Our Review

                     Movie: ROOFMAN

         Rating: R, language, nudity and brief                                 sexuality`

                               Length: 2:06

                  Release Date: October 10, 2025  

Jeanne: Channing Tatum is absolutely delightful in ROOFMAN, the bizarre true story of Jeffrey Manchester, who lived in a Toys “R" Us store for six months after escaping from prison. Directed by Derek Cianfrance from a screenplay he co-wrote with Kirt Gunn, the film is a strong reminder of the essentialness of love, family --- and most importantly --- acceptance.

Jeffrey, a brilliant, but down-on-his-luck veteran, is struggling to support his wife and two children. His army buddy, Steve (LaKeith Stanfield), is doing well creating fake documents, including passports, for criminals. Steve tells Jeffrey to up his game, so he turns to robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting holes in their roofs, thus earning the moniker: Roofman.

Things go swimmingly for a while. Jeffrey now has enough money for a nice home for his family --- and can finally afford a bicycle for his darling daughter, Becky (Alissa Marie Pearson). His luck finally runs out and he ends up in prison, sentenced to 45 years. But Jeffrey will not be deterred. He devises a plan to escape --- successfully --- though his home is being surveilled and his wife wants nothing to do with him.

In desperation, he hides inside a Toys “R" Us store after closing. And what started as a temporary solution turns into a long-term residence. One of the employees, Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mother with two daughters, is rebuffed by the store manager, Mitch (Peter Dinklage), when she asks for a donation of toys for her church toy drive. It is a toy store, after all.

When Mitch fails to help, Jeffrey steps up, sneaking out of the store with a large garbage bag stuffed with toys. He’s immediately accepted by her church and the two of them begin a relationship. But time is running out for Jeffrey. He’s already stayed in one place too long. Will he leave --- or will he stay?

Tatum plays Jeffrey with an honest, sincere sweetness. During the closing credits, there are several testimonies regarding the kindness and generosity of the real Jeffrey Manchester. And Tatum delivers a performance worthy of those accolades. He and Dunst share a believable chemistry which helps sell this rather unbelievable true story.

If you have already followed us over the years, you already know I am a huge fan of Dinklage. Mitch isn’t a big role, but it is perfect for his talents. Mitch shows up late one night at the store and catches Jeffrey midway through his “bath”. His reaction to a naked intruder in his store is priceless --- and Tatum makes it even funnier as he scrambles to return to his hiding place.

ROOFMAN is solid entertainment for the family. There is one brief sex scene and some minor violence, but nothing too salacious to prevent Grandma and Grandpa from seeing his light-hearted movie.

Opinion: Mild See It Now!

David: Channing Tatum stars in ROOFMAN, the true story of a man desperate to take care of his family financially by breaking into, initially, a McDonald’s, and later a Toys “R” Us store. Tatum delivers a masterful portrayal as the real-life Jeffrey Manchester. In this role, Tatum’s character has to be among the most likeable thieves in cinema history.

Disguised as a cop, Manchester enters a McDonald’s from a hole in the roof he has cut, and promptly locks three employees in the cold storage chest. He promises to call the police once he leaves so they can be released, but in the meantime he gives his coat to one of the employees who showed up without one.

Eventually he is arrested and given an absurdly long prison sentence for armed robbery, including the "kidnappings”. While incarcerated, he earns the trust of prison officials who pay him no heed as he devises a bold and fascinating method of escape.

On the loose, he ends up hiding in a Toys “R” Us store where he repeats his M.O. of cutting a hole in the roof to gain access. Well hidden in an unused area, he sleeps during the day but at night has full run of the store. He steals video games providing a substantial cash return when he pawns the merchandise. 

It is at this store, managed by Mitch, played hilariously by Peter Dinklage, that he sees Leigh Wainscott, an attractive blond employee. Portrayed by Kirsten Dunst, Leigh and Jeffrey meet at her church and begin a friendship that evolves into a romance. She has two daughters, Dee (Kennedy Moyer) and Lindsay (Lily Collias), who know him as John, the alias he uses to woo Leigh.

Tatum renders a rare show of emotion, no doubt thinking of the first family he has left behind, especially his adorable young daughter Becky (Alissa Marie Pearson), whom he is unable to visit. His guilt at deceiving Leigh and her daughters is also evident.

Dunst, meanwhile, is definitely credible as a mother to her girls, a lover to Jeffrey and a subordinate to the no nonsense Mitch. One of our favorite actors, Juno Temple, is Michelle, the girlfriend of Jeffrey’s friend, Steve (LaKeith Stanfield). Steve knows about Jeffrey’s past history and offers to get him a passport and other legitimate-looking documents for the tidy sum of $50,000, so he can leave the country.

Oscar-nominated director Derek Cianfrance, who co-wrote the script with Kirt Gunn, keeps things moving and ROOFMAN is consistently entertaining. Be sure to wait for the final credits where we see stills of the real-life Jeffrey  Manchester while interviewees pay tribute to him as being a really nice person. Even his church pastor paid him a visit in prison.

Opinion: See It Now!