Actors: Ed Begley Jr., Stockard Channing, Dabney Coleman, Glenn Shaddix
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Meet the Applegates
Brazilian Cocorada bugs, which resemble praying mantises, have survived undiscovered in the Amazon rain forest for millions of years, but land development threatens the species's survival. These are no normal bugs: they are really huge, highly intelligent and have the ability to change their appearance. They attack a development project, chasing away the crew, volunteer teachers and Brazilian students, and learn about America from the 'Dick and Jane' readers left behind. Soon a family, Dick, Jane, teenagers Sally and Johnny and their dog Spot move into a pleasant suburban street. Dick, a computer expert, electronically establishes the Applegates as a statistically normal American family, and drills them in their roles. Their aim is to maintain their repulsive disguise as ordinary humans until Dick can infiltrate and sabotage the nuclear power plant, to cause an meltdown the insects alone will survive.
Normal life has many pitfalls. The Applegates are shocked by the callous attitude of humans towards insects. Even their friendly neighbour Greg Samson is an bug exterminator who loves his job. As they are increasing drawn into the American lifestyle they find it difficult to keep their secret. Dick flirts with his secretary, while Jane becomes addicted to shopping. Greg's obnoxious son Vince pursues Sally and when he forces himself on her, she turns into a bug, encases him in a cocoon and hides him in her bedroom closet. Johnny is introduced to drug-taking by idiots Kevin and Kenny. He loses control of his human form when affected by the drug, and two more kids go missing. The dog Spot inhales the drugged smoke, transforms into a huge flying beetle and escapes. Samson's dog catches it and Samson, already thinking there is something weird about the Applegates, notices it is wearing Spot's collar.
--Maureen Evans, Resident Scholar
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Analysis of Meet the Applegates
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily
Yes
Time/era of movie:
- 1980's-1999
Animal Story
Yes
Kind of animal:
- a bug
If a parody... of
- sci-fi movies
How much humor v. drama
- Mostly humor, but some serious drama
Main Character
Identity:
- bug
Profession/status:
- scientist
Age:
- 40's-50's
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- can change shapes
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Unclothed?
- Chest and Buttocks
Events of movie makes character more...
- happy
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- killer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard curly
Body type
- (man) fat
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The Americas (not US):
Yes
The Americas:
- South
Small town?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- touching of personal anatomy
- impregnation/reproduction
- weird alien sex
- seeing nude male butt
Any profanity?
- Some foul language
