The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. It focuses on physiological mimicry and social assimilation rather than exploring queer identity or critiquing heteronormativity.

Natalie Wood provides a professional female presence with intellectual agency as a journalist. However, the story remains centered on the male protagonist's psychological state.

Zelig’s physical transformations serve as a metaphor for racial mimicry and 'passing.' The film indirectly engages with the erasure of ethnic distinctiveness for social acceptance.

The film critiques the impulse toward conformity and the subjectivity of truth. It uses postmodern themes to challenge the authority of historical and institutional narratives.

The protagonist's involuntary transformations suggest neurodivergence or dissociation. However, the condition functions more as a cinematic device than a character-driven exploration of disability.