You People

Very funny yet very flawed, You People funnels the provocative humor of “Black-ish” into an overly familiar romantic comedy framework.

Operating within his comfort zone, the feature directorial debut of acclaimed sitcom creator and writer Kenya Barris riffs on race and religion in ways that straddle the line between edgy and controversial. But it also softens an overarching message of tolerance and inclusion for mainstream consumption.

The result is a frequently amusing if highly uneven examination of relationships, and specifically the ways in which love has the power to break down cultural barriers and generational stereotypes.

Set amid the melting pot of contemporary Los Angeles, the story follows Ezra (Jonah Hill), an extroverted podcast host whose underlying sweetness appeals to kind-hearted Amira (Lauren London) after their rocky meet-cute during a rideshare mishap.

Their interracial relationship is also interfaith — he’s Jewish and she’s Muslim — which doesn’t cause issues until things get serious enough to meet the parents. Specifically, Ezra’s devout mother (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) embarrasses herself while gushing over Amira to project a woke progressiveness alongside her enabling husband (David Duchovny).

Things aren’t any better with Amira’s overbearing father (Eddie Murphy) and closed-minded mother (Nia Long), whose assumptions about Ezra’s family prompt a passive-aggressive attempt to test Ezra’s street credentials and embarrass their daughter’s potential husband. As both families descend into chaos, Ezra and Amira question whether their romance is worth saving.

The sketchy screenplay by Barris and Hill — you can guess who wrote which jokes — employs an episodic sitcom-style structure while adhering too closely to rom-com formula.

The awkwardness of the Meet the Parents-style interactions carries over the film itself, which strains to be persuasive in its lessons about passing judgment and harboring preconceived notions.

Meanwhile, the rapid-fire pop culture gags convey a freewheeling attitude that threatens to spill over into pervasive goofiness, potentially overshadowing any deeper or broader emotional resonance.

Despite being rendered in shallow exaggerations, the eccentric batch of characters is appealing, and the performances adeptly balance silliness with sincerity. The ensemble cast’s comic timing enables the sharp one-liners to offset some of the groaners.

Playfully skewering cultural appropriation and knee-jerk sensitivity, You People is a spirited plea for enlightened coexistence that leaves you both slapping your knees and rolling your eyes.

Rated R, 118 minutes.