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You People
Film poster
Directed byKenya Barris
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMark Doering-Powell
Edited byJamie Nelsen
Music byBekon
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • January 20, 2023 (2023-01-20) (United States)
  • January 27, 2023 (2023-01-27) (Netflix)
Running time
118 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

You People[a] is a 2023 American romantic comedy film directed by Kenya Barris, which he co-wrote with Jonah Hill. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Hill, Lauren London, David Duchovny, Nia Long, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Eddie Murphy. Its plot focuses on an interracial and interreligious couple, namely a secular Jewish man from the liberal elite and a black nationalist Nation of Islam woman with antisemitic parents, and how their families reckon with modern love amid culture clashes, societal expectations, and generational differences. Set in the Los Angeles area, the two millennials meet by chance and go into uncharted waters in their dating lives.

Critics have analyzed the film as a modern-day retelling of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), but in which clashes over African American–Jewish relations are even more pointed.[1][2][3][4]

You People was released in select theaters on January 20, 2023, before its Netflix streaming release on January 27. It was the first time Barris directed a feature film. The film received mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

[edit]

Ezra Cohen, a thirty-five-year-old finance broker and pop culture podcaster, falls into an unlikely relationship with stylist Amira Mohammed. The couple first meet in a meet cute when Amira, frustrated with her GPS navigation system, parks in front of Ezra's work building. He mistakenly believes Amira is his Uber driver, so climbs into the car, setting off an awkward dust-up.

Ezra makes amends by later taking her out to lunch, and they realize there is a mutual attraction despite their differences, as Ezra is Jewish, and Amira is black and the daughter of devout followers of the Nation of Islam.

Amira and Ezra eventually move in together, much to the chagrin of her father Akbar, who'd prefer his daughter were dating another Nation of Islam member. Six months into their relationship, Ezra takes her to meet his family. His rich, progressive Limousine liberal parents Shelley and Arnold patronizingy boast that they are accepting and supportive of everyone, mentioning Ezra's lesbian sister Liza. When Shelley begins to bring up the BLM movement, an embarrassed Ezra steers her out of the room. He confides to Shelley that he plans on proposing.

Before he can propose, Ezra is urged by his friend and fellow podcast host Mo to meet with Amira's parents. Ezra chooses a Roscoe’s Chicken ‘N Waffles restaurant to talk with Akbar and his wife, Fatima. The meeting does not go smoothly, as Akbar views Ezra with suspicion and shows resistance to his wish to marry Amira.

When Amira comes home, she tells Ezra that her mother let her know about their awkward meeting at Roscoe’s. However, when he begins to pull out a ring box, she urges him to go ahead with the proposal and happily accepts.

Ezra decides to quit his job at the brokerage firm to fully pursue his passion for podcasting. Later, the couple invite both sets of parents over for dinner and to discuss wedding plans. The dinner unsurprisingly goes awry, with the parents clashing over Farrakhan's antisemitic views, Fatima accusing all Jewish people of complicity in the Atlantic slave trade, and Shelley inadvertently setting Akbar’s kufi, which is a gift from Farrakhan, on fire.

Ezra and Amira arrange mutual one-on-one time with their future in-laws to help smooth over tensions. Ezra spends the day with Akbar, who constantly undermines Ezra’s self-confidence, from criticizing his career choices to taking him to a barbershop where he knows Ezra will fail to conform to the dress code. Akbar then takes Ezra to a basketball court in mostly Black Inglewood, and urges him to join a pickup game to further humiliate him. Akbar smugly films the game with his phone, but is stunned that Ezra plays very well. Meanwhile, Shelley takes Amira out for a spa day, but she continually shows her cluelessness and obliviousness to her many violations of unwritten social rules of black culture.

For his bachelor party, Ezra heads to Las Vegas with his friends, but Akbar unexpectedly joins the boys. Knowing he’s being watched, Ezra does not take part in the festivities. However, his friends loudly reminisce about the hedonistic acts Ezra committed on previous trips to Vegas. At her bachelorette party in Palm Springs, Amira and her friends are joined by Shelley and Liza. The night suffers from more embarrassments, with Shelley inadvertently making a racist remark during a party game and accidentally ripping off a guest’s wig.

