Ticketworthy! - Roofman

The story of convicted robber Jeffrey Manchester is, without a doubt, fascinating all on its own. That said, Manchester is such an over-the-top character that any adaptation of his story was going to depend heavily on finding the right actor to portray him. Luckily for director Derek Cianfrance, Channing Tatum exists and is completely perfect in the role. His charm and talent elevate Roofman from a fun, comedic crime story into something with much more depth and emotion.

In the film, Manchester is a notorious criminal known as “The Roofman” on account of his entering McDonald’s restaurants through the roof to rob them. He escapes prison and is forced to hide out in a local Toys “R” Us while waiting for a way out of the country. While there, he is able to observe the staff and eventually ventures out into the community. There, he falls in love with a single mother named Leigh (Kirsten Dunst). This makes Manchester reconsider his escape plans, although he knows there’s no way he can stay and avoid returning to prison.

This may well be the best performance of Tatum’s career. Manchester is a wonderfully complex character. He’s brilliant, with keen observational skills that let him notice things that others miss. At the same time, he’s painfully naïve and emotional. His better judgement and brain frequently get overridden by his heart. He’s also witty and charming but obviously nurturing a deep pain. Tatum hits every note. He’s able to transition between the different sides of a very complicated man seamlessly. It’s impressive work.

While the rest of the cast does great work as well, particularly Dunst, it is ultimately Tatum that’s asked to carry the load. If he couldn’t have handled it, none of the rest of it would have mattered.

Credit also should go to Cianfrance, who co-wrote the script as well. He never falls into the trap of playing the events strictly for laughs, but he also keeps the proceedings from being overly heavy. It’s a fine line to walk, and the balance he demonstrates deserves praise.

The only way I would say the movie misses the mark is in how it shows the consequences of Manchester’s actions. Tatum is so likeable that it’s impossible not to root for him, but the reality is that his actions hurt plenty of people around him. Leigh has a family, two daughters who become close to Manchester. Not to mention he has children of his own from a previous marriage. We never see the fallout of these relationships. There’s no closure. It’s a rather large oversight for a movie that is so emotionally smart otherwise.

Regardless of that, it’s still a spectacular film that is both entertaining and satisfying. If for no other reason than Tatum’s performance, Roofman is an easy recommendation. Give him a chance, and he might just steal your heart.