The recurring setting of the television studio and the role of the game show "What Do Kids Know?"
Form & technique
The climactic scene where frogs rain from the sky, referencing Exodus 8:2.
The film's overall narrative structure, which interweaves multiple seemingly disconnected storylines that converge through coincidence.
The musical sequence where all major characters, isolated in their separate spaces, sing along to Aimee Mann's song "Wise Up."
The character of Officer Jim Kurring and his narrative function as a moral center.
Tropes
The character arc of Frank T.J. Mackey, from his hyper-masculine "Seduce and Destroy" seminar to his emotional breakdown at his father's deathbed.
The film's heightened emotional register, particularly scenes of crying, confession, and intense confrontation, like Linda's breakdown or Earl's deathbed confession.