At the rehearsal dinner, both Ezra and Amira speak privately to Akbar and Shelley, with Ezra calling out Akbar’s distrust of his genuine love for Amira, and Amira confronting Shelley about her tone-deaf virtue signalling and patronizing behavior. After their mutual talks, Ezra and Amira decide that their union has too many obstacles to overcome. They call off the wedding and break up.

Three months later, Ezra gives a heartbroken soliloquy over his podcast, saying that black and white people can never truly understand the other's culture or experiences, no matter how deeply they love each other or how hard they try. Both Shelley and Akbar are deeply moved to hear his speech. Akbar, who is particularly cut to the quick, is inspired to contact Shelley.

On the pretext of a shopping excursion, Shelley and Akbar take Ezra and Amira to a trendy boutique and both apologize for their actions. Akbar promises to accept Ezra into the family. Shelley promises to get to know Amira as a human being, rather than continuing to view her as a radical chic trophy to show off to other members of the liberal elite. Ezra and Amira accept their apologies and enter the retail store to find it set up for their wedding, with everyone including friends, family, and a rabbi and NOI minister assembled. Ezra and Amira marry and both families celebrate.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

In June 2021, it was reported that Jonah Hill would star in a Netflix comedy film directed by Kenya Barris from a script written by Hill and Barris.[5] In August 2021, it was announced that Eddie Murphy would star in the film.[6] In September 2021, Julia Louis-Dreyfus,[7] Lauren London, Sam Jay, and Molly Gordon joined the cast.[8] In October 2021, more cast members joined the film, including David Duchovny, Nia Long,[9] Travis Bennett, Andrea Savage, Rhea Perlman, La La Anthony, and Deon Cole.[10] In November 2021, Emily Arlook, Bryan Greenberg, Andrew Schulz, and Jordan Firstman joined the cast.[11]

Filming began in October 2021 in Los Angeles.[12]

Release

[edit]

You People was released in select theaters on January 20, 2023.[13] It was released on January 27, 2023, by Netflix.[14]

In its first week, the film debuted at number one on the Netflix English-language Top 10 list, being streamed for 55.65 million hours.[15] Between its release and June 2023 the film totaled 181.8 million hours watched (equal to 92.4 million views).[16]

Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 40% of 132 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "You People has an outstanding cast and plenty of comedic potential—both mostly wasted on a picture that dithers between social commentary and romantic comedy without fully committing to either."[17] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 50 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[18]

Pete Hammond of Deadline called it "brilliantly hilarious, pertinent and wickedly smart."[13] Christian Zilko of Indiewire graded the film a B+ and concluded that it "ends up being more of a feel-good rom-com and love letter to Los Angeles than a truly biting satire."[19] Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote that it "sinks under the weight of its obviousness and a consistently heavy-handed approach, despite the sometimes stylish and well-paced direction from Kenya Barris and an incredibly talented cast."[20] Meanwhile Allisson Josephs of Jew in the City identified a number of traditional antisemitic tropes recycled by the film, going so far as to claim that "Kenya Barris is clearly a [Louis] Farrakhan fan."[21] Mira Fox of The Forward also criticised the film for ignoring the concept of Jews as an ethnic minority in their own right, as well as openly furthering the antisemitic conspiracy theory that "Jews are so wealthy now...from controlling the slave trade. This is a conspiracy theory that's growing in strength, yet the movie does nothing to debunk it".[22]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

You People

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is a 2023 American film written by and and directed by Barris in his feature directorial debut. The story centers on Ezra Cohen, a Jewish podcaster played by Hill, who enters a relationship with Amira Mohammed, a Black Muslim fashion designer portrayed by , prompting clashes between their families amid cultural, religious, and generational divides. Featuring an ensemble cast including as Amira's father, as Ezra's mother, and as his father, the film explores interracial and interfaith romance through satirical lenses on modern social dynamics. Released on on January 27, 2023, following a limited theatrical run, You People garnered significant initial viewership, accumulating 55.65 million hours watched in its first week to top Netflix's charts and totaling 181.8 million hours by mid-2023. Despite the star power and streaming success, was mixed to negative, with a 39% approval rating on based on 131 reviews and a score of 50 out of 100 from 33 critics, who often criticized its repetitive humor, shallow exploration of racial and cultural tensions, and underutilization of its talented cast. Audience responses varied, with some praising the comedic takes on family awkwardness and others echoing detractors' views on its cringe-inducing style and perceived preachiness. The film's approach to sensitive topics like , Islamophobia, and drew commentary for prioritizing gags over substantive analysis, reflecting broader debates on Hollywood's handling of such themes.

