In You People, Ezra is a single Jewish guy living in West Los Angeles. He works in finance, he co-hosts a successful podcast which he enjoys, and life is going fine.
One day, after booking an Uber, Ezra gets in the wrong car by mistake. Here he meets Amira, a stylist and single black woman who he takes a shine to, and after an initial disagreement they soon get to know each other.
Six months later, Ezra and Amira are in a relationship and he’s ready to pop the question. The only problem is, they come from different cultural backgrounds, which both come with certain opinions and expectations, and this could prove problematic as they get to know each other’s parents.
Directed and co-written by Kenya Barris, You People stars Jonah Hill, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny. The movie is a romantic comedy about two people from different backgrounds coming together, and it is available to stream on Netflix from today.
Sharp, witty, and loaded with on-the-nose commentary and observations, the movie is a smart look at how difficult it can be to navigate love in the modern world. You People looks at cultural clashes, as well as generational and societal differences, and how these issues are significant during a time where divisions are popping up all over the place.
Love can be a tricky thing at the best of times, but right now, when everyone is arguing about everything (and no one is listening), finding and maintaining a connection can be a nightmare. The film highlights the problems that new couples face in light of all this, with this becoming the overriding theme of the picture.
Jonah Hill (who co-wrote the movie) takes on the lead role of Ezra in You People, and he is not only great, but consistently funny throughout. Hill makes Ezra a likeable guy, who is just trying to keep everyone happy, and his constant attempts to head off potential arguments and reduce conflicts is hilarious.
Hill is then backed by a great supporting cast, which includes Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and David Duchovny. Each of these actors gets their fair share of humorous moments, with Murphy and Louis-Dreyfus being particularly strong.
It’s only Lauren London as Amira who is left somewhat on the side-lines, with not much to do. This is simply because her character is not as interesting or as funny as everyone else, and that’s a shame. This isn’t London’s fault; it’s just a slight misstep in the script. The film tells us Amira is amazing, without really showing it, so London is left to do what she can with the material.
To add to the above names, the film also features a number of well-known faces who pop up in cameos to join in the fun. Despite its deconstruction of cultural wars, which is a serious topic, You People is very much a playful film, which delivers its messages in an approachable and easily accessible way.
From slapstick moments involving flammable headwear, to background gags such as an inflammatory headline that reads ‘They don’t pay takes in Wakanda, why should you?’, You People constantly fires talking points at the screen. It serves up some uncomfortable moments, and shines a light on some home truths, but it does so while remaining fun at the same time.
Sure, the romantic side of the movie does get lost a little in the mix, but this is a strongly written picture regardless. It gets its key points across without being too preachy, and is entertaining too.
You People has more depth than your average rom-com, so don’t go into this film expecting a lot of sugary nonsense, as this isn’t that kind of picture. It won’t sit comfortably alongside some of the lighter movies that will be served up around Valentine’s Day, and I believe this is important to point out.
But this a great movie, which has plenty of laughs, and lots to discuss. Hill becomes the key driving force of the film, but there is much to like in all aspects of the picture, and will leave some audiences with much to think about.
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