A Fish Called Wanda 1988

This film studies a group of humans attempting a jewel theft. None of them trust each other. Most of them lie constantly. Several pretend to be in love in order to gain access to information or keys.

The group includes a weapon expert with poor emotional control, a thief who pretends to be American, a stuttering animal lover, and a lawyer who is unaware he is being seduced for strategic reasons. These individuals are expected to function as a team. They do not.

Much of the conflict comes from miscommunication, cultural misunderstandings, and extreme vanity. For example, one man is convinced he is highly intelligent. He is not. Another believes she can manipulate anyone by using compliments and physical contact. She can — but mostly due to low resistance in the local population.

There is also a subplot involving a pet fish, which is consumed during an interrogation sequence. This is considered upsetting by one character and amusing by another, confirming that emotional consistency is not a shared trait among humans.

By the end of the film, most relationships have dissolved, most plans have failed, and those who survive do so through accident rather than skill. There is no honor code, no lasting loyalty, and no clear lessons learned. Several characters leave the country, possibly to repeat their mistakes elsewhere.

Conclusion: Humans attempting organized theft quickly revert to chaos. They cannot keep secrets, resist compliments, or coordinate under pressure. If Nebulon were to infiltrate Earth’s legal systems with flattery and snacks, we could likely extract any confession or access code within hours.

Recommend adding “ego manipulation” to standard invasion protocols.