Mickey 17, directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson, is a film that feels like it’s almost brilliant—but doesn’t quite stick the landing. Based on Edward Ashton's novel Mickey7, the movie serves up a bizarre sci-fi cocktail of existential dread, dark humor, and quirky world-building. It’s visually striking and undeniably unique, but ultimately, the story just doesn’t deliver the emotional punch or narrative cohesion it promises early on.

Robert Pattinson is the standout here. His portrayal of the titular Mickey—an "expendable" human clone used for dangerous missions and then regenerated upon death—is nuanced, vulnerable, and dryly funny. Pattinson juggles the film’s darker themes and oddball humor with ease, making his character relatable even in the most absurd situations. He continues to prove he's one of the most versatile actors working today.

However, Pattinson's performance can only carry the film so far. The story, while filled with intriguing ideas and moments of sharp satire, often feels scattered. It teases some deep philosophical concepts—identity, mortality, the ethics of cloning—but rarely follows through in a satisfying way. Just when you think it's about to make a profound statement or take a bold turn, it veers off into something that feels less intentional and more muddled.

The tone is another curious element. Mickey 17 leans heavily into dark humor, with a surreal and often absurdist style that can be both charming and jarring. It's quirky—sometimes delightfully so, other times to its own detriment. There’s a sense of creative ambition throughout, but the film never quite finds the balance between its comedy, sci-fi elements, and emotional core.

In the end, Mickey 17 is an odd, darkly funny ride that’s close to being something special. With a tighter script and more focused storytelling, it could’ve been a standout in the sci-fi genre. As it stands, it’s an enjoyable but flawed film—worth watching for Pattinson’s performance and its weird, ambitious spirit, but not quite the sci-fi masterpiece it aims to be.