Charm City Kings

"A formulaic charmer with too many hands on the wheel."

"Featuring a breakthrough performance from Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Angel Manuel Soto’s slick coming-of-age drama captures (the documentary 12 O’Clock Boys') spirit."

"The dirt bike hook quickly becomes an artificial facade for yet another generic story about Baltimore’s drug trade."

"Charm City Kings distinguishes itself from similar fare not just through its location and eye-popping bikes but also with the believably imperfect people that populate it."

"Like the best coming-of-age movies, Charm City Kings knows how to play by the beats of the genre while making them feel unique and immediate."

"Charm City Kings never generates the kind of engagement with its characters necessary to help viewers get past the predictable nature of their dilemmas."

"The dirt bikes and their exuberant operators are the saving grace - and joy - of (this) sincere if overstuffed drama..."

"An appealing if familiar coming-of-age drama..."

"(Charm City Kings') abundance of plot contrivances in the final act and overly scripted dialogue hold it back from greatness, but two excellent performers (Winston and Mill) overcome all of this familiarity."

"This story... feels very familiar."

"In its view of a world where kids make their own fun and also, sometimes, their own bad choices, it rings true."

"Without the visual dynamics and strong character work from the cast, the film would struggle..."

"Mixes good vibes with social commentary to winning effect..."