I first heard of “Roofman” at Cinemacon last April during the Paramount showcase. The trailer was shown for the first time and I was instantly intrigued by the concept, cast, and that it was based on a true story.
Channing Tatum stars as Jeffrey Manchester; a former soldier and father of three who is struggling to find his place in the world. This struggle has split his family and made his time with his daughter difficult as he could not afford to get her a bike for her birthday.
His friend Steve (LaKeith Stanfield) tells Jeffrey that he has a unique ability to see details that others miss and this is why he was so valuable when they were in the service.
Jeffrey takes this challenge and robs McDonalds and other locations by gaining access via the roof.
His success and considerate behavior towards any staff he encounters become known and after 45 or successful robberies; he is eventually captured. Life in prison does not sit well with Jeffrey as his daughter has been urged to have no contact with him again as her mother has moved on and wants him out of their lives for good.
Jeffrey manages to escape but finds that his family is being watched by the authorities as they expect him to attempt to return home. In an act of desperation; Jeffrey takes to hiding in a Toys R Us and manages to tweak the security systems to allow him free roam of the store after hours.
Jeffery plans to wait until December when Steve will return and provide him the needed ids to start his life anew in a new country. As he watches the store via hidden monitors he placed; he learns about Leigh (Kirsten Dunst); a single mother who works at the store and deals with their rude boss Mitch (Peter Dinklage) who is highly uncaring about her and the other workers. Refusing to help with a church charity drive forces Jeffrey into action and he soon finds himself dating Leigh and bonding with her two daughters over time. The duality of his life of a criminal in hiding during the day and a boyfriend at night blurs the lines as the date for Steve to return is looming but he finds himself loving the new life he has created with Leigh.
The movie is a captivating tale and it mixes humor and drama well without ever being overly heavy. The movie really captures the consequences of the choices people make in life and how some vets struggle to find a place in the world after the military.
Tatum and Dunst give solid performances and Tatum gives a sympathetic portrayal of a man who tries to do the right things for the right reasons even if their actions are wrong.
The enjoyable story and performances make “Roofman” one of the more enjoyable films from start to finish.
4 stars out of 5
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