Roofman (2025) is directed by Derek Cianfrance, who also wrote the film alongside Kirt Gunn. It stars Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Emory Cohen, Lily Collias, Kennedy Moyer, Alissa Marie Pearson, Melonie Diaz, Gabe Fazio, Uzo Aduba,  Kathryn Stamas, Ben Mendelsohn, Keya Hamilton, Jimmy O. Yang, and Tony Revolori. The film tells the larger-than-life true story of US Army veteran Jeffery Manchester (Tatum) as he struggles to provide for his daughter and ex-wife. To earn the money he needs, Jeffery begins robbing various McDonald’s establishments. His tendency to enter through the roofs of these restaurants quickly earns him the nickname “Roofman.” After he’s eventually caught and sent to prison, he quickly plans his escape, which he then executes to perfection. Hundreds of miles away, Jeffery finds a new home within the walls of an unsuspecting Toys R’ Us. Sick of isolation, he eventually reenters the public using a fake name and proceeds to join a local church where he falls in love with single mother Leigh Wainscott (Dunst). Will Jeffery be able to sustain his double life, or will the mistakes of his past finally catch up to him?

Jeffrey Manchester quickly proves to be Channing Tatum’s best role to date, showcasing each of his specific strengths as a performer. He’s goofy, flirtatious, and rough around the edges, yet he exudes an aura of authenticity. It’s often easy to forget about the character’s criminal behavior because everything else about him is likable and/or relatable. His romance with Leigh is also one that the viewer wants to see maintained. Despite his lies, it always feels like their connection is pure, never predatory. Dunst gives off a small-town, down-to-earth sweetness that perfectly fits this character who’s gullible, but only due to her habit of seeing the best in people. They’re both very balanced, complex, and realistic characters whom the viewer truly comes to care about. 

This heavy-handed willingness to see the good in people sometimes goes a bit too far, occasionally implying Jeffery’s various actions aren’t that big of a deal. This changes during the climax, but it needs more of these reality checks sprinkled throughout. Besides prison, the ending lacks emotional consequences for Jeff. The tone gives off a feeling of ‘everything is going to be alright,’ but should’ve given off the feelings of finally being faced with a brutal, stark reality you’ve been desperately trying to avoid. 

These uplifting tonal choices definitely make the experience more crowd-pleasing, but it lacks the more original, bleak emotional punch it could’ve had. Thankfully, this ending is largely satisfying despite its flaws, just a tad conventional. The most memorable portions of the film often revolve around Jeffery’s crimes and various shenanigans within an after-hours Toys R’ Us. For anyone who grew up with one of these stores, the film provides a lot of fun wish fulfillment. Who didn’t want to live inside a toy store as a kid? 

Overall, Roofman is fun, mostly feel-good, ‘based on a true story’ tale. The lead performances are fantastic, the jokes are charming, and almost everything feels authentic. There are a few story and tonal choices that feel much too safe, but they don’t significantly hurt the experience. It’s mostly just a predictable yet satisfying crowd-pleaser–a tough film not to enjoy. B