Okay, so Tyler Perry’s latest Netflix film: Straw just dropped two days ago yeah, We all know Tyler Perry has given us a fair share of emotionally charged, sometimes controversial, sometimes beautiful storytelling moments over the years. And in many ways, Straw tries to follow that same path — bold, layered, emotional. But while the themes hit hard, the execution… not so much.
Straw attempts to tackle maternal grief, Black sisterhood, and the quiet unraveling of a woman who’s simply had enough. But if I’m being honest, the storyline leans way too heavily into melodrama. It’s like the emotion is there, but realism left the group chat.
Some parts felt more like a dream than a film grounded in reality. Sad, yes. Emotional, absolutely. But also a little too much. How can someone face so much chaos all happening at once, a sick daughter, you got kicked out, you got fired, your car gets impounded all in one day. Even if your village people sidan for your head. This is too much Ill luck for one person.c'mon
Basically the storyline is about Janiyah Jones (played by Taraji P. Henson), a single mom facing a domino effect of chaos: her daughter Aria is sick, she loses her job, gets evicted, and is drowning in emotional and financial pressure. Then, in one desperate move, she storms into a bank asking for money — calm at first, but quickly spiraling into a full-blown standoff.
But here’s the real kicker: none of it is real. Aria is already dead — died a night before. Everything we see is Janiyah's grief-induced breakdown, her mind constructing a world where her daughter still lives, where she still has purpose.
And in that sense, the title Straw makes sense. It wasn’t the shitty Job or the inability to pay rent. The “final straw” was the loss of her child. Honestly I was moved, let out some emotional tears cause its too much chaos for one single struggling mother , jeez.
If there’s one thing I absolutely loved, it was Taraji P. Henson's performance. She carried the emotional weight of this role with her whole chest. You could feel her unraveling in every scene — the rage, the denial, the unbearable sadness. She made me believe every second of it, even when the script wasn’t doing her any favors. She truly was the heart of the movie. Without her, Straw would’ve collapsed under its own bland plot.
So... What Didn’t Work?
The dialogue was stiff in places. Very “stage play” energy.
The plot twist, while impactful, was a bit too dramatic to feel believable.
The entire setup felt overly stretched — like a short story that was trying too hard to become a full-length feature.
Some scenes (like the science project mistaken for a bomb 😒, her boss was just over the board, the over sabi teller lady) made me roll my eyes. Like, really? Abeggi...this can't be real.
So my Final Thoughts
Tyler Perry clearly wanted to tell a story about the hidden pain Black women carry. And Straw does attempt to shine a light on how grief can break someone so quietly and completely that no one notices until it’s too late.
But for me? It just didn’t stick the landing.
Aside from Taraji’s excellent performance, the film felt like it was trying too hard to make me cry instead of just letting the story be powerful on its own.
My final Verdict is 5/10. Because of Taraji's performance.
Watch it if you’re in the mood for something emotional, but don’t expect storytelling magic.
Skip it if you’re not ready for a film that feels more like a heavy sigh than a cohesive narrative.
Seen it already?
Drop a comment and Share, Let’s talk about that ending, that twist, and how you really felt watching it unfold.
©DeeOn
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