“You People,” Kenya Barris’ feature directorial debut for Netflix, is laden with good intentions: Collaborating with Jonah Hill as a co-writer and star for this new comedy makes sense when one considers that both men are Los Angeles natives celebrated for their comedic flair and also devotees of hip-hop culture. Add to that the reunion of co-stars Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, both comic giants who came up together on “SNL” in the 1980s, and expectations run high.
But good intentions aren’t enough to float what is essentially a hip-hop–tinged, LA-centric comedic update of “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner.” It’s a concept that has seen a few iterations over the years — most notably 2005’s “Guess Who,” starring Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, and Zoe Saldana — and “You People” also draws some inspiration from “Meet The Parents,” with faith-based differences providing most of the tension.