Urban Cowboy comes alive in Concrete Cowboy

by Kathia Woods

There comes a crossroad in a young Black mother's life when she has to make a tough decision to determine if her son becomes a statistic or lives to see another day. Young Cole is that young man played skillfully by (Caleb McLaughlin) keeping his mother up at night. He's been kicked out of various schools and doesn't seem to want to comply with any rules. He's transported to live with his estranged father, Harp (Idris Elba), to save his life. Unbeknownst to him is that Harp has become an Urban Cowboy, more specifically a member of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club. Father and Son are strangers. Young Cole has to dissect the fact that not only does he have to share his sleeping space with a horse but has no recollection of the man standing in front of him. Concrete Cowboy introduces us to Urban Black Cowboys. Black Cowboys have been in existence in places like Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Chicago for decades. In Philadelphia, The Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club is very well known for its inner-city youth work. Concrete Cowboys honors the tradition of those clubs while intertwining the father and son story. We learn about the members who's love for horses bonds them. There is lots to like about this film. Director Ricky Staub makes a lovely coming of age film. He didn't reinvent the wheel but allowed room for some great performances. One of those performances is Caleb McLaughlin. Caleb, mostly known for his work on Stranger Things, shows with this role that he's grossly underused on that program. This part finally allows him to stretch his legs and show Hollywood that he's ready to transition to more mature roles. You feel for young Cole trying to come to terms with his new life and hope that he gives this new situation a chance. We care because of McLaughlin's performance. Elba is solid as the mature Harp. He's demonstrated time and time can that he can play an American effortlessly. It's also admirable that in this film, he's comfortable playing second banana to McLaughlin. The other fun part of this film is the actual Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club Members that fill out the ensemble. They bring the authenticity of the urban cowboy but also that North Philly flavor. Jharrel Jerome, as Smush, represents the one obstacle that could keep young Cole from growing. In him, he finds familiarity, but the comfort comes at a price. Harp gets a whiff of this rekindled friendship and gives him these words "You riding with Smush, you're not welcome here." He knows from experiences that the streets don't hold love for anyone.

Rounding out this band of misfits is Clifford "Method Man" Smith aka Leroy, the Club's neighborhood cop and associate. Honorable mention goes to Lorraine Toussaint as Nessi, the auntie that keeps all the young men in prayer. There are some predictable moments in the film, such as the run-in with the police. Sadly it produces an unfavorable outcome.

Staub, a white director, is telling a Black Story. He doesn't take the easy route. Father and Son are both operating on unsteady legs, and their re-connection isn't built overnight. He also gets the culture of Strawberry Mansion. The community is more than stereotypes but a community of working-class people trying to hold on to a patch of their neighborhood under gentrification's claws. Concrete Cowboys also shows that Black Fathers don't always willingly leave their boys. There are more significant issues at hand, but the love never seized. If nothing else, this film serves as Caleb McLaughlin coming out party, and the young star is destined for bigger and better.