Story and Themes

Plot Summary

You People centers on , a 35-year-old Jewish podcaster and worker portrayed by , who encounters , a Muslim fashion designer played by , after mistakenly entering her vehicle believing it to be his ride. The two quickly develop a romantic relationship, which progresses to discussions of after six months of . Ezra seeks the blessing of Amira's parents, Akbar Mohammed (Eddie Murphy), a skeptical and traditional father, and Fatima Mohammed (Nia Long), subjecting him to rigorous scrutiny including physical challenges like and social tests in settings such as a barbershop. Concurrently, Amira meets Ezra's family: his enthusiastic but culturally insensitive mother Shelley () and more passive father Arnold (), leading to strained interactions marked by awkward attempts at cultural bridging. A pivotal dinner uniting both families erupts into heated debates over historical grievances, including comparisons between and , resulting in chaos and a literal . Pre-wedding events, such as a Las Vegas for Ezra and a Palm Springs gathering, further expose familial rifts and personal doubts, prompting Ezra and Amira to briefly separate as they pursue individual paths. Ultimately, the couple reconciles, overcoming the cultural and generational barriers, with their families achieving a tentative rapport; the film concludes with Ezra and Amira's wedding.

Ideological Elements

The film You People centers ideological tensions around interracial romance complicated by religious and cultural divides, particularly between secular and Black Muslim nationalism influenced by the Nation of Islam (NOI). Ezra Cohen, a Jewish financial podcaster, seeks to marry Amira Mohammed, whose father Akbar embodies NOI principles, including skepticism toward interracial unions and historical grievances against framed through Louis Farrakhan's rhetoric. Akbar's character references Farrakhan's teachings, such as warnings against Black women marrying white men, which the film presents through comedic family confrontations rather than explicit endorsement or critique. This setup highlights causal frictions in cross-cultural pairings, where empirical family opposition stems from doctrinal incompatibilities, such as NOI's separatist ideology clashing with Jewish assimilationist norms in America. Religious portrayals underscore ideological fault lines, depicting as a foil to NOI-influenced , with both faiths caricatured for comedic effect. The Cohen family observes rituals superficially, using them to signal amid generational rifts, while Akbar's household enforces strict modesty and communal loyalty, rejecting compromise with "infidels." Critics from Jewish advocacy groups argue the film normalizes antisemitic tropes by associating with greed, foolishness, and cultural erasure, as Ezra's parents (played by and ) are shown as wealthy, out-of-touch professionals whose liberal posturing masks discomfort with Black authenticity. Conversely, the Mohammed family's pride in NOI heritage is portrayed without equivalent mockery of its supremacist elements, leading to accusations of uneven satire that privileges Black nationalist views over Jewish ones. Mainstream reviews note the film's refusal to deeply engage these faiths, instead politicizing them as props for culture-clash humor. A recurring ideological thread is the of performative and "" , exemplified by white and Jewish characters' exaggerated efforts to affirm experiences, such as awkward references to systemic or cultural appropriation . Ezra's mother Shelley embodies this through cringeworthy attempts at , like defending controversial figures or minimizing religious differences, which the lampoons as hollow virtue-signaling disconnected from causal realities of family integration. This critique extends to broader millennial dating dynamics, where amplifies ideological purity tests, but the narrative resists resolution via ideological conformity, instead emphasizing irreconcilable value differences—e.g., versus communalism—as barriers to . Some analyses interpret this as a post-woke acknowledgment that racial harmony requires confronting, not eliding, substantive clashes, though others contend it perpetuates without substantive insight. The film's ideological stance remains ambiguous, blending mockery of both progressive guilt and ethnocentric resistance without endorsing a unified resolution, as the couple's union hinges on parental concessions rather than ideological synthesis. Director , known for exploring Black family dynamics in prior works, incorporates these elements through improvisation-heavy scenes that prioritize discomfort over didacticism, reflecting real-world data on rates (e.g., only 17% of new U.S. marriages in 2015 were interracial, with religious mismatches adding friction). Controversies post-release, including Jewish organizations labeling it "horribly damaging" for amplifying NOI antisemitism amid rising U.S. incidents (e.g., 140% increase in antisemitic assaults from 2020-2022 per ADL data), underscore how the film's casual invocation of Farrakhan—whose views include claims of Jewish exploitation—prioritizes entertainment over rigorous scrutiny. This has prompted debates on media's role in normalizing fringe ideologies under comedic guise.

