Roofman (15)

Former Army Ranger Jeffrey Manchester cuts holes in the roofs of branches of McDonald's to rob the restaurants when they open in the morning. He gains the nickname Roofman and is eventually apprehended by the police. Jeffrey stages a daring prison escape and lives undetected inside a branch of Toys "R" Us for six months managed by Mitch. As he lies low, Jeffrey falls in love with divorced store worker Leigh and risks his freedom to date her.

LondonNet Film Review

Roofman (15) Film Review from LondonNet

A career-best performance from Channing Tatum as a real-life escaped convict, who successfully evaded police for months by living inside a branch of Toys “R” Us in Charlotte, North Carolina, invigorates writer-director Derek Cianfrance’s offbeat crime caper. Co-written by Kirt Gunn, Roofman applies a feelgood gloss to the true story of former United States Army Reserve officer Jeffrey Manchester, who turned to crime and gained his nickname by drilling through roofs of branches of McDonald’s at night so he could wait inside until morning and surprise staff to steal the takings…

In one headline-grabbing incident, recreated on screen with humour, Jeffrey gave a restaurant manager his own jacket before leaving staff inside a walk-in freezer so he could make a swift getaway on foot. Archive footage and interviews over the end credits show victims of his crimes praising the kindness and affability of a man who deceived and stole from them. Tatum’s inherent charm and likeability play into this image of an enterprising robber, whose heart is in the right place even when he is holding up businesses at gunpoint. He also flexes his acting muscles in scenes of agonising regret, wringing out copious tears as Jeffrey realises how many people he has hurt with his actions.

In the late 1990s, Jeffrey (Tatum) struggles pay child support to his ex-wife Talana (Melonie Diaz) after proudly serving his country and his embarrassment peaks when he cannot afford a new bike as a birthday present for his daughter Becky (Alissa Marie Pearson). Army buddy Steve (LaKeith Stanfield) observes that “doing things the right way” is not Jeffrey’s style but he does possess remarkable observational skills. With this in mind, Jeffrey executes his daredevil plan to rob multiple branches of McDonald’s. He is eventually captured by police and becomes the first person to escape from Brown Creek Correctional Institution in North Carolina.

Jeffrey hides out at the branch of Toys “R” Us managed by Mitch (Peter Dinklage) for several months and secretly installs baby monitors to spy on staff from his safe haven behind the bicycle rack display. During forays outside the building, he sparks romance with store worker Leigh Wainscott (Kirsten Dunst) who has two daughters, and becomes an active member of her church led by pastor Ron Smith (Ben Mendelsohn) and his wife Eileen (Uzo Aduba) under the assumed name of John Zorn.

Roofman is an unabashedly sweet tale of ham-fisted crime and delayed punishment, anchored to a love story that we yearn to succeed but know is doomed from the outset. Cianfrance and Gunn’s script blesses Tatum with his meatiest and most emotionally complex role since Foxcatcher. He doesn’t hold back, baring all in a scene of nudity played for laughs that leaves little to the imagination. Tatum catalyses wonderful screen chemistry with Dunst and their tender interactions steal hearts.

– Jo Planter