We review black creator Kenya Barris’ directorial debut You People, starring Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill.
Building ground: In this comedy from Kenya Barris, a young couple and their families explore modern love and family dynamics amidst conflicting cultures, societal expectations and generational differences.
Review: Last year, Kenya Barris wrote Disney’s remake of Cheaper By The Dozen, updating the family dynamic to include a multi-racial brood, including stepchildren and half-siblings. The comedy didn’t quite strike the same tone as Barris’ hit sitcom Black-ish, but it showed the changing face of 21st-century families. Now, Barris’ directorial debut, You People, takes a more mature look at race and anti-Semitism from a humorous perspective. With Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy at the helm, You People is a sweetly funny update of Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner? for the next generation, even if it’s not a direct remake of this classic film. Full of comedy and genuine romance, You People works well but is nowhere near as scathingly satirical as it could have been.
What works on You People far outweighs what doesn’t, and is led by the excellent lead role of Jonah Hill. As Ezra Cohen, Hill delivers one of his more subdued comedic performances, relying more on his timing and performance than on the broader humor of his earlier films. Following his Netflix documentary Stutz, Hill shows off his tattoos and slicked-back, dyed-blonde hair as a realtor and aspiring podcaster who falls in love with Amira Mohammed (Lauren London). The two come from very different backgrounds, but fall in love and decide to get married. Then their parents come in and define the generational and cultural differences between the young lovers. The chemistry between Hill and London is loose, and you absolutely buy the pair as a pair. Her scenes are among the cutest in the entire film. But the heavyweights come to play when their parents are on screen.
David Duchovny and Julia Louis-Dreyfus play Ezra’s parents as liberal, wealthy Jewish residents of Los Angeles. Shelley is an excellent character for Louis-Dreyfus, who has had quite a run in recent years. She plays Shelley as loving parents who can’t help but stand in her way when cultures clash. Duchovny is solid in a slightly understated role as Arnold, the square dad who can’t help but embarrass himself when citing pop culture he feels is still relevant. On the other hand, Amira’s parents are played by Nia Long and Eddie Murphy. Murphy plays Akbar Mohammad as a Muslim man who questions black culture, white appropriation, and even things like the COVID-19 vaccine. Murphy is a comedy genius and gives a very understated performance, one of the better funny roles he’s played in a long time. Avoiding muggings for the camera and prosthetics for real perspective, Murphy makes Akbar a realistic father and a challenging future in-law.
As the film progresses, the fight over the bridge between their two families becomes an obstacle for Ezra and Amira. The film veers into traditional rom-com territory, as wedding planning really comes into its own when we meet Becca (Andrea Savage), the wedding planner, and Amira’s uncle Demetrius (Deon Cole), a rival party planner. There’s all the requisite bachelorette party and bridal shower shenanigans as it all builds up to the big day. There are solid supporting casts throughout, particularly from Sam Jay as Mo, Ezra’s co-host on the podcast, as Ezra and Amira try to figure out how to move forward together despite their families. But try as they may, the couple’s hilarious path veers from snarky humor in the first ninety minutes of the film, leading to a more formulaic final act that, while still funny, plays a lot more confidently than I expected.
Still, Kenya Barris’ directorial debut works well because it casts solid actors in roles you wouldn’t expect. We shouldn’t be surprised that Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill, two actors known for their comedy who have demonstrated dramatic and Oscar-worthy skills, bring depth and realism to these characters. Barris brought racist conversation to the forefront of his 35mm series, but in You People the conversation never goes deeper than a superficial conversation. What Barris does very well is make Los Angeles a character all its own, making You People a love letter to the city, much like Damien Chazelle immortalized her in La La Land. Each change of scenery is done in a way that highlights Barris locations, landmarks, and favorite haunts while showcasing modern black culture throughout the metropolitan area.
You People resonates as a more robust view of race and religion in modern multicultural America than many films, while still being fun. You People is keen to resonate with millennials and younger audiences, but I think this film will resonate more with viewers in the parental age bracket. Barris has long been adept at telling solid stories with a message but still palatable to mainstream audiences, and this is no exception, but it doesn’t quite make the landing as it plays it safe at the end . Regardless, the trailers are honest with the tone and humor in this film and don’t give away the funnier moments of the two-hour film. I had a good time with You People, especially Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy’s excellent work. Kenya Barris speaks out for any project he chooses to lead next and I hope it’s as balanced as this one.
7