You People

Kenya Barris’ new film, You People, which he co-wrote with star Jonah Hill, has great performances and comedic potential, but ultimately falters on its objectives. Oscillating between blatant social commentary and a fun romantic comedy, You People has good moments in both of those veins, but has trouble doing any one of them exceptionally well. Hill stars as Ezra, a young Jewish man who works in finance but has a podcast about what he calls “the culture.” When he meets Amira, played sweetly by Lauren London, he is enamored and so is she.

What ensues is a pretty straightforward Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? type of thing, with all the hallmarks of race relation in the 2020s. Obviously, this is a complicated topic in a strange time, and most of the comedy comes from the cultural differences between the two families. Nia Long and Eddie Murphy play Amira’s Muslim parents, who don’t necessarily approve of Ezra. David Duchovny and Julia Louis-Dreyfus play Ezra’s goofy out of touch parents, and needless to say, endless humorous interactions take place between the two families.

Courtesy Netflix

Jonah Hill’s sharp wit comes out through the script, and his typical comedic timing and outlandish jokes are one of the bright points of the film. The performances are also entertaining. Eddie Murphy clearly has fun with his Nation of Islam associate role, and his disinterest in Ezra is one of the higher points of the film. London comes off as innocent and genuinely in love, and it helps cement the realism of her and Ezra’s relationship. Eddie Murphy’s interactions with Jonah Hill one on one are among the best in the film. The two go back and forth with great banter and flow, and the movie really shines in these moments.

Louis-Dreyfuss, for her trouble, comes off as an overprotective Karen, who seeks to make her potential daughter in law comfortable by saying incredibly awkward things she believes to be inclusive. She does it well, and the character, while annoying, is actually pretty funny too. Where the film fails, however, is the fluctuation between social commentary and romantic comedy. As a romantic comedy, it stands on its own, and maybe some lighter content and conversation would have furthered that goal. After all, romantic comedies are humorous, and so is this film.

However, some of the humor and awkwardness between the two families, while also comedic in its own right, features lots of disagreements about some admittedly depressing topics that really do plague our current society quite severely today.  These topics can still be spun for humor, if done well. But, with “You People”, you often find yourself wondering which of the two films would be more appropriate, the sweet romantic comedy or the culture clash between two very different families.

Courtesy Netflix 

The film ultimately shows that two different sets of people can unite and come to understand one another, especially if it means their children will be happy together. The setting is also a very big plus for this film. The outfits are great; both Ezra and Amira have a keen sense of style and are very much in with the LA vibe. The sunny vibes and well-known landmarks make it a fun and light movie that often broaches topics which are much more serious. A great soundtrack featuring the late great Nipsey Hussle, Vince Staples and Mustard also cements the viewer in the city.

Still, the idea that two such different people can find love and unite their families through that love is an admirable idea for a film. If these topics discussed allow people to get more clarity on the subjects in real life, then that’s great too. On their podcast about the culture, Ezra’s black co-host, Mo, played by SNL alum Sam Jay, reminds him: “Black people and white people will never be cool.” This statement kind of encapsulates the confused intention of the film. While Ezra and Amira prove this wrong, at least on an individual level, the viewer might be left with a less than optimistic view on the future of race relations.

You People is now streaming on Netflix