre in the way all the best ones do by reminding you that no matter what planet you’re on, exploring human nature is always fascinating.

Mickey7 by Edward Ashton

Mickey Barnes is an Expendable, a disposable worker on a dangerous colonization mission to the ice world Niflheim, regenerated each time he dies. When Mickey7 is presumed dead but returns to find his replacement, Mickey8, he must hide his survival or risk both of them being eliminated. As the colony struggles with dwindling resources and rising tensions with the planet’s native species, Mickey7’s fate—and the survival of both humans and aliens—hangs in the balance.

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