The mastermind of sitcom Black-ish and film writer and director Kenya Barris has released his latest race-baiting offer You People on Netflix. The film premiered on Jan. 27 and has garnered a frenzy of mixed reviews.
Co-written and produced by Jonah Hill, the romantic comedy follows the complicated family dynamics between a white Jewish family and a Black Muslim family in Los Angeles, as they navigate a new-aged millennial love.
You People stars Hill’s love interest, Amira, played by Lauren London, her father’s character by Eddie Murphy, and her mother played by Nia Long, alongside Hill’s fictional parents David Duchovny and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Special guest appearances include Mike Epps, Andrew Schulz, Yung “Caresha” Miami from the south Florida rap duo, the City Girls, La La Anthony and a slew of others.
Shortly after the opening credits, viewers meet Hill’s character, 35-year-old Ezra Cohen, who has not had the most luck with romantic relationships. While speaking to his Black friend and podcast co-host Mo, played by comedian Sam Jay, Cohen mentions that he is struggling in the love department. He even says he feels the same air of melancholy Drake exhibits on his 2016 ode to Toronto album Views, with his feet aimlessly dangling off the CN Tower.
Mo scoffs at the notion of Cohen’s inability to pattern his emotions and urges him to adopt more recent Drake attitudes, present on the album Certified Lover Boy, where an unapologetic and ruthless approach to interacting with women is embraced.
The Toronto references don’t stop there. In a scene where Cohen decides to quit his broker job to pursue podcasting full-time, he interrupts his boss who is having a heated exchange over his vehicle.
“My Maserati sounds like it got gangbanged by the Toronto Raptors,” his boss yells, making a random reference that doesn’t quite land on screen.
The film also takes a heart-felt moment to acknowledge London’s late partner, rapper and community leader Nipsey Hussle, as his hit single “Last Time That I Checc’d,” featuring YG, plays over imagery of LA, Slauson Avenue and a colourful Hussle mural. Cohen also mentions shopping at Hussle’s Marathon clothing store as a desired pastime when he first meets Amira’s father.
Rap references and beautiful tributes aside, You People is facing criticism for being the typical Barris flick geared towards tackling race relations for white people, with mid-humour and inadequate exploration of critical theory.
On the other hand, many believe there were standout moments that touched on topics like weaponized white women victimhood and tokenism.
Other film and general storyline takes:
You People is currently streaming on Netflix.
