Roofman is a story loosely based on the life of Jeffery Manchester, a rooftop robber of McDonald’s restaurants and prison escapee who lived for months in a Toys “R” Us while on the run. Derek Cianfrance (The Place Beyond the Pines, I Know This Much Is True) directs Channing Tatum as Manchester and Kirsten Dunst as Leigh, a single mother drawn in by Manchester’s charm.

 

Channing Tatum is great as Manchester; he’s likable, kind hearted and charming. His performance is Cianfrance’s home run in Roofman; notwithstanding the director’s skill in crafting a film that allows Channing‘s performance to shine. Kirsten Dunst gives an affecting performance as Leigh. She and Channing are very well cast as their chemistry is believable and endearing. Peter Dinklage also plays here as Leigh’s heartless boss at Toys “R” Us, an unfamiliar role to see him in but he owns it entirely.

 

Roofman has a wry sense of humour, which works perfectly with the preposterousness of the plot. The film is clever in how it reels the audience in, through narration and its introduction to Jeffery Manchester as by the time the absurdity kicks in we are already onboard with whatever he gets up to thanks to how endearing Channing is as Manchester. 

 

Roofman is a thoroughly entertaining exploration of the preposterous events in the life of Jeffery Manchester and allows Channing Tatum’s talents to shine.