A surprising balance of physical comedy, romance, true crime elements and deep tragedy that just works.
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Roofman bursts with warmth and empathy for the real people it’s based on. It’s a surprising balance of physical comedy, romance, true crime elements, and this deep sadness that just works.
Based on the real-life "roof man" Jeffrey Manchester, the aptly named burglar who invades the roofs of McDonalds and Burger King joints for their cash. The intrigue was in Jeff’s niceness in treating the staff he held hostage, reportedly lending them his coat because he didn't want them to get cold in the freezer room.
Behind the strange persona is an ex-military veteran and dad who finds himself unable to land a job after the war has ended, and struggles to give his daughter the giant birthday party she deserves. Broken, desperate and ashamed of his lack of ability to provide, Jeff turns to crime, only to get imprisoned.
It is at this point where Roofman finds its footing as a wildly enthralling, stranger-than-fiction delight. With the same cunning that he used during his Roofman antics, Jeff escapes from prison and lies low at a local Toys “R” Us for six months, all while falling in love and waiting to escape from the country.
What’s astounding is just how naturalistic the performances are. Channing Tatum brings a ton of depth and charm to the role of Jeff, and his chemistry with Kirsten Dunst as the Toys “R” Us woman, is so organic and believable, despite not being a romance-centric film.
Roofman is bound in so much warmth and sincerity, all while being grounded in this poignancy, that it’s hard to believe that it exists.
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