Tyler Perry’s newest film, Straw, starring the incomparable Taraji P. Henson isn’t just a movie, it is an emotional experience. It’s layered, raw and at times, deeply uncomfortable in the way only truth can be. If you’re looking for something light or easy, this may not be the film for you. Here are ten reasons to not watch, unless you’re ready for a story that challenges, affirms, and stays with you long after the credits roll. Let’s dive into, “10 Reasons You Might Not Want To Watch STRAW Staring Taraji P. Henson”.
IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY
This film doesn’t shy away from emotional intensity. Whether it’s grief, resilience, or community, Straw reaches right into the heart. If you’re not prepared to feel deeply, it may be too much.
IT FEATURES STRIKING PERFORMANCES FROM BEAUTIFUL, DYNAMIC BLACK LEADS
The cast doesn’t just act, they inhabit their roles and shine a mirror on what Black women face daily. The film offers visibility and complexity range rarely afforded to Black characters on screen. That alone is powerful.
IT CENTERS FEMALE STRENGTH WITHOUT APOLOGY
Straw displays women making hard decisions and standing in their truth. It refuses to minimize their complexity for the sake of convenience or comfort. The movie shows community, love and vulnerability.
IT HONORS THE STRENGTH AND VULNERABILITY OF BLACK WOMEN
This film shows Black women not as symbols, but as full human beings navigating loss, survival, and self-reclamation. It’s raw, but it’s real.
IT IS A LESSON IN COMPASSION
Through nuanced storytelling, Straw reminds us that everyone is carrying something. It asks us to listen more carefully and judge less quickly.
IT EMPHASIZES THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
No one heals in isolation. This film beautifully portrays what it means to have a community and the consequences of not having anyone to lean on. The threads of society can slowly start to unravel when community starts to dismantle or even fail to exist.
IT EXPLORES GRIEF WITH HONESTY
There are no neat resolutions here. Straw captures the reality of mourning: unpredictable, cyclical, and deeply personal. It also highlights unintentional but lasting consequences of a collective string of moments and how our lives can change within a blink of an eye.
IT PRESENTS EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT STORYTELLING
The script resists melodrama and instead offers characters who evolve with intention. The emotional arcs are thoughtful and grounded. Breadcrumbing little morsels that together tell a story and offer big picture moments.
IT HIGHLIGHTS THE EXCELLENCE OF THE FEMALE LEADS
This role is a standout: nuanced, emotionally demanding, and deeply human. They all deserve recognition for what they bring to the screen. Dynamic representation of career, style, family, success and authority.
IT STAYS WITH YOU
This is not a film you finish and forget. It lingers. In your thoughts, your heart, and maybe even your own relationships. It makes you stop, think and reflect.
A NOTE ON TYLER PERRY’S EVOLUTION AS A STORYTELLER
Tyler Perry is no stranger to mixed reviews. While widely celebrated for creating space for Black stories, he has also faced criticism for relying on recurring plotlines and predictable tropes. At first glance (based on the trailers and marketing materials) Straw appeared to be more of the same. But the film takes an unexpected turn. Beneath the surface lies a powerful psychological component that feels timely and relevant. In a world increasingly shaped by stress, anxiety, and conversations around mental health, Straw delivers something deeper: a reflection of how we cope, how we support each other, and how we survive. It’s a departure from Perry’s typical formula in the best way possible, carried by dynamic and engaging actresses such as Teyana Taylor, Sherri Shepherd and Taraji P. Hendson.
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