Channing Tatum plays a criminal with a heart of gold in Roofman, which is loosely based on the Jeffrey Manchester who lived inside a Toys “R” Us for months while on the run from the law.
Director Derek Cianfrance milks the “true story” premise for all its worth and finds success largely thanks to a terrific cast led by Tatum and bolstered by Kristen Dunst, Peter Dinklage, Lakeith Stanfield, and more. Tatum plays “Roofman” Jeffery Manchester, so named for his trademark of breaking into McDonald’s locations through the roof to surprise the first arriving employees and rob the stores at gunpoint.
As seen in the trailer, the film makes a point to show that while Manchester uses a gun in the robberies, he is actually very polite to the workers as he orders them into the walk-in freezer, even offering one of them his jacket.
It also makes a point to show that he is, at least superficially, doing this to provide for his daughter, again reinforcing that Manchester may be a criminal, but he’s not a “bad guy.”
The movie sits in this setup for a while before getting us to the true heart of the movie, as Manchester escapes prison using his uniquely honed skills of observation and then finds the perfect hiding place inside a local Toys R Us.
This leads him to cross paths with Leigh Wainscott (Dunst), who works at the store under the management of the grumpy Mitch (Dinklage). While Manchester hides out, these figures almost become the soap opera of his daily life, observing from his hidey hole. Until one day, Manchester and Leigh are introduced in person—sparking an ill-advised relationship while Manchester awaits his ticket to a new life.
While Glen Powell has recently staked a claim as the likable hunky lead for these kinds of films, Tatum might still be the best option available. He gives one of his best performances here, albeit one that fits his unique talents like a glove. His easy, goofy charm makes it easy to love this guy, who is technically a wanted felon and a bit of a loser.
And Dunst also delivers here in the role of a single, churchgoing Southern mom with two young daughters. The chemistry between the two is off the charts, and it helps that Tatum feels like someone who would be safe around the kids.
But there’s a pall that hangs over the good-hearted fun as the relationship is obviously built on a lie, and the more Tatum exposes himself, the more at risk he is of being sent back to prison. As you become more and more invested in the relationship between Jeff and Leigh, and his role as a father figure to Leigh’s daughters, the more that inevitability weighs on the proceedings.
I won’t spoil how the movie handles resolving this issue, but I can say that none of it feels cheap or unrealistic. This movie thrives in the small details of what it gets right. It feels lived in and surprisingly subdued, considering the somewhat wacky premise. This is first and foremost a character study of Jeffery Manchester and a relationship dramedy between him and Leigh.
This is unlikely to get any awards buzz, but Tatum and Dunst are honestly deserving of consideration for their work here, and the film is really delightful in so many ways while swerving the schmaltzier, easier studio film it easily could have been.
Give this one a look while it’s still in theaters.
