Her REEL Review - 'Cause Girls Watch Movies, Too

In 2010, while on a trip to Atlantic City, I saw How to Train Your Dragon in IMAX with my husband. We were floored. The animation, the flight sequences, the story of Hiccup and Toothless—it was beautiful. DreamWorks had created something truly magical, and for me, it became an instant top-10 animated film. Maybe it's because I grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s loving Disney, but this was one of the first DreamWorks films that made me feel something real . It became even more special when my daughter fell in love with dragons. We went all in—bedroom sets, multiple rewatches, spin-offs. This franchise became a staple in our house. So when I got invited to an early IMAX screening—and got seats for my entire family (a rarity)—I was thrilled. But I was also nervous. Live-action adaptations of beloved animated films don’t always go well, and honestly, studios can sometimes treat them like easy money grabs. Still, I’ve always believed remakes can have value when done right—when they respect...

  courtesy Netflix By Shaquanna Stevens | Her Reel Review Tyler Perry’s latest Netflix release, Straw , starring Taraji P. Henson, Sherri Shepherd, and Teyana Taylor, arrives with high expectations given its talented cast and Perry’s established presence in contemporary Black cinema. However, while the film aims to tell a gritty story of loss, trauma, and maternal struggle, it ultimately falters in its execution, resulting in an emotionally exhausting experience that struggles to connect. A Promising Cast, A Confounding Story The film centers on Taraji P. Henson’s character, a mother grappling with life’s harsh realities and her young daughter’s wellbeing. Yet, despite Henson’s commanding screen presence and undeniable talent, the character’s development feels uneven and often unrelatable. Early scenes present her as harsh and confrontational in ways that make it difficult for the audience to empathize or understand her motivations. This lack of clear emotional grounding undermi...