Like a few others, I got to watch Charm City Kings before the world shut down last year, and I was literally blown away! Like … had to wait for everyone to leave the room so they couldn’t see me wiping my tears, blown away. So if you haven’t already, despite it currently streaming on HBO Max, here’s why you need to watch Charm City Kings on HBO Max.
Why You Need To Watch Charm City Kings On HBO Max Right Now
In this gritty coming-of-age drama, fourteen-year-old Mouse (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) desperately wants to join the Midnight Clique, an infamous group of Baltimore dirt-bike riders who rule the summertime streets.
His older brother, Stro, was their top rider before his death — a loss that consumes Mouse as much as his passion for bikes. Mouse’s mom (Teyonah Parris) and his police mentor, (yeah you read that correctly), Detective Rivers (William Catlett), work to help the teen reach his full potential.
But when the Clique’s leader, Blax (Meek Mill), takes the boy under his wing, the lure of revving his own dirt bike skids Mouse toward a road way past the straight and narrow.
Jahi Di’Allo Winston, William Catlett, and Teyonah Parris (who yes, is currently serving us all playing the badass Monica Rambeau in WandaVision right now) all give incredible performances in this amazing coming of age story that reminds us to chose our friends wisely and shows us exactly what could happen if we don’t.
If you’ve ever had someone set you on the right path, or given you advice that may have changed your life, this one’s for you.
This one’s for all the teachers that continuously reminded us that we were more than enough! That we could be whoever we wanted to be!
This one’s for all the old heads that grew up on the block with us and made sure we stayed out of trouble! And this one’s for all of the Black folks who are tired of seeing Black kids being failed by their community on screen, and off screen. (You know, like in Cowboy Concrete! Which I got to see last year as well, and can’t wait for everyone else to see!)
While I can’t promise you that won’t happen … AGAIN … here in Charm City Kings, I can promise you that this movie directed by Angel Manuel Soto, will provide you with a sliver of hope as it ends.
So if you haven’t already seen Charm City Kings yet, I’m gonna need you to get it together. Like seriously!
Pick up ya laptop, ya tv remote, ya phone, whatever you need to turn HBO Max on to watch this gut wrenching masterpiece ASAP! And while you’re picking things up, pick up ya favorite drink to numb the pain at the end and a pack of tissues because Meek Mill may annoy you in real life but in Charm City Kings, he’ll bring you to tears!
Even though the film is set in Baltimore, Meek really shows us why Philly is the city of “Brotherly Love” and I ain’t mad at it.
P.s – The film was also executive produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, in case you needed more of a reason to support and watch this film! It’s all around amazing, and y’all know I don’t say that unless it needs to be said.
So yeah … watch it!
