You People, Kenya Barris' feature directorial debut, is a modern take on the romantic comedy. Ezra has given up on his hopes of finding love, but a chance encounter with Amira changes everything. The couple falls in love, and Ezra proposes. However, the happiness of their engagement is clouded by the realization that they need to introduce their parents to each other.
You People tackles more than the usual disapproving parents, with the couple facing numerous obstacles including race, religion, societal expectations, generational differences, and more. You People has a star-studded cast featuring Jonah Hill, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Duchovny, Nia Long, Lauren London, Sam Jay, and Travis Bennett. The movie is co-written by Hill and Barris.
Screen Rant spoke with Jay and Bennett about what they wanted to bring to their roles in You People. Jay also explained how she and Jonah Hill created their chemistry, and how Barris' directing style fit with her background as a stand-up comedian. Bennett broke down why approaching real-world issues through comedy works so well, and how he found sibling chemistry with Lauren London.
Sam Jay & Travis Bennett On You People
Screen Rant: First of all, guys, amazing job on this film. This story feels so relevant, especially today with newer generations having different mentalities than their parents. Why do you think approaching such a serious real-world topic works so well with comedy?
Travis Bennett: Because it takes away the heaviness of it. It gives it life and lightness to it. It's like a good dressing on a salad. It's just olive oils, a little bit of lemon, some balsamic vinegarette, it's just something that holds it together. And yeah, the conversations are hard to have, but when you add humor to things, it just makes it a little bit easier.
Sam Jay: You just made me hungry.
You just made me hungry too.
Sam Jay: You got really detailed. You were like, "A little bit of lemon..."
Travis Bennett: A little lemon, a little salt.
I know, the little salad recipe, I was feeling it right there. Sam, I love the relationship that Mo has with Ezra. Can you talk about creating that chemistry with Jonah? Because it feels just so natural.
Sam Jay: Man, it was natural, because Jonah was an expert at making it that way. He was so chill about talking to me in between takes and letting me ask him questions, like fan questions too, which was probably annoying because I'm like, "Who's your favorite role you ever did?" He was super chill about answering and just being cool. And that really put me at ease, and it made it a lot easier to just bring that chemistry right into the role and right on camera.
Travis, can you talk to me a little bit about your character, Omar, and his friendship with Amira played by Lauren London?
Travis Bennett: Omar is a head case. He's a crazy one. He doesn't have shit together, but he thinks he does. His sister's relationship with him is very amazing. They're like best friends. And when me and Lauren got to set, our first time hanging out, it was just like an instant click, and I just felt like I had a real sister there. And we're both from the same city, we're both from LA, so it's nice to experience somebody who was so familiar so early on when we started shooting.
Sam, can you talk to me about the collaboration process working with Kenya on his directorial debut, and what his directing style added to You People?
Sam Jay: I think the way Kenya directs is very like, "Yo, these are the lines, but feel free to go outside of them, and don't bind yourself into this. Don't box yourself in." He allows you to trust your instincts. I think for me, a person who's coming from a world of standup, that was very important. It helped me really capture the role, I think, and perform well. Because standup, you're kind of doing your own thing. Then when you act, it's all these restrictions, which makes you feel weird. It was cool that Kenya was kind of like, "Just trust your gut and go."
Now, speaking of that exactly, with Moe and Omar, respectively, what did you guys want to bring to your roles that wasn't necessarily on the page?
Travis Bennett: I wanted Omar to kind of be a dick. I wanted him to really just hate on everything, almost. And I feel like he is somebody to throw a monkey wrench into a situation, but I love the disagreeing. He's just always on the other side of whatever everybody's agreeing with. "Oh, everybody wants to go eat salads? Okay, I want a steak right now, my boy." And I like that push and pull.
Man, Travis with the food references. You're making me hungry. How about you, Sam?
Sam Jay: I just wanted to bring to Moe what I actually have in my relationships with my homeboys, which is some layer of masculinity because I am gay and masculine, etc. But at the end of the day, I'm still going to give you some mama love and be like, "Come get a hug, baby."
Travis Bennett: Come get a hug, little boy.
Sam Jay: I just wanted you to feel that heart in it. She's harsh, and she judges Jonah a lot or Ezra. But she's also like, "Come on, baby. I know you need a hug right now."
About You People
All Ezra wants it to find love and for his podcast to take off when a chance meeting with Amira seems to be the answers to his dreams. Ezra and Amira are swept up in a whirlwind romance that leads to an engagement, but with this happy news comes the complication of introducing the soon-to-be in-laws. When cultures, religions, and generations clash, Ezra and Amira's love is tested.
Check out our other You People interviews.
You People is in select theaters now and will premiere on Netflix on January 27.