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| Channing Tatum as JEFFREY in ROOFMAN |
ROOFMAN both does and does not fit into director Derek Cianfrance's film catalog. On the one hand, the plot revisits themes that have echoed throughout his body of work: domestic angst, men who feel like failures that have unusual skill sets, and crime or law-bending offering an alternative form of success. On the other hand, its straightforward and sometimes tongue-in-cheek tone contrasts sharply with the dreamlike and lyrical storytelling approach Cianfrance usually adopts. The variance in tone may well be the thing that keep viewers from connecting with this film.
The trailers and promotions seem to point to a light-hearted, upbeat Channing Tatum picture – a true tale that seems too wild to be true. Maybe something along the things of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN or AMERICAN HUSTLE. These true crime stories feel like a romp. But ROOFMAN feels less like a romp and more like a trainwreck. It's not funny enough to be a comedy for the Channing Tatum fans nor devastating enough to appeal to those who came for a Cianfrance production. Tonally, it's an uneven experience that made me feel disconnected from the story at times. I don't need the director to make me feel something, but I do need to sense how they feel about the story they are telling.
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| Kirstin Dunst as LEIGH, Channing Tatum as JEFFREY in ROOFMAN |
Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum) has an unusual career. His daughter's disappointment at receiving an Erector set for her birthday motivates him to go full McBurgler, robbing a series of McDonald's by entering through the roof. Earning the name Roofman by the public, he seemingly earns back the love of his romantic partner and daughter through the cash he steals to provide for them. After the cops track him down, he goes to prison and uses his observation skills once more to escape. He then lives under the radar at a Charlotte, NC, Toys "R" Us while he waits for his friend to devise a scheme to help him set up a new identity.
Throughout his many exploits, Manchester is shown to be a reluctant criminal. He takes up the burglary hobby to earn his family's love. He carries out these crimes politely and kindly, making sure the employees he locks in the freezer have a coat. He escapes prison in hopes of reuniting with his daughter again. And the many actions he takes against the manager at the toy store (Peter Dinklage) are mainly done in the name of pleasing new love interest, Leigh Wainscott (Kirsten Dunst).
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| LaKeith Stanfield as STEVE, Channing Tatum as JEFFREY in ROOFMAN |
The story positions him as a "nice guy" whom has been failed by America. Perhaps the economy has failed to offer him sustainable work or society has failed to allow him to find value in anything other than the money in his pocket. The story is just charming enough, thanks to the charisma of its cast, to have us forget these details and just focus on the fate of Jeffrey Manchester. We want him to succeed, but for what purpose?
After all, what has Manchester actually done that's worthy of praise? Donate stolen toys to a charity drive? Gift his girlfriend's daughters stolen video games? He's deemed nice, charming, attractive, and good at observation. At one point, he had a viable career in the military. After that, job prospects turned sour for whatever reason. But many providers go through times when they can't afford to buy their child the latest bells and whistles. My own father, a talented music teacher, went through a dry spell during which he had to take on a job as an insurance salesman. That doesn't mean you go out and rob a bank so you can buy your daughter a Cabbage Patch doll or whatever the latest fad is. In another world, Manchester could have felt well rid of a wife who felt she deserved something better and told his daughter that he would buy her a bike when he could afford one.
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| Peter Dinklage as MITCH in ROOFMAN |
He makes his own choices but doesn't seem to want to live with those consequences. And we, those eager to watch outrageous stories on the screen, are allowed to watch this too-weird-to-be-true romp from a distance. Maybe Cianfrance isn't condemning or praising Manchester for his crimes. Perhaps he wants us to realize that criminals come in all shapes and stories. ROOFMAN isn't a redemption story. An Internet search even reveals he attempted to escape prison two more times after his recapture. He clearly hasn't learned any lessons. But what can we learn from his story that's worthwhile?
I learn that the church Manchester joined, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, was there to welcome him when badly needed a place where he felt accepted as is. That the truck drive he stowed away with has nothing bad to say about him. That although Leigh turned Manchester in, she writes him letters and has forgiven him. Jeffrey Manchester seems to be a guy that had the ability to connect with people, and people are hungry for connection. Perhaps Manchester could have spent more time developing that skill instead of plotting his next escape.
Release info: Coming to theaters October 10, 2025
Final score: 3 out of 5
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Lindsey Dunn is a film critic with membership in both NC Film Critics and Southeastern Film Critics. She loves all things Cobra Kai, Netflix Dark, indie horror, and any stories about complicated relationships. You can find her at 1ofmystories.com and most social channels @1ofmystories.
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