Michael Lehmann's post-modern black comedy Meet the Applegates ropes in some of his angsty, mid-western themes of Heathers and hits a . To put it short and frank, the film is about a group of human-sized Brazilian praying mantises who are able to turn into humans and do so, then settle in an Ohio suburb. It follows the mom, dad, brother, sister, and their pet 'dog' through daily life, challenges, and their final mission.
As a package, this movie delivers a deep bag of political and apolitical issues. A few touched upon are environmentalism, nuclear energy, suburban sprawl, consumerism, terrorism, immigration, corporate work environments, family values, and the imposing of American traditions. There are more which can be unearthed. This laundry list is a testament to the film's rosy, rampant storyline, casting and cunning wit that make it an accessible film with some glaring, uncomfortable truths.
For me a big part of Applegates is it's well-hidden indie appeal, which began to explore teenage life a lot during the late 80s and early 90s. Lehmann extends this to a critique of the American family and further to suburban society as a whole. He suggests how things aren't all that they seem because even though we live an era of great comfort, our most basic systems can be dysfunctional and serve a destructive purpose while we seem to be keeping up with the Joneses.
Meat head jocks and neighbors are portrayed in a similar light to the parents or high schoolers in Heathers. Each of these minor roles are so character-driven they seem to be symbols rather than actual humans. The bug-family's mission is outright destruction, and their darkside is never hidden to the audience. With each new encounter, the families stockpile of cocooned townspeople grows in their basement. The action lies in three main rifts.
The first is the Applegates alienation from society at large. Although they somehow place themselves into the US Census database as the pinnacle of normalcy, ordinary townsfolk (such as the hilarious exterminator neighbor) begin to judgmentally weed them out, and push them away. Second, perhaps best illustrated between mother and father, is the split within the family. We see it in their human forms, but as society pulls them in, they break one another apart. Mom turns to uncontrolled shopping and dad sleeps with a co-worker. Arguments ensue. And third, the bugs and their own identities. For example brother Johnny Applegate losses control of his identity and sprouts his natural feelers whilst smoking crack over his new found metal-head friend's house.
Lehman's conclusion is one of globalism, with the bugs turning on their very own leaders and seeing humans on an equal plane, even in their mantis form. This vintage pairs well with: Coneheads.