Production

Development

The screenplay for You People was co-written by and as an original story exploring cultural clashes in an interracial relationship. On June 10, 2021, Netflix greenlit the project, announcing that Barris would direct the film as his feature-length debut and that Hill would star in the lead role, with both serving as producers alongside . In August 2021, joined the cast in a key supporting role, marking a significant casting milestone that helped attract further talent aligned with the film's comedic exploration of family dynamics across racial and religious lines. Development emphasized Barris's transition from television—where he created —to feature filmmaking, with the script drawing on personal observations of modern interracial dating without adapting prior material.

Filming and Post-Production

Principal photography for You People occurred primarily in , capturing the city's diverse neighborhoods and landmarks to reflect the film's setting. Key filming sites included Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles at 1514 N Gower Street in Hollywood, the , , Calamigos Ranch, Nate'n Al's deli, and Openaire restaurant. These locations emphasized ' cultural mosaic, aligning with director ' intent to portray the city as a character in the story. Shooting wrapped up by late 2022, allowing the production to advance into ahead of its January 2023 release. involved contributions from Scissor Films, which produced custom graphics, 3D environments, transitions, elements, and animated title cards to enhance comedic sequences. A specific instance of digital intervention was the wedding scene kiss between and , which co-star claimed was fabricated entirely through CGI rather than performed on set. This approach reportedly stemmed from logistical challenges during filming, though details on broader VFX scope remain . The expedited timeline enabled a theatrical release on January 20, 2023, followed by streaming on seven days later.

Cast and Characters

Principal Cast

The principal cast of You People features as , a Jewish millennial working in finance who co-hosts a and pursues a relationship with Amira despite cultural clashes. portrays Amira Mohammed, a of Black Muslim heritage who meets unexpectedly and navigates skepticism toward their interracial romance. Eddie Murphy plays Akbar Mohammed, Amira's stern and protective father, an architect who interrogates Ezra's suitability as a partner. stars as Shelley Cohen, Ezra's enthusiastic but overbearing mother, whose attempts to connect with Amira often result in unintended cultural . depicts Arnold Cohen, Ezra's podiatrist father, known for blunt commentary and social gaffes. Supporting principal roles include as Fatima Mohammed, Amira's pragmatic mother wary of the relationship's challenges, and as Mo, Ezra's candid best friend providing humorous advice on navigating differences.
ActorCharacter
Jonah HillEzra Cohen
Lauren LondonAmira Mohammed
Eddie MurphyAkbar Mohammed
Julia Louis-DreyfusShelley Cohen
David DuchovnyArnold Cohen
Nia LongFatima Mohammed
Sam JayMo

Character Dynamics

The central dynamic in You People revolves around the romance between Ezra Cohen, a 35-year-old Jewish financial analyst portrayed as a liberal millennial navigating modern dating apps and cultural sensitivities, and Amira Mohammed, a Black Muslim woman in the fashion industry who embodies independence while grappling with familial expectations. Their relationship begins with a rideshare mix-up that evolves into cohabitation and a marriage proposal, serving as the flashpoint for broader cultural confrontations, though critics noted a lack of palpable chemistry between the leads that underscores the film's reliance on external family conflicts rather than internal couple tension. Ezra's interactions with his family highlight intra-Jewish liberal dysfunction, with his mother Shelley depicted as neurotically overeager to demonstrate cultural , often resulting in awkward, performative gestures like hosting a disastrous dinner infused with ill-advised attempts at Black cultural appropriation. His father provides a more subdued counterpoint, embodying passive suburban complacency that amplifies Shelley's frenetic energy, while the family's overall dynamic satirizes self-congratulatory that blinds them to genuine incompatibilities in the relationship. These portrayals draw from of affluent, coastal Jewish families prioritizing ideological signaling over practical harmony. In contrast, Amira's family dynamics center on patriarchal conservatism rooted in principles, with father Akbar emerging as the dominant force—a proud, outspoken Muslim whose worldview was shaped by Public Enemy's "Fight the Power," leading him to openly disparage Ezra as an unsuitable white partner and advocate for endogamous matches within Black nationalist circles. Akbar's belittling exchanges with Ezra escalate tensions, such as during engagement negotiations where he imposes stringent conditions reflective of separatist ideologies, while his rapport with Amira and son Omar conveys authoritative familial loyalty tempered by generational rebellion. Mother Fatima offers quieter support, but the household's cohesion underscores traditional values clashing against Amira's modern choices. Inter-family encounters amplify these divides, as the Greenbergs' liberal obliviousness collides with the Mohammeds' unapologetic traditionalism, producing comedic set pieces like cross-cultural dinners fraught with ideological barbs on race, , and interracial viability. Akbar's direct confrontations with Shelley expose hypocrisies on both sides—his rejection of Jewish suitors as emblematic of historical , met by her fumbling defenses rooted in guilt-driven —ultimately forcing and Amira to mediate without resolution, mirroring real-world frictions in unions where parental approval hinges on unresolved historical grievances rather than mutual compatibility.

