One thing I've learned about my partner? When he becomes obsessed with a show or movie, he's going to keep talking about it until I finally stream it. (That's how Fences became our annual Christmas watch.) His latest obsession? The number-one movie on Netflix, Tyler Perry's Straw.
Here, my partner's glowing review (AKA the reasons I'll be streaming Straw on Netflix this weekend).
The emotional film stars Taraji P. Henson as a single mother who is having a terrible day—so terrible, in fact, that it involves a gun, a shooting, a bank holdup and a whole lot of tears. Sounds like a lot, but according to my husband, Henson delivers a must-watch performance.
He says, "Taraji gives a Golden Globes- (maybe even Emmy-) worthy, gut-wrenching performance as a struggling single mother who falls victim to a series of life-altering events."
He continues, "If you liked her Hidden Figures bathroom monologue scene (pause now, watch it), then you'll be obsessed with this role."
But Henson wasn't the only star my partner had high praise for.
"Along with Sherri Shepherd (yes, of The View and, yes, now a dramatic actor), Taraji turns Tyler Perry's dramatic story into a relatable tale of a woman just trying to get by," he tells me.
Tyler Perry also weighed in on his film, telling Netflix, "She’s just trying to survive, just trying to be a great mother to her daughter, and then the circumstances in her life cause her to be in this situation. I think that a lot of people around the world, no matter if you’re a Black woman or not, will be able to relate to that feeling of, ‘I’m at my last straw.’"
And for those who think this might sound a bit intense, my partner gives a few caveats: "It was a little heavy and upsetting for a late-night viewing. I'd recommend watching with a friend or at least a box of tissues." Okay, pass the Kleenex...
