Roofman review: Being good-natured doesn’t mean making good decisions

Struggling to make ends meet is not unique to any type of person, culture or country. People need money to survive. Not having enough of it means making difficult decisions and possibly going without something. This can be most challenging when children are involved since it’s harder for them to understand or accept. Kids are also one of the key motivations for doing something you might not even consider otherwise. Failing to provide for his offspring is the primary reason a veteran turned to armed robbery in Roofman.

Jeff Manchester (Channing Tatum) served in the armed forces, but hasn’t held a full-time job since coming home. Still, he wants nothing more than to prove he can be a provider. After yet another disappointment, he decides it’s time to earn money by any means necessary. Jeff is a skilled observer, which makes him an excellent thief. Breaking into McDonald’s roofs, he politely robs the staff without hurting anyone. However, his lack of criminal know-how leads to his inevitable arrest. Nevertheless, Jeff eventually uses his unique abilities to break out of prison and take up residence in a Toys”R”Us store.

If Jeff — and Tatum’s portrayal of him — wasn’t so charming, this story would be incredibly creepy. The escaped convict builds a makeshift home in one of the toy store’s displays. He sleeps during the day among unaware shoppers and plunders the shelves at night.

Growing bored of his lonely escapades, Jeff sets up cameras to spy on the employees. He engages with the video like it’s a TV show. There’s a villain (the curmudgeonly store manager played by Peter Dinklage), an underdog (the spineless stock person played by Emory Cohen) and a love interest (single-mother Leigh, played by Kirsten Dunst). The key difference is Jeff can and does interfere with the storyline, particularly when the manager mistreats the staff.

Jeff narrates the story, providing candid insights into his choices. He describes why his unconventional tactics work, while also explaining his ultra-poor decisions. It adds another layer of humour to the bizarre saga and connects audiences more deeply to the main character.

Overall, this is an enjoyable picture that provides Tatum an opportunity to combine his goofy and dramatic sides. Leigh represents Jeff’s second chance at life. But her religious interests and his living a lie don’t amount to the highest compatibility score. Nonetheless, the extended middle part of this narrative is a love story.

Co-writer and director Derek Cianfrance is usually behind edgier romances. Unfortunately, the film’s attempts to align with the real-life events on which it’s based results in too many details and too long of a movie. It would have been better without the lull in the middle as audiences chaperone too many of Jeff and Leigh’s dates. This is one of those rare instances where a montage may have been more appropriate. After all, watching Jeff’s out-of-the-box methods to avoid detection are way more interesting than watching two people fall in love.

Director: Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst and LaKeith Stanfield