Release and Commercial Performance

Distribution Strategy

"You People was distributed exclusively by Netflix, its production studio, as a direct-to-streaming original film with a limited theatrical rollout. The movie premiered in select theaters on January 20, 2023, seven days prior to its worldwide streaming debut on on January 27, 2023, at 12:00 a.m. PT. This hybrid approach reflects Netflix's selective use of abbreviated cinematic windows for prestige titles, aimed at generating early buzz, securing press coverage, and meeting eligibility criteria for film awards that favor theatrical exposure, while avoiding the risks and costs of broad theatrical distribution. The strategy emphasized immediate global accessibility over traditional exhibition circuits, forgoing partnerships with major theatrical distributors like those used for wide releases. By prioritizing Netflix's proprietary platform, the film targeted the service's subscriber base—exceeding 230 million paid memberships in early 2023—to drive instant viewership metrics rather than revenue. Promotional distribution efforts centered on digital trailers, with the official Netflix trailer launching on on January 5, 2023, amassing millions of views by emphasizing the ensemble cast including and . Additional marketing integrated teasers and cast interviews via Netflix's platform, aligning with the company's data-driven model of leveraging algorithmic recommendations and subscriber retention over or international licensing deals. This model proved effective in the film's opening week, registering over 55 million hours viewed globally, underscoring the efficiency of streaming-centric distribution for audience scale.

Viewership Metrics

"You People" premiered on on January 27, 2023, and recorded 55.6 million hours viewed during its debut week of January 23–29, topping the English-language films list on the platform's weekly Top 10 chart. This figure represented the highest weekly hours for an English film debut at that time, surpassing prior releases like ": A Knives Out Mystery." The film maintained its No. 1 position the following week (January 30–February 5), adding 65.6 million hours viewed, though it faced competition from rising TV series. Netflix's measurement of hours viewed counts global streaming time for titles exceeding a minimum threshold, aggregated weekly without specifying complete view equivalents. Subsequent weeks saw declining but sustained performance, with the film appearing in the Top 10 films chart through early February 2023. Aggregate data from Netflix's first-half 2023 engagement report indicate total hours viewed exceeded 150 million for the period, reflecting solid but not record-breaking engagement relative to blockbusters like "The Mother."

Reception

Critical Reviews

The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, earning a 39% approval rating on based on 131 reviews, with the site's consensus describing it as "a that's mostly just cringe" that "runs in repetitive circles and rarely gives its very funny stars anything deserving of their talents." On , it holds a score of 50 out of 100 from 40 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reception, with 33% positive, 55% mixed, and 12% negative assessments. These aggregates reflect a divide, as some reviewers praised the ensemble's comedic potential while others faulted for underdeveloped characters and reliance on stereotypes. Praise centered on the star-studded cast, including , , and , whose performances were seen as salvaging weaker material; Punch Drunk Critics noted the talent "manages to make something watchable out of the mess," awarding it 3 out of 5 stars. The highlighted director Kenya Barris's willingness to "pull no punches" on societal hypocrisies in interracial dynamics, viewing it as a timely update to films like . Select critics, such as in , defended its earnestness and humor as exceeding expectations for a Netflix rom-com, comparing it favorably to lighter genre entries. Criticisms dominated, with many decrying the film's heavy-handed approach to racial and cultural tensions as performative or preachy, lacking genuine insight; Roger Ebert's Brian Tallerico called it a "stunning misfire" and "assemblage of talent in search of an actual movie," rating it 1 out of 4 stars for its broad, unfocused satire. lambasted Barris's "obnoxious racial agenda," arguing the interracial romance premise devolves into eye-rolling outrage bait rather than substantive comedy. Reviewers like those in The Independent Critic found it "perfectly fine" but neither romantically endearing nor socially biting enough to transcend mediocrity, with formulaic plotting and canned dialogue undermining its ambitions. Additional outlets, including Ready Steady Cut and Screen Speck, echoed complaints of repetitive circles, weak chemistry between leads, and a failure to balance humor with commentary, resulting in an uneven tone.

