Movie Review: Roofman

Although at first glance, Roofman may appear to be a light-hearted and perhaps even a slapstick sort of comedy. However, the film rarely follows either of those two tropes. Instead, the story centers on a tale of redemption cemented around love and expectation to do the right thing, no matter the cost.

Based on a true story, the film tells the tale of an Army veteran who, when struggling to pay bills and earn a living, resorts to robbing McDonald’s by breaking in through holes cut into the roofs of his intended targets, earning him the nickname “Roofman.” When one such robbery goes awry, Jeffrey is sentenced to a considerable amount of time in prison. Unhappy with this, he plans his escape and ultimately flees to a Toys “R” Us store where he hides out for six months before he can contact an old Army buddy to arrange for safe passage out of the country. Unfortunately his plan doesn’t account for the possibility of falling in love with the assistant manager of the Toys “R” Us he’s hiding out in and his best laid plans begin to unravel.

Director Derek Cianfrance brings the characterization and drama he suffused into The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) and Blue Valentine (2010) to this film as well. Working from a script he co-wrote with his co-producer from 2019’s Sound of Metal, Cianfrance allows Tatum’s performance to carry the weight of the film, which turns out to be a wise choice, while simultaneously treating the store Jeffrey is hiding out in as a character unto itself.

Kirsten Dunst and Channing Tatum in “Roofman.” Photo by Davi Russo – © 2025 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Doing so allows Jeffrey’s actions within the store to mirror the transformation of his internal psyche as the audience witnesses him become a more “integrated” part of society than he was before. Through a series of cameras he sets up within the store, Jeffrey takes note of the interactions between staff members and of staff with the general public, while serving as a moral critic of any confrontations that arise. While this may be in direct opposition to his acts as a thief, it serves here as a gauge of how his own personal redemption is progressing.

As Jeffrey, Channing Tatum is incredibly likeable. There’s little reason to suspect he’s the hardened criminal he’s portraying, and perhaps that is precisely the point. It is difficult to imagine an actor with less natural charisma playing this role as it would be hard to accept that he is just a sweet guy under all that criminal behavior. Likewise, Kirsten Dunst plays Leigh as a woman somewhat unsure of Jeffrey’s intentions while, at the same time, utterly bemused by his charm and sweet disposition.

Other players, such as the preacher played by Ben Mendelsohn or Peter Dinklage’s store manager opposite Leigh, are treated as well-rounded characters, albeit – as in Dinklage’s case – rather dubious ones at best.

As far as a crime saga – or even a straight-up comedy, might go, Roofman falls woefully short of the mark. But, as a tale of redemption and a vehicle that utilizes the charm of Channing Tatum to the fullest capacity, the film is an unqualified success.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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