Mikes Film Talk

Director/co-writer Derek Cianfrance gives us the 2025 Dark Comedy/Romance Roofman. The adage of truth being stranger than fiction fits here; like a glove. * Cianfrance shares writing credit with Kirt Gunn.*

Roofman Story

Jeffrey Manchester, AKA; Roofman escapes from prison. He hides out in a Toys R Us store. As the police search for him, he starts up a relationship with one of the store’s employees. Jeffrey goes to church and gets involved with the community.

Roofman Cast

Channing Tatum is Jeffrey Manchester.

Kirsten Dunst is Leigh Wainscott.

LaKeith Stanfield is Steve.

Peter Dinklage is Mitch.

Juno Temple is Michelle.

Ben Mendelsohn is Pastor Ron.

Lily Collias is Lindsay.

Kennedy Moyer is Dee.

Let’s Talk Roofman

This “Biopic” of the real Jeffrey Manchester is a lightly drawn version of events. The real Jeffrey, according to those who had interactions with him (Spelt victims.) show him to be incredibly polite. Even more so than Tatum portrays him in the film. That is not to say that the actor is not likeable in the film, he is just not “overly” polite. *Although, the McDonald’s robbery scene shows Manchester giving his own jacket to the manager before the freezer door closes.*

That Manchester was personable shines through with the casting of the film. Many folks who interacted with the “Roofman” in real life lined up to play themselves in the film. Even retired cops who were in on his arrest came forward.

Roofman and Arrested Development

Reading a synopsis of the real Manchester shows us that Roofman suffered from a certain amount of arrested development. He lacked the wherewithal to think things through. Tatum and the script do a pretty good job of showing just that. (SPOILER ALERT) It is the lack of forethought that leads to Roofman’s capture in the end.

Cast is King/Queen

Harking back to the casting choices in Roofman, It is not just Channing Tatum that shines. The main cast; including a marvelously adroit, and large, cameo by Peter Dinklage as Mitch, just kill it here. Fans of Dunst will be glad to see her effortlessly play her “real-life” role as a mum of two.

LaKeith Stanfield is spot on as Steve, Jeffrey’s friend. Juno Temple manages to make her extended cameo as Michelle a real scene stealing turn. The young actors: Collias and Moyer are endearing as Leigh’s daughters. Ben Mendelsohn makes his cameo as Pastor Ron exceptional.

It all Works

Roofman is an enjoyable snapshot of real people whose lives were touched by an overly polite bandit who hid almost in plain sight. The real Manchester, if he can resist the urge to try escaping again, is due to be released in 2036, roughly 10 years from now. *For a more realistic example of what Jeffrey Manchester and Leigh Wainscott were like, see The Charlotte Observer article here.*

The Verdict

Roofman is a solid 3.5 stars. It loses quite a lot for the downplaying of Manchester’s tendency to break the law. The film is fun to watch though and it is streaming on Paramount + right now.

The Trailer