Audience Responses

Audience reception to You People was generally unfavorable, as reflected in aggregated viewer ratings across major platforms. On , the film holds a 5.5 out of 10 rating based on over 66,000 user votes. reports an audience score of 40%, indicating a majority negative response from verified viewers. Metacritic's user score stands at 3.6 out of 10 from 91 ratings, categorized as "generally unfavorable." Viewers frequently criticized the film's reliance on ethnic for humor, particularly its depictions of Jewish characters as awkward, privileged, and culturally insensitive. Jewish audiences and commentators highlighted portrayals that reinforced negative tropes, such as greedy or foolish , without balancing positive Jewish cultural elements. For instance, the film was accused of normalizing antisemitic views associated with by having characters express admiration for such rhetoric without critique. Some reviews noted a one-sided dynamic where and Muslim characters appeared more culturally vibrant and morally superior, while Jewish ones were mocked for their traditions and family dynamics. Black viewers expressed mixed reactions, with some appreciating the exploration of interracial tensions but others decrying reductive portrayals of families as overly rigid or ideologically extreme. Broader audience feedback on platforms like echoed complaints about the script's forced wokeness and lack of authentic insight into cultural clashes, often describing it as cringeworthy or preachy despite strong casting. Positive responses were limited, primarily praising comedic moments from stars like , though these did not offset the prevailing dissatisfaction with the film's handling of sensitive topics.

Awards and Nominations

"You People" received limited awards recognition, with its sole nomination coming from the Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild for hair styling achievements. At the 11th annual awards ceremony in 2024, the film was nominated in the Best Contemporary Hair Styling category for television specials, one-hour, or more programs, honoring the work of Tinisha Boyd, Alyson Black-Barrie, Lisa Buford, and Tracey Macky. This category encompassed Netflix's streaming content, allowing the feature film's eligibility despite its theatrical-style release. The nomination highlighted the team's contributions to the film's modern aesthetic but did not result in a win, as other entries like "The Little Mermaid" took the prize. No nominations were extended to the cast, director Kenya Barris, or writers Jonah Hill and Barris in major ceremonies such as the , Golden Globes, or , reflecting the film's mixed critical reception and niche appeal within comedy genres.

Controversies and Criticisms

Portrayals of Race and Religion

The film You People centers its narrative on interracial and interfaith tensions between a secular Jewish man, Ezra Cohen (played by ), and his fiancée Amira Mohammed (Lauren London), whose family exhibits Muslim cultural markers, including her father Akbar () wearing a and referencing , the Nation of Islam leader notorious for antisemitic statements such as describing as a "gutter religion." These elements frame racial portrayals around stereotypes of white Jewish privilege and cultural insensitivity clashing with Black authenticity and resilience, exemplified in awkward family dinners where the Jewish parents are depicted as tone-deaf on race, prompting repeated apologies for perceived . Religious depictions amplify divisions, with portrayed through caricatures of neurotic, overbearing family dynamics—Ezra's parents ( and ) as emblematic of outdated liberal guilt—while and receive more sympathetic, if stereotypical, treatment, such as Akbar's unapologetic admiration for Farrakhan without narrative rebuke. The resolution emphasizes Jewish contrition for historical wrongs but omits any reckoning with from the Black side, a point highlighted by reviewers noting the film's failure to utter the word "antisemitism." Critics, particularly from Jewish advocacy groups, accused the film of perpetuating harmful stereotypes that damage perceptions of as inherently privileged and racially oblivious, while normalizing antisemitic figures like Farrakhan—whose views have included claims of Jewish control over media and slave trade involvement—without counterbalance, potentially reinforcing real-world biases amid rising . Others critiqued the racial portrayals for reducing Black characters to archetypes (e.g., the wise, confrontational patriarch) and erasing multiracial Jewish realities, presenting as a white monolith despite the diversity within American Jewish communities. These objections contrasted with defenses framing the comedy as satirical exaggeration of genuine cultural frictions, though such views were outnumbered by condemnations of one-sidedness. The film's approach drew charges of performative ideology, with some arguing it prioritizes signaling racial awareness over substantive exploration, poking fun at religious observance in both Judaism and Islam while glorifying Black cultural elements uncritically. Jewish outlets like Tablet Magazine and The Forward emphasized how the lack of Jewish cultural affirmation—contrasted with unqualified praise for Black and Muslim identifiers—effectively endorses Farrakhan's influence, a stance echoed in broader concerns over media normalization of antisemitic tropes post-2022 surges in incidents. This imbalance, per critics, risks causal reinforcement of intergroup animosities rather than resolution, as the Jewish characters bear the brunt of ridicule without reciprocal scrutiny.

