‘Roofman’ review: Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in brilliant, heartfelt crime thriller
Channing Tatum is one of the decade’s most recognisable faces, with roles in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and the infamous comedy duo 21 and 22 Jump Street making up an extremely eclectic filmography.
So in 2025’s Roofman, alongside Spider-Man’s Kirsten Dunst and Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage, Tatum is sure to put in one of the year’s most noteworthy performances.
Sharing his views on one of the surprises of the year is Film News Blitz’s Joe Matthews.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Who is the ‘Roofman’?
Roofman tells the true story of former U.S. Army Reservist Jeffrey Manchester, who, after leaving the military, is struggling to support his family.
In an unusual turn, he decides to start robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting holes in the roof and sneaking inside, earning him the nickname ‘Roofman’.
After eventually being caught and imprisoned, he manages an audacious escape, leaving him on the run, where he settles down in the most unlikely of places: a Toys “R” Us.
While in hiding, he meets Toys “R” Us employee and single mother Leigh Wainscott, and tries to make a connection with her and her daughters as part of his new clandestine life.
Derek Cianfrance’s heartwarming biopic tackles a complicated yet hilarious story of hope and desperation, with many being surprised by the final result.
The verdict
Roofman is by no means an instant classic, but many were quick to dismiss it as just another spoofy comedy flick.
Instead, its charming and lighthearted persona shines through in a story about a kind of confused redemption.
Cianfrance doesn’t shy away from the moral complexity that Manchester’s situation brings up, addressing the impact of the antihero’s choices as the film comes to a close.
Combining an intriguing storyline with powerful performances from Tatum, Dunst, and Dinklage, alongside a series of big names such as Ted Lasso’s Juno Temple and Get Out’s LaKeith Stanfield, ultimately makes for a brilliant biopic adventure.
Despite being met with largely positive critical reviews, the box office hasn’t exactly added fuel to the fire.
With a budget of around $18 million, Roofman is still just about at a loss, sitting at around $17 million.
Overall, while not everything is going their way, the Roofman team can be sure to head into their next project knowing they defied many expectations to create one of the feel-good films of the year.
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