STRAW is Tyler Perry’s (writer, director) latest film, showcasing a black woman plagued by unfortunate incidents that never stop until the final STRAW. It is a compelling story and one that is necessary for our current society to see. Still, it never reaches its full impact due to inconsistent dialogue and a heavy-handed approach to making its point.
Taraji P. Henson portrays Janiyah, the working mom who cannot catch a break. She provides the slow, emotional boil of desperation. Her facial expressions ripped at my soul. When she screamed, I wanted to close up and turn away. She had me in the palm of her hand, but the pay-off just wasn’t there or enough. What a shame.
Henson was surrounded by stellar actors (Sherri Shepherd and Sinbad) who delivered sincere performances, even though at times, the writing was too stereotypical. Layers were missed. Again, what a shame. The film could have been so much more.
Tyler Perry is a great writer. The theme of STRAW is very close to his heart. He has said many times in interviews that he knows the stories of his people. I have no doubt he does, but this particular film would have benefited greatly if audiences could have had more subtle and nuanced moments, allowing them to connect the dots surrounding Janiyah’s journey. One more time… what a shame.
STRAW is streaming on Netflix.
