Straw

I actually really like the story for this movie, more than I thought it would. It was in many ways relatable, and often left me deep in thought about societal ills. For that I give it credit.

The writing is so so. A lot of the dialogue especially was very amateurish and unrealistic. This also made the actors seem worse than they were.

The lead(s) did amazing, absolutely nailed it. A lot of the rest of the cast, especially most if not all of the people portraying police, seemed really poorly acted, however.

That's where I landed on a 6. I think it's a good movie that most people will enjoy, but had too many warts to rate much higher.

I've never seen a Tyler Perry movie before, but this is certainly not what I expected! The movie is absolutely heart-wrenching, with devastatingly emotional performances by Taraji P. Henson and the other actresses. Some of the side characters felt a little off, but not so much as to take away from the main story.

The movie is labelled as a thriller, but it feels more like a horror movie where the villain is America and its many oppressive systems that compound to make life difficult for everyday people.

The movie did feel a little too long at times, with certain elements dragging on unnecessarily long. The twist at the end was unexpected, but welcome, as it added another layer to the main character's actions and led me to revisit some early moments in the movie with a new perspective.

Overall, I thought it was very good, and I would recommend it.

Taraji's acting is superb - as it always is - but this movie seems beneath her. Most of the movie - except for the reveal at the end - felt like one of those Dhar Mann films on Facebook.

The supporting characters were terrible, the plot was unbelievable, and it felt like a cheap attempt at a difficult and nuanced topic. I could not believe the lack of understanding the script had for law enforcement processes.

I have not seen much of Tyler Perry's recent movies, but if this is the level of his films these days, then that is truly disappointing and someone needs to save Taraji from his projects.

Taraji p. Henson earned every dollar on this project - she acted her heart out and truly carried the film. The writing still has that signature tyler perry cringe we've all come to expect, but this time it's handled with a bit more finesse and a noticeable step up in overall quality. Honestly, this is the best story he's written in a long while. The pacing kept me engaged, and the twist was genuinely unexpected - it caught me off guard in the best way. I really appreciated how everything wrapped up in the conclusion. If you're hesitant, i say give it a shot. It's worth watching and delivers a solid experience.

I gave Straw a try because of all the hype and, admittedly, because Taraji P. Henson is a phenomenal actress and to her credit, she delivered a strong, committed performance. Unfortunately, that's where the praise ends.

Like many of Tyler Perry's films, Straw falls into the same tired formula: a struggling single mother, dramatic twists that defy basic logic, and a storyline that leans heavily on stereotypes rather than fresh storytelling. The plot was not only predictable, but at times completely unrealistic, even bordering on absurd.

It's disappointing, especially considering the platform and influence Tyler Perry has. There's a clear opportunity to tell deeper, more nuanced stories, especially about Black women, that doesn't rely on trauma, caricatures, or recycled plotlines. But once again, that opportunity is missed.

Let's be honest: aside from Henson's solid acting, this was a painfully poor film. We need to be more open and objective when discussing these movies. Hype doesn't equal quality, and it's okay to say it: Tyler Perry's films consistently falls short.