A One Mann’s Movies review of “Roofman” (From the 2025 London Film Festival). (2025, 3*, 15).
Normally, the LFF films are ones which are coming out a few months away or even late next year. But in the case of “Roofman”, this was very much an early-preview, since it is in cinemas from Friday!
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
This is a true story. Ex-military man Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum) is an armed robber who hacks his way into fast-food restaurants in the Charlotte area through the roof and then holds up the staff for the previous day’s takings. Caught, imprisoned and then escaping, Manchester is on the run and takes the unusual step of hiding in a Toys R Us store for months on end.
Certification:
UK:Â 15;Â US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language, brief sex”.)
Talent:
Starring: Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, LaKeith Stanfield, Ben Mendelsohn, Juno Temple, Emory Cohen, Tony Revolori, Melonie Diaz, Lily Collias, Kennedy Moyer.
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance.
Written by: Derek Cianfrance & Kirt Gunn.
Running Time: 2h 6m.
Summary:
Positives:
- The scenes of Jeffrey using innovation to live and gather intel in the Toys R Us store is fun.
- Peter Dinklage is good comic value as the store manager.
- The scenes of Manchester trying to find his feet through Kirsten Dunst’s Leigh Wainscott are both touching and tragic.
Negatives:
- The film never quite balances the comedic nature of the film with the fact that Manchester is an armed robber, convict and arsonist.
- It outstays its welcome.
Full Review of “Roofman”:
Are you rooting for this guy?
Channing Tatum is a personable actor and he is actually very good in this. But his character is, what my parents would have called “a wrong-un”: an armed robber who terrorises poor fast-food workers (albeit in a ‘Hannibal Hayes and Kid Curry’ nice and polite sort of way), doesn’t take his lumps in prison by escaping and then torches a whole dental practice.
Are we supposed to be rooting for this guy to win? Yes, of course we are, but in so doing I was left with an uncomfortable taste in my mouth, matched with the knowledge that this was surely never going to end well.
Selfish.
When he is send to prison for a very, very long time, he is effectively dumped by his wife Talana (Melonie Diaz), who seems to hook up with a new guy – “Gary” – with unseemly haste. He then falls for Leigh (Kirsten Dunst) who he meets at a church function run by the kindly Pastor Ron (a very tuneful Ben Mendelsohn… his rendition of Randy Newman’s “I’ll Be Home” is wonderful).
But despite knowing that he is going to be leaving for some South American beach in just a few months, he inveigles his way into Leigh’s like and – more tragically – into the affections of her two kids Lindsay (Lily Collias) and Dee (an excellent Kennedy Moyer, unaccountably uncredited!). All for what… an easy lay with a hot Kirsten Dunst? (Well, now you come to mention it….). “What a selfish asshole” were my general thoughts. Once again, the actions of our protagonist really didn’t align well with the comic mood of the film.
Comic moments.
That being said, when the comic moments in this film happen, they are very funny. The McDonalds manager Duane (Tony Revolori) being given Jeffrey’s coat so he doesn’t freeze in the freezer; Jeffrey doing a clear tribute to Tom Cruise in “Risky Business” in Toys R Us fancy dress; the ‘naked’ scene (presumably with bits well taped down!); a ‘singles’ brunch with Jeffrey as the only guy there; the Peter Dinklage ‘ink’ moment. All good laughs.
Good performances.
Overall, there are a lot of good performances in here. Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst are very believable in their roles. Peter Dinklage once again demonstrates his range with a neat comic performance as the uncaring boss from hell. And LaKeith Stanfield, although only in the film for a few scenes, demonstrates what a compelling actor he is to watch.
Overlong
At over 2 hours, there didn’t seem to be enough meat in the sandwich for me and I started to get a little twitchy. I’d have shaved 10 to 15 minutes off this and tightened it up a little if I was the director.
Monkeys
Make sure you stay for the end titles, since they feature photos of the real Jeffrey Manchester and news reports that feature the real Leigh and Pastor Ron.
Summary Thoughts:
A bit of a mixed bag I thought. It’s a perfectly pleasant watch, but as a modern morality tale it feels a little muddled about which side it’s backing.
I won’t bother with listing the LFF screenings for this one since – as I say – it’s released in UK cinemas nationwide from Friday.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
A teaser trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXecSGmQDEI.
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