Accusations of Performative Ideology

Critics have accused You People of , contending that its treatment of interracial dynamics and cultural clashes prioritizes superficial displays of progressive awareness over meaningful narrative or character development. A in The Miami Hurricane highlighted the film's use of race and for "cheap humor" through predictable, tone-deaf jokes and one-dimensional caricatures, such as Eddie Murphy's character sabotaging the relationship without backstory, resulting in an abrupt resolution that undermines any ideological depth and renders the project a superficial "dumpster fire." Brian Tallerico, writing for on January 27, 2023, faulted the screenplay by and for "playing with hot-button issues, stereotypes, and lame jokes" while evading substantive engagement, as intriguing ideas on cultural appropriation and tensions are quickly abandoned for easy, unfunny punchlines that feel insincere and barroom-level rather than insightful. The character of Shelley, portrayed by as Ezra's mother, has been singled out as emblematic of this performative approach, depicted as a virtue-signaling liberal who exclaims her family is "growing in such a cool and hip and funky way" and a "family of color," while making awkward comments on Black hair and during attempts at , such as inviting the fiancée to a predominantly white spa. Further amplifying these claims, outlets like Catholic Skywalker and The Breeze described the film as preachy and overly didactic on February 2, 2023, arguing that its overrides humor and plot coherence, with heavy-handed podcaster-style rants substituting for organic exploration of . Such critiques posit that the movie's ideological posturing, rooted in Barris's style from shows like , signals virtue without earning it through rigorous causal analysis of the conflicts it raises.

