Watch Meet the Applegates

Meet the Applegates is a 1990 dark comedy film directed by Michael Lehmann and starring Ed Begley Jr., Stockard Channing, and Dabney Coleman. The movie follows a family of giant Brazilian cockroaches who disguise themselves as humans and move to suburban America in order to save their rainforest home from destruction. The Applegates, Bud (Begley) and Lucille (Channing), and their teenage children, Sally (Camille Cooper) and Johnny (Robert Jayne), are a picture-perfect family who move into a typical American suburban house. However, there is something strange about this family that their new neighbors can't quite put their finger on. For one thing, they all seem to have an unnatural interest in insects.

As the family settles into their new life, their true identities are revealed. They are actually giant Brazilian cockroaches who have been sent to America by their queen (voiced by actress Glenn Shadix) to infiltrate human society and collect data on how to take over the planet. They also hope to stop the destruction of their rainforest home by exposing the dangerous toxins that are being released by the American factory that is polluting their environment.

The Applegates struggle to fit into American suburbia, but they quickly learn that the life of a typical housewife or husband is not as easy as it looks. They encounter various challenges, such as learning to drive, balancing household finances, and dealing with their rebellious teenage daughter.

The movie is full of witty humor and clever social commentary about the dangers of capitalism and environmental destruction. The portrayal of the typical American suburban lifestyle is particularly biting, and the film's message about the importance of preserving the environment is more relevant now than ever before.

The performances by the main cast are excellent, especially Ed Begley Jr. as Bud Applegate. His deadpan delivery of some of the film's funniest lines is particularly memorable. Stockard Channing as Lucille Applegate also delivers a great performance as a housewife trying to keep up appearances while hiding her true identity as a giant cockroach.

Dabney Coleman, who plays the head of the factory responsible for polluting the Applegate's rainforest, is also noteworthy. He brings a believable sense of malevolence to his role as a greedy industrialist who is more concerned about profit than the environment.

Overall, Meet the Applegates is an underrated gem of a movie that deserves more recognition. It's a clever, irreverent comedy with a powerful message about the importance of preserving the environment. If you're a fan of dark comedies, this one is definitely worth checking out.