A charismatic criminal, while on the run from the police, hides in a hidden space of a toy store. There, he adopts a new identity and becomes involved with an employee, beginning a relationship as unlikely as it is risky.
Channing Tatum stars as Jeffrey Manchester in this romantic crime comedy based on the unbelievable true story of a veteran who turns to robbing 45 McDonald’s restaurants across the country, escapes from prison, and lives in a Toys ‘ R ‘ Us for six months while not only evading capture but participating as a member of the local community.
Kirsten Dunst plays Leigh Wainscott, an employee at the toy store who dates Jeff (unaware of who he really is or his current living arrangement). Peter Dinklage also stars as Mitch, the rude and disrespectful store manager, with LaKeith Stanfield playing Jeff’s veteran friend Steve.
Tatum is the perfect choice to play a complex character like Jeffrey – believable as a veteran-turned-criminal, tough enough to rob dozens of McDonald’s, intelligent and resourceful enough to escape from prison and find a perfect hiding place, and so disarmingly polite and charming to everyone around him that he was able to live among the people of Charlotte and have a serious girlfriend.
His politeness didn’t just extend to potential romantic interests; he gave the jacket off his back to a McDonald’s employee (before locking him in the freezer). All of Jeff’s crimes rise out of financial necessity, only once resorting to actual violence. His feats and survival skills are so impressive, you’ll be cheering for him to get away.
“Roofman” also works as a meditation on loneliness. Facing 45 years behind bars leads Jeff to escape from prison, living alone in a Toys ‘ R ‘ Us leads to him branching out and joining the church where he becomes involved with Leigh, and she only buys his cheesy story about being a secret government agent as the reason they can never go back to his place because she’s a recently divorced single mom looking to be loved.
In the end, Jeff’s humanity leads to his undoing. He was caught initially using the jacket he gave to the McDonald’s employee, and again at the end, when, only moments away from his final opportunity to flee the country, he returns to Leigh’s apartment with the Christmas gifts he got for her and her girls, only to meet the SWAT team waiting for him. It is heavily implied that he knew it was a trap, and he went anyway to do right by Leigh and her family.
In Theaters Friday, October 10th
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