You People(2023) Review

Netflix's "You People" is a comedy film directed by Kenya Barris and co-written by Jonah Hill, the star of the film. The movie is a modern take on the classic film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and explores the themes of racial stereotypes and differences in a relationship comedy. Unfortunately, the film fails to deliver on its potential and comes across as a shallow and unfunny misfire.

The film follows the story of Ezra Cohen (Jonah Hill), the co-host of a podcast about racial differences with his Black friend Mo (Sam Jay). When Ezra accidentally gets into the wrong car, he meets Amira Mohammed (Lauren London) and the two start dating. Six months later, Ezra decides to propose to Amira and seeks permission from her parents, Akbar (Eddie Murphy) and Fatima (Nia Long). Akbar immediately disapproves of Ezra and sets out to break him through a series of sitcom-like incidents.

One of the major issues with the film is its unrealistic dialogue and tone. The conversations between Ezra and Mo on their podcast sound forced and scripted, and the interactions between Ezra and Amira's parents feel shallow and stereotypical. The film also suffers from tonal inconsistencies, with some characters winking at the camera while others take the material too seriously.

Another issue with the film is its editing and structure, which feels disjointed and lacking in comedic rhythm. The flashy graphics and cameos from legends like Elliott Gould, Hal Linden, and Richard Benjamin add to the confusion and fail to add any comedic value.

Despite its talented cast and interesting premise, "You People" fails to deliver on its potential and comes across as a shallow and unfunny comedy. The film raises interesting ideas but fails to explore them in any meaningful way, instead opting for cheap jokes and heavy-handed conversations. The performances from Hill, Murphy, and Louis-Dreyfus are likable, but ultimately wasted in a film that fails to find its comedic footing.

Unfortunately, "You People" fails to deliver on its potential. The movie, created by the creator of "Black-ish" and co-written by Jonah Hill, is a modern take on the classic film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." However, it falls short as a relationship comedy that fails to ring true and ultimately leaves the audience feeling uncomfortable.

The story follows Ezra Cohen, played by Jonah Hill, who is the co-host of a podcast with his Black friend Mo (Sam Jay) discussing racial differences. However, the script and dialogue in these scenes feels forced and unrealistic, as if the writers never actually listened to podcasts with racial themes. This sets the tone for the rest of the movie.

Ezra meets Amira Mohammed (Lauren London) and the two start dating, but six months later, when Ezra decides to propose to Amira, he must first ask for permission from her parents, Akbar (Eddie Murphy) and Fatima (Nia Long). Akbar immediately disapproves of Ezra and sets out to break him through a series of sitcom-like incidents, but Murphy's performance feels out of place in the comedic tone of the film. This tonal disconnect is a recurring issue throughout the movie, as the director never quite figures out the direction of the film and the cast is left feeling disconnected as a result.

The movie also touches on the idea of cultural appropriation, represented by Ezra's mother Shelley (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who sees Black culture in a superficial way. While this is an interesting concept, the movie fails to explore it in depth, instead opting for cheap jokes and easy laughs.

Overall, "You People" is a missed opportunity. The idea and cast have potential, but the script, dialogue, and direction fall flat. The movie fails to strike a balance between tackling important issues and being funny, leaving the audience feeling uncomfortable and unsatisfied.