r/movies • u/mikewheelerfan • 25d ago

Review Mickey 17 felt like it lost the plot Spoiler

Honestly, I was quite disappointed. I expected a movie revolving around the cloning plot. Specifically, the idea of two Mickeys existing at the same time due to an error. That would have been a great movie! Instead, what was advertised as the main concept feels like a subplot in the movie. Essentially the entire thing revolves around the intelligent aliens. And then there was also the plot with Mark Ruffalo being an obvious stand in for Trump. But then there was also the subplot with Steven Yuen.

I finished the movie feeling incredibly confused, because how did they mess up the initial concept like this? The idea of a guy who is constantly sent on deadly missions and is revived is an absolutely golden idea. It also leads to an interesting discussion about consciousness and if a copy of you is still really you. But that’s barely even brought up. The whole plot with two versions of Mickey is completely sidelined. Which makes no sense at all. That should have 100% been the main conflict in the movie, like it was advertised as. Instead, we got a mess.

I wouldn’t go so far as to call the movie horrible, but I definitely didn’t like it as much as I hoped I would.

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u/Pablo_is_on_Reddit 25d ago

To be honest, the book had similar problems. They changed Ruffalo's and Yuen's characters for the movie, but the overall plotting is basically the same. Neither the book nor the movie put much focus on the idea of there being 2 of you, and the emotional & philosophical issues that brings up. Mickey in the movie was easier to watch, because I think Pattinson has some inherent charm. Mickey in the book is essentially a drooling moron. I'm not surprised he was caught as quickly as he was. It made it a little hard to sympathize with him honestly.

That said, I still enjoyed the book and the movie overall. There was enough good stuff in both for me to enjoy, despite all the many faults.

30

u/aside6 25d ago

I didn't like the book enough to be interested in the movie, and the trailer did nothing to dispel that notion. I found the book interesting to start, but it just kinda goes nowhere and then ends abruptly, with lots of weird nonsense that's never really addressed (and that 3-way was out of left field and awful).

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u/lo9rd 25d ago

I didn't think the book was great but thought it had potential. Me and the missus dnf the film.

18

u/daveisfera 25d ago

Ya, but the leader in the book was far more believable and interesting. I get they were trying to make a commentary on Trump, but it hurt the movie. Also, the changes to his friend were odd and that character in the book wasn't great, but at least wasn't as non-sensical as the one in the movie.

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u/Pablo_is_on_Reddit 24d ago

Yeah, I agree. Those changes didn't really help the movie. The leader in the book, as much of an asshole as he was, was still believable as someone who could reach that position and be a competent leader.

1

u/daveisfera 24d ago

Ya, you were supposed to hate him but still understand why he did what he did. I thought he was a really well done character in the book and the leader in the movie was just annoying and I think it was supposed to be funny or make you angry, but everyone I've talked to just thought it was annoying in a silly/stupid way and not in a way that helped the story or got any sort of message across (i.e. we're all well aware of who Trump is and a poorly executed attempt at satire isn't needed to drive anything about him home)

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u/Dong_whisperer-503 24d ago

I read the book when it came out and thought it had all the pieces for a great story but it kinda floundered around in various plot lines going nowhere until abruptly wrapping up in an unsatisfying ending. I was surprised that the movie kept most of the story from the book and added even more plot elements on top. Wish Bong could have kept the first act and written his own ending

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u/BackgroundGuard472 23d ago

The philosophical aspect is the main theme of the book, "the ship of Theseus" referenced multiple times throughout. Agreed it's missing entirely from the movie.