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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.

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.

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.

Tyler Perry's Straw is an emotional knockout. It's a raw, honest look at how people carry silent pain until something small becomes the breaking point. Taraji P. Henson is phenomenal as always-her performance is layered and deeply moving. Sherri Shepherd is the real surprise here. She is absolutely amazing, bringing heart and depth that lingers long after the credits roll. This film reminds us that everyone's struggle looks different, and sometimes it only takes one moment to unravel it all. It has the heart and weight of an early 2000s classic. The only thing that keeps it from fully landing in that space is the cinematography. While it gets the job done, it doesn't elevate the story the way it could. Tyler has worked with this DP before, and I'd really like to see a stronger visual approach next time to match the caliber of the performances and script. Still, Straw is one of Perry's most honest and powerful films to date.

As always Taraj P Henson is outstanding. Shes one of the best actors in Hollywood in my opinion. The movie starts out very good and tense.the story is typical of a hostage style bank robber who's had a bad day formula. It is pretty much an all black cast and that is cool being a Tyler Perry movie. It highlights the difficulty of a single black mother who is trying desperately to take care of her sick child in a world where nobody cares about her or her child. She is just in a terrible situation that only seems to get worse as the day goes on. It's nothing super original in that aspect. I guess where the message gets a bit mixed is that just because someone is on hard times and is having a terrible day or whatever doesnt make it ok to go into a bank with a gun and pull it on a bank teller for not cashing your check due to policy procedures. I get the feeling that Tyler Perry goes for us to feel bad and even look past a crime because it is a black woman . I mean people of all colors go through the exact same thing and is someone supposed to be totally forgiven because they are a minority? In the film a she cuts off a white cop on her way to her daughters school and of course he is a racist who drives her off the road and then tells her if he sees her again he's going to shoot her right in front of a female white officer who tells the white male cop to leave but still writes her a ticket that Taraj Henson character can't affords. I mean that is totally a ridiculous premise and we all get tickets we can't afford and again, is the officer supposed to not give her a ticket because she is black ? It just seems like the message is if you are a minority going through a hard time then you should be forgiven or given a break over others because of the color of your skin and that should not be the case. I'm sure people will think I'm being offensive, and I get that things are different between minorities and law enforcement but I don't understand really the message that Tyler Perry is going for if it is in fact that somehow because of race that it's ok to commit crimes and take people hostage because someone is going through a hard time in life. It's a fine movie and I enjoyed it but this mixed message I'm sure does not go unnoticed by many people.