In the uniquely charming Roofman, Channing Tatum plays a nice guy who does naughty things while winning the heart of Kirstin Dunst. A sort-of-comedy, sort-of-drama, sort-of-romance, sort-of-crime story, Roofman is the movie that should be much more tonally confused than it ends up being, thanks in large part to Tatum’s endearingly complex performance and director/co-writer Derek Cianfrance’s underappreciated talent.
Cianfrance, who has quietly delivered one quality film after he broke onto the scene with Blue Valentine, tees up an amusing and consistently entertaining tale about an intelligent criminal who just can’t help himself. Based on a true story, Roofman depicts a man who is always trying to outrun his latest mistake. I can’t speak to how factually accurate it is, but the Jeffrey Manchester shown here is a compelling, walking disaster, a loveable man who nonetheless commits armed robbery (causing mental trauma to his victims), arson, and more. He’s far from perfect, but he’s the kind of flawed protagonist whose story draws you into his plight.
A lighthearted score and Toys ‘R Us-level brightness mask a story that is more layered than first appears, though it’s easy to like at a base level. There’s a romantic drama/comedy story at play here, but Cianfrance and co-writer Kirt Gunn wisely avoid letting their film drift into familiar territory that could have so easily boxed them in. There’s a flightiness to the story that fits its protagonist well, one that charms in one instant and then spirals out of control the next.
More than anything, Roofman is simply entertaining. Clocking in at a little over two hours, it’s arguably a few minutes long in the tooth but never really feels it; Cianfrance moves the story ahead at a methodical pace. Tatum is at the top of his game, and Dunst also is great (Peter Dinklage is underutilized, however).
Roofman is the kind of movie that is really good but doesn’t warrant repeat viewings; it’s hard to imagine me ever going out of my way to watch it again. But it’s expertly made, surprisingly nuanced, and incredibly beguiling–I really couldn’t ask for anything more.
Review by Erik Samdahl. Erik is a marketing and technology executive by day, avid movie lover by night. He is a member of the Seattle Film Critics Society.