Roofman is one of those movies that sneaks up on you, not just because it's about a real-life robber who literally lived inside the store, but because it balances crime, comedy, and unexpected tenderness with surprising ease. Directed by Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines), this offbeat crime dramedy tells the story of Jeffrey Manchester, the "Roofman Robber," who famously escaped from prison and hid out for months inside a North Carolina Toys "R" Us.
Channing Tatum takes on the role with an easygoing charm that fits the character's odd blend of charisma and delusion. His version of Manchester, now going by an alias and trying to build a new life is part dreamer, part screw-up, and somehow, still someone you root for. Tatum gives one of his more grounded performances in years, toning down his usual bravado for something more human, and it works.
The surprise standout here is Kirsten Dunst as Leigh, who becomes entangled in Jeffrey's double life. I've never been much of a fan of Dunst, but here she doesn't elicit an eye roll every time she speaks and instead delivers a sincere performance. The chemistry between her and Tatum gives the movie its emotional spark, and their scenes together bring warmth and humor to a story that could have easily gone too dark or too silly.
The movie's pacing is steady and deliberate, maybe too much at times, but the story is well told and surprisingly heartfelt. It finds humor in human desperation and beauty in redemption without ever preaching about it.
Is it worth running to the theater for? Probably not. Roofman feels more like the kind of film you stumble upon one night while flipping channels or scrolling through streaming-and end up watching all the way through because it's oddly charming.
Roofman isn't a high-octane heist movie-it's a quirky, character-driven story about second chances, unexpected love, and the strange places people hide when they're running from their past. Tatum and Dunst make it worth the watch, and while it might not demand a big-screen experience, it's the kind of film that'll quietly grow on you once you've seen it.
