The surreal Sorry to Bother You demonstrates that it’s better to be a movie with too many ideas than too few. Just some of the themes tackled by writer/director/rapper Boots Riley include income inequality, racial code-switching, political activism, viral fame, and other hot-button issues.

Atlanta co-star Lakeith Stanfield stars as Cassius, a.k.a. Cash, a broke young man who takes a lousy...