References

  1. https://www.netflix.com/title/81194505
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14826022/
  3. https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/you-people-netflix-55-million-hours-viewed-opening-weekend-1235508210/
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/you_people_2023
  5. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/you-people/
  6. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/you-people-movie-review-2023
  7. https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/you-people-review-jonah-hill-julia-louis-dreyfus-eddie-murphy-1235496327/
  8. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a42730641/netflix-you-people-ending-explained/
  9. https://dmtalkies.com/you-people-ending-explained-2023-netflix-drama-comedy-film-kenya-barris/
  10. https://jewinthecity.com/2023/01/you-people-normalizes-farrakhans-views-on-jews/
  11. https://aish.com/you-peoples-outrageous-antisemitism/
  12. https://www.thewrap.com/you-people-netflix-jewish-stereotypes/
  13. https://jwa.org/blog/you-people-traffics-two-dimensional-stereotypes
  14. https://themiamihurricane.com/2023/02/10/you-people-review-the-issue-with-performative-wokeness/
  15. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jan/29/you-people-review-frequently-excruciating-culture-clash-comedy-jonah-hill-julia-louis-dreyfus-david-duchovny-eddie-murphy
  16. https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/you-people-review/
  17. https://www.richardhanania.com/p/woke-pre-woke-or-post-woke
  18. https://www.newsweek.com/netflix-you-people-branded-horribly-damaging-jewish-people-antisemitism-1778298
  19. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/you-people-antisemitism
  20. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jonah-hill-to-star-in-kenya-barris-feature-directorial-debut-for-netflix-exclusive-1234965950/
  21. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9674679/Jonah-Hill-set-star-Kenya-Barris-feature-directorial-debut-Netflix.html
  22. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/kenya-barris-you-people-directors-cut
  23. https://thecinemaholic.com/where-was-netflixs-you-people-filmed/
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14826022/locations/
  25. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/you-people-los-angeles-locations
  26. https://hollywoodfilminglocations.com/you-people-filming-locations-los-angeles-2023-netflix-original/
  27. https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-comedy-you-people-everything-we-know-so-far-12-2022/
  28. https://www.scissorfilms.com/blog-posts/you-people
  29. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/you-people-jonah-hill-lauren-london-kiss-cgi-1235320295/
  30. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/you-people-cast-guide
  31. https://collider.com/you-people-movie-cast-characters/
  32. https://www.gq.com/story/you-people-movie-streetwear-romance
  33. https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/you-people-is-profoundly-unpleasant-spoilers.php
  34. https://theplaylist.net/you-people-review-jonah-hill-eddie-murphys-comedic-chops-cant-save-a-corny-superficial-family-comedy-20230123/
  35. https://www.ign.com/articles/you-people-review-netflix
  36. https://screenrant.com/you-people-eddie-murphy-interview/
  37. https://vaguevisages.com/2023/01/27/you-people-cast-netflix-characters/
  38. https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/10nqtql/official_discussion_you_people_spoilers/
  39. https://www.themovieblog.com/2023/01/you-people-netflix-review/
  40. https://www.thewrap.com/where-to-watch-stream-you-people-eddie-murphy-jonah-hill-movie-online-streaming-where/
  41. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/you-people-release-date-cast-news
  42. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/You-People-%282023%29
  43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCMHc-IFAB0
  44. https://deadline.com/2023/01/you-people-ginny-georgia-netflix-top-10-ratings-1235245764/
  45. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2023/02/07/netflix-top-10-week-of-january-30-you-people-is-the-most-viewed-title-this-week-ginny-and-georgia-enters-the-most-popular-list-87412/20230207netflix03/
  46. https://about.netflix.com/news/what-we-watched-a-netflix-engagement-report
  47. https://punchdrunkcritics.com/2023/01/review-you-people/
  48. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-01-26/review-featuring-a-comedy-dream-cast-kenya-barris-you-people-eventually-loses-its-edge
  49. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jan/31/you-people-netflix-defense
  50. https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/you-people-review-kenya-barris-terrible-interracial-comedy-shouldnt-exist/
  51. https://theindependentcritic.com/you_people
  52. https://readysteadycut.com/2023/01/27/you-people-review/
  53. https://screenspeck.com/2023/02/06/you-people-an-unjoyous-occassion-review/
  54. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14826022/ratings/
  55. https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63935185/
  56. https://www.queensjewishlink.com/index.php/local/20-community-corner/by-sergey-kadinsky/8080-a-shanda-netflix-s-you-people-damages-public-perception-of-jews
  57. https://thejoci.org/resources/op-ed-instead-of-giving-us-a-contemporary-black-jewish-story-netflix-film-you-people-erases-jews-of-color/
  58. https://www.reddit.com/r/Jewish/comments/10uo7uo/you_people_is_a_bad_movie_but_did_not_bother_me/
  59. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14826022/reviews/
  60. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/make-up-artists-hair-stylists-guild-awards-2024-nominations-1235777322/
  61. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14826022/awards/
  62. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-make-up-artists-hair-stylists-awards-winners-1235828903/
  63. https://www.timesofisrael.com/critics-pan-painful-portrayal-of-jews-in-race-relations-rom-com-you-people/
  64. https://forward.com/culture/533528/jonah-hill-new-movie-black-jewish-netflix/
  65. https://forward.com/opinion/535465/netflix-film-you-people-erases-jews-of-color/
  66. https://aish.com/you-people-a-black-and-jewish-perspective/
  67. https://unpacked.media/the-jewish-debate-over-you-people/
  68. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jan/27/you-people-movie-review-netflix-jonah-hill-eddie-murphy-julia-louis-dreyfus
  69. http://catholicskywalker.blogspot.com/2023/02/film-review-you-people-netflix.html
  70. https://www.breezejmu.org/culture/review-comedic-geniuses-cant-save-the-slap-in-the-face-social-commentary-in-you-people/article_06418808-a318-11ed-be1b-af78ded00cc1.html
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