Meet the Applegates (1991)

10% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(3,612 ratings)

The Applegates is the video title for the darkly satirical comedy Meet the Applegates. The titular family, for all intents and purposes human beings, are actually a clan of giant Brazilian Cocorada bugs. Paterfamilias Dick Applegate (Ed Begley Jr.) takes a job with an Ohio nuclear power plant, with… More The Applegates is the video title for the darkly satirical comedy Meet the Applegates. The titular family, for all intents and purposes human beings, are actually a clan of giant Brazilian Cocorada bugs. Paterfamilias Dick Applegate (Ed Begley Jr.) takes a job with an Ohio nuclear power plant, with the intention of triggering an explosion, thereby exterminating all humankind and allowing the bugs to live in safety. Alas, every one of the Applegates falls victim to assimilation: Dick becomes a typical suburban philanderer, his wife Jane (Stockard Channing) succumbs to the seductions of the credit card, and the Applegate kids transform into obnoxious mall-cruising teens. By the time the Applegates' Aunt Bea (Dabney Coleman) links up with them to supervise the nuclear explosion, the family considers Auntie a nuisance and plots a fitting demise for her. Director Michael Lehmann had previously skewered upper-middle class values in Heathers; completed in 1989, Meet the Applegates buzzed into local cineplexes in 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Michael Lehmann
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

On DVD: Jun 13, 1991
Studio: Media Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
What in the name of all that's holy is this thing?
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Not worth "Meeting"
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
High marks for concept, lowered for a too-pat conclusion, but worth a look
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Very weird and pretty bad, but fascinating in a train-wreck sort of way.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

Really dull and ridiculous of five Brazilian beetles disguise themselves as the average American family.
Barry L

Such a surreal movie. But very good.

Cast

            Ed Begley Jr as Dick Applegate

            Stockard Channing as Jane Applegate

            Cami Cooper as Sally Applegate

            Bobby Jacoby as Johnny Applegate

            Dabney Coleman as Aunt Bea

            Glenn Shadix as Greg Samson

            Adam Biesk as Vince Samson

            Roger Aaron Brown as Sheriff Heidegger

            Savannah Smith Boucher as Dottie

            Philip Arthur Ross as Kevin

            Steven Robert Ross as Kenny

            Susan Barnes as Opal Withers

            Mindy Suzanne Bell as Coach Himler

            Mark Bringelson as Rich Block

            Lee Garlington as Nita Sampson

            Chuck La Font
            
            Joe Liss as Customs Official

            Bradley Mott as Pastor Cooter

            Les Podewell as Mr. Goodpastor

            Jessica Schwartz as Monica

            Meg Weldon as Courtney

            Sherrie Wills as Peace Corps Volunteer

            Tony Cecere as Banana Boat Helmsman

            John Escobar as Jorge

            Lisa Sutton as Pregnant Woman

            Sherry Narens as Relative #1 (Hector)

            Sally Dennison
            
            Julie Selzer
            
            Rick Snyder as Bank Officer

            Mark Roberts as Screaming Guard in Plant
See full cast