Roofman Is a Bright Romantic Comedy with a Melancholy Core

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I have to say, Derek Cianfrance’s *Roofman* feels wonderfully nostalgic. It reminded me of those solid, feel-good movies studios used to reliably deliver before streaming took over. You know, the kind you’d happily go see on a Saturday night date? This film absolutely fits that bill. It’s got charming leads – one of whom even busts out some dance moves! – and a genuinely sweet romance that blossoms despite everything. Plus, it’s about a little bit of law-breaking and the thrill of trying to get away with it, which is just pure, rebellious fun. Honestly, the trailer makes it look like a lighthearted romantic comedy, and it’s surprisingly close to the mark.

Around two-thirds of the way through the film, a subtle sadness begins to emerge. Over the past decade, there’s been a lot of discussion about a “crisis of masculinity” in America, focusing on boys lacking confidence and men feeling insecure at work and in their personal lives. While the film doesn’t directly address these issues, it shares a similar emotional core with director Cianfrance’s earlier work, like *Blue Valentine* and *The Place Beyond the Pines*. It taps into the feeling some men have of never being good enough, especially when it comes to family – they long for it, perhaps even idealize it, because they struggle to maintain those connections. *Roofman* starts as a comedy but gradually shifts in tone, telling the story of a man repeatedly excluded from the family life he desperately wants, due to a series of choices he considers mistakes.

Channing Tatum stars as Jeffrey Manchester, a former soldier who escaped from prison after being sentenced to 45 years for a series of McDonald’s robberies. After his 2004 escape, he remarkably lived undetected for six months inside a Toys”R”Us store in Charlotte, North Carolina. Known as the “Roofman” – a nickname earned from drilling through roofs to commit the robberies – Manchester cleverly navigated his unusual hiding place, finding ways to enter and exit. He even started dating a local single mother, Leigh Wainscott (played by Kirsten Dunst). The movie highlights the humor in his survival skills, like surviving on baby food and peanut M&Ms – the only things he could find within the store’s walls. Their relationship, which begins at church, is genuinely sweet, with Manchester giving Leigh’s children stolen toys and video games and charming her with his quirky, down-to-earth kindness.

Tatum is perfectly suited for this role. Leigh works at a Toys”R”Us where a man named Manchester is secretly staying. He’s bored and wants to avoid being discovered, so he sets up a camera to watch the store during the day, allowing him to observe Leigh at work without being able to speak to her. This changes when he finds out about a Christmas toy drive at her church. The store manager, played with over-the-top villainy by Peter Dinklage, won’t donate, so Manchester steals toys and delivers them himself. The church ladies happily accept him, and when they ask his name, he impulsively says “John Zorn” – a funny reference for anyone who knows the famous avant-garde musician. He tells them he works for the government and is then invited to a singles brunch at Red Lobster, which turns out to be a gathering of middle-aged single women, including Leigh. He jokingly compliments them as he sits down, saying, “I thought this was a singles brunch, not a supermodels brunch!” Tatum has a naturally trustworthy and approachable face, making him ideal for playing a character who relies on lies and trickery to get by.

It’s easy to understand why he acts the way he does. The movie begins by showing the tragic loss of his first family – his wife, infant twins, and a young daughter he loved dearly. We first see him struggling to throw a proper birthday party for his daughter when she was six, as he’s been unable to get his life back on track after leaving the military. His friend, Steve, reminds him that he’s incredibly perceptive and notices things others miss. This skill leads him to start robbing McDonald’s, but he’s surprisingly polite about it. For example, before locking terrified employees in a freezer, he even gives his coat to one of them who’s only wearing a short-sleeved shirt.

Throughout the film, Manchester repeatedly presents himself as a good person, and for the most part, he is – he genuinely cares for others and avoids causing pain. However, Channing Tatum subtly reveals flaws in Manchester’s character, showing that his actions stem from a deeply selfish form of self-deception. The movie features several scenes of Manchester dancing – sometimes nude – through the empty aisles of a Toys”R”Us store, which is captivating to watch. Tatum delivers more than just a charming performance; he hints at a coldness beneath the surface, suggesting that Manchester believes he’s entitled to happiness and can simply take it when he wants. Despite this flawed thinking, the audience still feels sympathy for him.

The emotional tension at the heart of *Roofman* is what makes the film so compelling. Kirsten Dunst’s performance is crucial; in a key scene, her initial happiness after finding a seemingly good partner slowly turns to doubt and suspicion, played with a quiet sadness as if witnessing something permanently slipping away. *Roofman* is also enjoyable because it’s fun to watch Channing Tatum’s character outsmart the system. However, his actions are always tied to his flawed understanding of masculinity. He repeatedly admits his error – he tried to win over the women in his life with gifts, when what they truly wanted was his presence. He managed to game the system for a while, but ultimately, he couldn’t escape his own flaws.

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2025-10-10 21:06