"Straw" is a needle in Perry's Haystack of Hits and Misses.

Netflix and Tyler Perry Studios continue their successful business relationship with Tyler Perry's Straw. This film reunites Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson with director Tyler Perry for the fourth time. Henson plays Janiyah, a struggling single mother who desperately tries to care for her sick daughter but can't catch a break. But even when she's down, she still finds time to help out Benny (Sinbad), a resident of her apartment complex. While she receives some support from a co-worker, her boss, Richard (Glynn Turman), is indifferent to her struggles.

After a vehicle incident involving a hot-headed cop, Janiyah reaches her breaking point. Her day worsens when she struggles to cash a check at her local bank. Although the bank manager, Nicole Parker (played by Sherri Shepherd), wants to help, the situation spirals out of control, leading Janiyah to hold bank customers accidentally hostage.

The local police, led by Chief Wilson (Rockmund Dunbar), are prepared to act aggressively. Still, thankfully, Detective Raymond (Teyana Taylor) isn't quick to resort to violence. She recognizes Janiyah's humanity and empathizes with her plight. At its core, "Straw" is a film about what happens when we reach our breaking point.

One might wonder why Perry debuted his latest project on Netflix so soon, especially considering his new series She The People isn't even a month old. His last film, Duplicity, was released in March. Regardless of opinions about him, Perry knows his audience and delivers projects quickly.

Straw is his 28th film, and over the past decade, I've realized that Perry understands his audience and tailors his work to them. In his latest film, he explores the challenges that women face. For the most part, he succeeds in capturing this experience. The film thrives on the strength of its female leads: Henson, Shepherd and Taylor.

While watching the film, I recognized traits from many women I know. Teyana Taylor exudes confidence with the flair of an action heroine, while Shepherd breaks away from her usual type and showcases some impressive dramatic skills. I would love to see her explore this route further. However, the film truly belongs to Henson, who navigates the script like a seasoned pro.

As is typical of Perry, he tries to pack a lot into the film's short runtime. Elements of racism and police brutality are sprinkled throughout, which can become overwhelming at times. Nevertheless, Taraji Henson sells the material and makes it work.

My two major gripes with the film occur in the third act. A third-act twist feels cheap and doesn't work. Furthermore, there's a false ending that has more shock value than a cohesive conclusion. However, I do recommend Straw solely for Taraji's performance.

Final Grade: B

Straw is now available to stream on Netflix.