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| Taraji P. Henson in 'Straw.' Chip Bergmann/Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix |
In Straw, Tyler Perry does what he does best — deliver a high-stakes emotional rollercoaster filled with tension, chaos, and impassioned monologues. But this time, it’s Taraji P. Henson who breathes life into Perry’s signature melodrama, anchoring it with a performance that is raw, heartbreaking, and deeply human.
A Day from Hell
We meet Janiyah Watkinson (Henson) on what may be the worst day of her life. Her daughter, Aria, already dealing with health issues, is being publicly shamed at school over an unpaid lunch debt. Their landlord is threatening eviction. Her job is a dead end, and her boss, played by Glynn Turman, is as unsympathetic as they come. When a robbery at her workplace spirals into violence, Janiyah is thrust into a desperate fight for survival that culminates in an impulsive hostage situation at a local bank — all for a paycheck that barely covers the basics.
What could’ve been a simple crime thriller becomes, in Perry’s hands, a loud, fast-paced, and sometimes jarringly dramatic spiral into societal commentary. There’s a fine line between urgency and excess, and Perry gleefully crosses it multiple times. Yet somehow, through the noise and narrative clutter, it’s the sincerity of the performances that manages to keep Straw grounded — particularly that of its three female leads.
A Modern Melodrama with a Purpose
Like Breaking (2022), Straw centers on a character who’s backed into a corner by a system that fails them. But where Breaking honed in on institutional neglect of military veterans, Perry's script turns the spotlight on overburdened Black single mothers. Janiyah is not a criminal. She’s a woman who’s been pushed past her breaking point — a quiet reminder that desperation can drive even the most compassionate among us into unthinkable decisions.
Teyana Taylor’s Detective Raymond is more than just a cop — she’s a reflection of the same struggle. A Black woman in law enforcement who sees herself in Janiyah, Raymond becomes the film’s moral compass. Their exchanges — filled with pain, empathy, and quiet rage — elevate Straw beyond its exaggerated moments.
Sherri Shepherd, as the bank manager Nicole, brings a refreshing presence. Caught in the middle of the chaos, Nicole’s compassion becomes a lifeline for Janiyah. She’s terrified, but human — and her small gestures of kindness ripple throughout the film’s most intense scenes.
Perry’s Pitfalls — and Henson’s Redemption
Of course, this wouldn’t be a Tyler Perry film without some signature flaws. Heavy-handed metaphors, improbable plot turns, and dialogue that veers into soap opera territory all make their expected appearances. Some characters are reduced to stereotypes, and the pacing lurches from one emotional crescendo to the next without giving the audience much room to breathe.
But where the screenplay stumbles, Henson triumphs. She plays Janiyah with a layered vulnerability — a woman who greets the world with quiet strength despite being crushed under the weight of her circumstances. Her interactions with everyone from her ailing daughter to a homeless man outside her building showcase a tenderness that contrasts with the chaos she faces. It’s this emotional duality that makes Henson’s performance unforgettable.
Sisterhood and Survival
At its core, Straw is about the power of being seen. Janiyah, Detective Raymond, and Nicole — three Black women from different walks of life — are each fighting battles most people ignore. But within the crucible of the film’s climactic moments, they recognize each other’s pain. They see themselves in one another, and that mutual understanding becomes the heart of the movie.
While Straw may not be Perry’s most polished or nuanced film, it might be one of his most emotionally resonant — not because of the plot, but because of the performances. It reminds us that even the most melodramatic stories can hold a powerful truth when they're told through characters who feel real.
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