Modern Problems

The film focuses on a heterosexual romantic conflict between the protagonist and his former girlfriend. There are no non-cisgender identities or critiques of the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

Max Fielder serves as the main driver of the plot, reinforcing traditional gender roles where a male pursues a female partner. The narrative centers on a male protagonist gaining supernatural abilities to reclaim a female partner.

The film follows the homogeneous casting norms of early 1980s studio comedies. There is no indication of a diverse or non-Anglo-Saxon majority cast.

The story uses a science fiction premise to explore individualistic motivations like revenge. It leans toward personal empowerment rather than critiquing systemic power structures.

The protagonist's telekinesis is a byproduct of exposure to nuclear waste used as a plot device. The film lacks nuanced exploration of disability, treating physical alteration as a narrative convenience.