| Errors | Missing | Unverified | Supported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 6 | 1 | 19 |
Agent J serves as the audience surrogate, asking the questions we want to ask and being given the exposition and explanations that we need. He is likable in his naiveté and his efforts to help the people affected by the outer-space stuff. Specific actions that endear him to audiences include:
In the shooting range scene, he shows himself to be an empathetic and attentive man who easily picked out that the "obviously" ferocious aliens that the other hopefuls shot at with abandon were actually just doing mundane things like working out and sneezing while also noticing the young white girl in the middle of the ghetto at night carrying advanced quantum physics books
Despite increasing odds, and increasingly odd things happening, Jay continues to rise to the challenge, whether it's giving birth to a baby squid, fighting a giant cockroach, or solving the puzzle of Rosenberg's last words
His odd couple dynamic with K is great, and he brings both his sass and undeniable charm
Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) - The mentor figure audiences respect:
Kay's jaded and cautious, but also serves as the wise mentor. <span class='error-none' data-annotation='7' data-tooltip='[Verified: K's calm demeanor confirmed]'>Kay acts completely indifferent to the strange happenings, making what would be Lovecraftian horrors in another film seem tame, amusing and even relatable.
Dr. Laurel Weaver (Linda Fiorentino) - The capable female lead:
Linda Fiorentino was described as "one of the coolest female characters ever", and she's basically figured out the puzzle through her investigations alone: "See, I don't think this body's really a body. I think it's some kind of transport unit for something else altogether".
Edgar the Bug - The clear antagonist:
He's a simple, by-the-books villain who performs evil acts because that's just how he gets down. And, he's disgusting to look at, so that helps a lot.
Appearance and Behavior:
The Bug takes on the form of a 12-foot-tall alien cockroach with a brown exoskeleton, two antennae hanging over his head, big yellow eyes, with black slit pupils and enormous, razor-sharp teeth
When inhabiting the human skin of Farmer Edgar, his appearance is ragged and poorly conceived as the skin around his face is noted to be considerably saggy and shapeless. Over time, the dead human's skin slowly decomposes becoming worse and worse each time he is seen
Evil Actions that Turn Audiences Against Him:
The Bug kills a farmer named Edgar and uses his skin as a disguise
He spends the entirety of the film chasing the Galaxy, and wherever he goes, he's either killing someone or, at a bare minimum, knocking them down like a school-yard bully
He rampages through New York City as a human, killing people and trashing everything and everyone in his way among them a pest control man, an Arquillian prince and his henchman
The Bug captures Dr. Weaver and tells her "It's a long trip. I'll need a snack", implying cannibalistic intentions
Superiority Complex and Contempt for Humans:
Edgar as an alien has an inferiority complex, describing humans as "under-evolved pond scum" and claiming to be higher up the evolutionary ladder
He refers to humans as "undeveloped, unevolved, barely conscious pond scum, totally convinced of their own superiority as they scurry about their short, pointless lives"
Malicious Intent:
When told his actions could start a war, Edgar responds: "Good, war. That means more food for my family. All 78 million of them"
He plans to instigate a war between the Humans and the Arquillians, to ensure the extinction of both species
Science fiction stories love to cast insectoid villains because insects are so different than humans in anatomy, social structure, and temperament that it becomes difficult for us mammals to empathize with them. Hence a villain we enjoy watching the human hero triumph over.
The summary mentions Weaver but doesn't elaborate on how she actively rescues herself, attempts to escape, and ultimately saves K and J by finishing off the Bug - she's not a passive victim but an active participant in the climax
The summary describes K and J as having an 'odd couple dynamic' but misses the crucial narrative point that K wasn't training a partner but a replacement, which is revealed at the film's end and shapes audience perception of their relationship
The summary doesn't mention J's rebellious streak and problem with authority, which is specifically noted by Zed and is part of what makes him unconventional and appealing to audiences
The summary focuses on surface-level character analysis but misses deeper thematic elements about prejudice and bias that inform audience rooting interests, particularly in the shooting range scene
The summary presents Edgar as having 'complete lack of redeeming qualities' but sources note he spares Beatrice, which is explicitly mentioned as a 'Pet the Dog' moment
In Men in Black (1997), audiences root for three primary characters: Agent J (Will Smith), Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones), and Dr. Laurel Weaver (Linda Fiorentino). Agent J functions as the audience surrogate - his naive questions, street-smart observations, and empathetic nature make him immediately relatable. His defining moment comes in the shooting range scene where he demonstrates critical thinking by shooting 'Little Tiffany' (a cardboard cutout of a young girl holding quantum physics books in a dark alley) rather than the 'obvious' alien targets that were merely working out or sneezing. This scene establishes J as observant and unbiased, qualities that endear him to viewers. Throughout the film, J continues to rise to challenges - delivering a squid baby, solving Rosenberg's riddle, and ultimately helping defeat the Bug.
Agent K serves as the wise mentor figure whose calm competence and deadpan humor provide counterbalance to J's energy. Audiences respect K's experience and enjoy his blasé attitude toward cosmic threats. Crucially, the film reveals K wasn't training a partner but a replacement, adding depth to their relationship beyond typical buddy-cop dynamics.
Dr. Laurel Weaver earns audience support through her intelligence and agency. She independently deduces that Rosenberg's body is 'some kind of transport unit,' demonstrates resourcefulness when captured, and actively participates in the climax by delivering the final blow that destroys the Bug. She subverts the damsel in distress trope by rescuing herself and ultimately saving the heroes.
Audiences root against Edgar the Bug, the film's antagonist. Multiple factors contribute to this: his grotesque appearance as a twelve-foot cockroach wearing decomposing human skin; his violent actions including murdering Edgar the farmer, killing the Arquillian royals, and rampaging through New York; his contempt for humans as 'under-evolved pond scum'; and his stated goal of starting a war to feed his 78 million family members. The Bug's complete lack of redeeming qualities (though he does spare Beatrice, Edgar's wife) and his threat to both individuals and humanity make his defeat satisfying. Science fiction's use of insectoid villains capitalizes on their alien nature - their anatomy, social structure, and temperament are so different from mammals that audiences struggle to empathize with them, making them effective antagonists to root against.