Honestly, when I heard I had to watch another Tyler Perry movie, I was regretting my life choices. But I’m happy to report that I might’ve actually enjoyed this one a little bit more than everything I’ve seen from him in the last 8 months. This is not to say that Straw is a good movie. The truth is, it’s commendable what Tyler Perry’s done in all these years with his empire. Yes, I think it’s an empire, and it’s pretty darn fascinating. But with great power comes great responsibility. Even avid fans probably think that the big man needs to hit the brakes just for a bit. Concentrate on the quality of the stories he’s putting out in order to make them feel more authentic than falsely dramatic. Straw tells the story of Janiyah, a single mother who is desperate for some money for her 8-year-old daughter’s medication. One fine day, she wakes up, and nothing seems to be working out for her. Things get really out of hand after a road rage incident, turning her world entirely upside down. What follows is a dramatic set of events leading to an accidental robbery.
What Tyler Perry does best is thriller-fying common family dramas. But the problem is that it often ends up looking so over-dramatized that you can’t take any of it seriously. While I believe that the systematic tragedy that we witness in Perry’s filmography is absolutely real, it often feels overbearing rather than something to feel sympathetic toward. Maybe it’s an oversaturation problem. That’s not to say that he should stop telling these stories, because they’re important, and they give voice and visibility to people who don’t get it otherwise. The reason Straw subverts this saturation is because of the lead actress alone. The power with which Taraji. P. Henson presents this character is admirable. She’s both sensitive and raging. But most importantly, you can feel her heartbreak through the screen. In all honesty, I don’t think it would’ve been as impactful if anybody else played this role; it might’ve instead come across as jarring or unhinged. She looks the part with her hair all over the place, her clothes dirty, and her tears flowing. She’s raw with emotions.
Perry uses every opportunity to shape this movie like a thriller, from the score to the fear of a bomb in a transparent children’s bag, gun violence, and infuriating police brutality. So, I suppose you could say you’d get a little bit of an adrenaline rush while watching the film. What I genuinely appreciated about this movie, in particular, is the power the female characters wield. Not only is the main lead a raging woman, but there’s a cop, a bank manager, and even an elderly woman, all of whom have meaningful roles to play in this story.
Plot-wise, the movie definitely struggles to appear logical, especially with the involvement of the police and the FBI. There’s also an unnecessary twist at the end, not related to the main plot of the film; you’ll understand what I’m saying if you watch it. Occasionally, it feels like a sob fest, too. I’m sure it’s meant to be moving, but it definitely feels a little bit torturous after a certain point. The dialogue also defies logic at some points, but for the most part, it’s typically Perry. This film is well-paced, though I feel like it could’ve been trimmed by 15 minutes at least. Teyana Taylor is great as a calm and resilient detective. She commands the screen when she’s around, and it’s great to see a female detective so empowered and well-grounded, not taking anyone’s crap. Sherri Shepherd plays Nicole; she’s like the voice of reason for Janiyah in the bank. I love that the film is so female-oriented; rather than making it feel like these women need help (which I find is a commonality in Perry films), it makes them independent, even if they’re struggling. It’s also multiple types of women, all suffering in their own way, on their own levels, but it never feels like we need to pay attention to one over the other.
Visually, I personally feel like Tyler Perry films need a makeover. Just as a happy film doesn’t have to look all sunshine and rainbows for us to know it’s happy, a dark movie doesn’t have to actually be dark on screen to resonate emotionally. Yes, his subjects are always going to be bleak, but this signature sepia filter is getting super boring. Perry does a great job building tension, even if it’s a little bit unnecessary. Sometimes, it does come across as confusing, because am I here to watch a drama about a struggling black woman? Or…What exactly? I’m not entirely sure. But hey, this is the Tyler Perry genre of film.
I think this is the kind of film that is designed to make you feel anxious. Within the first 20 minutes, the main character goes through so much distress that you’re just left wondering how she’s even standing up straight. It’s kind of exhausting. Additionally, there’s a lot of screaming in those same 20 minutes, really pushing you to turn it off because it feels very overwhelming.
Overall, this movie is a little bit underwhelming, yet if you’re a fan of Taraji, I would recommend it. Also, if you like Perry’s work in general, you could fit this onto your weekend watchlist. This film is suited for a bleak mood, but you don’t have to feel extra stressed out by it. If your personality’s already got bleak covered, then definitely skip this one. I’d give Straw 2.5 out of 5 stars. Fortunately, it’s of a standard that watching it won’t be the last straw for longtime Perry fans.
