Roofman (2025 | US | 126 minutes | Derek Cianfrance)
In Roofman we see the world through the everyman Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum). It starts off with his most notorious act, robbing a McDonalds, but in the sweetest way you can while holding hostages at gunpoint. The story backs up a little to explain what brought him to that point: after leaving the military he had no real sense of who he was or how he fit in the world. The only thing he really did well was observation, seeing the details that others missed (or maybe just didn’t use for their own gain). He decided to use that to his advantage and rob some restaurants in the least disruptive way possible. His hostages even said “He was a really nice guy”, but that doesn’t change the illegality of the acts. It wasn’t explicitly stated, but his kindness is probably what got him caught, and into jail he went. Later that same eagle-eye superpower was at the crux of his escape from prison which is where the real story began. In a desperate move to avoid area police, he stayed put in a Toys R Us for around six months. However the most intriguing part of the story is the relationships he built while hiding out in that toy store.
Unexpectedly I have a lot of mixed emotions about Roofman. The first, and most glaring, thing we should get out of this film is how our country abandons its veterans to a world that loves them, but doesn’t invite them in or meet them where they are. Secondarily, capitalism sucks. If you didn’t learn how to “live within the rules” or find some acceptable role within society then you’re going to have a difficult life, no matter how hard you work. This is coming from a place of privilege with a hefty dose of self-reflection over the years. That’s why my emotions are mixed about the story. I hate what our society does to folks like Jeffrey, but being the brown-noser that I am for my entire life, breaking the rules in any way makes me itchy and breaking any law is mostly unthinkable. But you’re not really here to understand me better, you’re here to find out about the movie so I digress.
While Tatum is a solid lead for this film and portrays the down on his luck, frustrated, but incredibly empathetic and kind Jeffrey, there was nothing spectacular about it. I wasn’t moved enough to put myself in his shoes (being overly empathetic means I do that to a degree regardless, but still); but to a degree I was able to relate to his situation even though I have never served in the military nor have I felt his level of alienation in the world as a whole. That’s what Tatum brings to this role. Despite his beefy appearance and seemingly meat-headed character, he was able to envelop Manchester’s world and bring it to us in a relatable way.
Beyond that, the whole cast was stellar. I don’t know how director Derek Cianfrance was able to corral all of these established and gifted actors into his story, but that he did and the film is entirely better for it. A fun little incarceration connection is the role of the pastor’s wife played by Uzo Aduba of Orange is the New Black fame (immersively performing the role of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren). She shone brightly in this already impressive cast even though her screen time probably ran in the low double digits. The talent doesn’t stop there, Kirsten Dunst who plays Jeffrey’s love interest may have felt a little flat, but the character herself is religious and reserved woman who tended to be overly nice to those struggling the most around her (probably why she fell for him in the first place).
I can’t end this review without mentioning Peter Dinklage as the uptight, annoying and nearly unlovable manager of the Toys R Us, Mitch. Highly effective and convincing as the anti-hero up until the end of the story. I have an inkling the screenplay may have softened his character a little at the end where the real life story may not have played out that way, but I won’t speculate on that. I’m not sure the film as a whole would entice me to see it in the theater, but if you come across it on VOD, it’s not a bad way to spend your night snuggled up at home.
Roofman is in theaters this weekend starting 10/10